Holiday Lodge Panama City - End of an Era

[Tom Smedley]

I started staying at the Holiday Lodge in Panama City in the mid 1980’s. The buildings were old then, the carpets stained, the air-conditioner noisy. She was the diver’s haven – a place to crash and take a shower. Best of all, she was inexpensive and an absolute Mecca for divers. I even had a favorite room.

The staff had become great friends, especially Nancy who always seemed to find a place for me no matter how busy they were. Nancy helped me out of a tight situation numerous times when there were problems getting rooms for the group. Nancy was indeed a true friend who knew the value of an open arm and a closed lip.

Several folks have asked the status on the Holiday Lodge. Well – the pictures from this morning tell it all. The old hotel seemed to whisper, “Don’t cry for me, just have a drink and remember the grand old times.”

I raise my glass to you magnificent lady and end with a louder than ever Hoo Ah!!!!

 

[mike_s]

I thought she was to be bull-dozed in November?

 

[Jim Baldwin]

I started staying at the Holiday Lodge in Panama City in the mid 1980’s. The buildings were old then, the carpets stained, the air-conditioner noisy. She was the diver’s haven – a place to crash and take a shower. Best of all, she was inexpensive and an absolute Mecca for divers. I even had a favorite room.

The staff had become great friends, especially Nancy who always seemed to find a place for me no matter how busy they were. Nancy helped me out of a tight situation numerous times when there were problems getting rooms for the group. Nancy was indeed a true friend who knew the value of an open arm and a closed lip.

Several folks have asked the status on the Holiday Lodge. Well – the pictures from this morning tell it all. The old hotel seemed to whisper, “Don’t cry for me, just have a drink and remember the grand old times.”

I raise my glass to you magnificent lady and end with a louder than ever Hoo Ah!!!!

I have stayed at Holiday Lodge on many trips and as wife says it was truly a diver's hotel.

Besides the new bridge taking all the front area what is going up. Will it be new condo/townhouses?

 

[Tom Smedley]

They're driving pilings on the point where Hydrospace and the Tilapa hut used to be and the sign says it will be something harbor condos. I went to Uncle Ernies Thursday night to eat and noticed two tall buildings with lights on north of the Holiday Lodge and today learned that two new high rises have gone up on the other side of the canal from the Lodge location. I heard that they are going to develop old St Andrews. It seems that lots of folks bought futures in $350 K condos before construction and after the building is finished the condos appraise at $250 K The banks are shying away so we have to watch where all this goes. Thousands of units - who will buy them all? Better yet who will rent them all at better than $200 a day?

 

[mike_s]

Some people I know have told me the same thing about dropping condo prices.... That people have overbought the in the "pre building phase" of new condos all over Panama City and that condo prices are dropping down there.

The prices will go back up, but not this year. Parts of Panama City Beach look like a war zone with all the old hotels being bull-dozed and building.

 

[Rick Murchison]

Thousands of units - who will buy them all? Better yet who will rent them all at better than $200 a day?

Where will all the sewage go... ???
Rick

 

[mike_s]

Where will all the sewage go... ???
Rick

I've been asking the same thing about Cozumel, since they dock 8 to 12 cruise boats a day, each carrying 2200 to 2500 passengers. I don't see how their sewage system can handle that many more people.

 

[Agent 47]

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[mike_s]

Well Henry.... .... ....... ....... .....

You put more than the minimum 15 character/dot required.... so did you have more to add than the dots?

 

[Agent 47]

It was morse code, but I typed too fast and ran my words together.