We've been along the Florida's panhandle since Saturday, looking for a break from all that global warming up by the Illinois-Wisconsin border. It's finally getting warm after two pretty cold days.
Came across a brochure for Pineapple Willy's, a popular hangout here, which had a short history of that place and PC Beach as they call it sometimes.
UGLY WHITE SAND GROWS PEOPLE
It said that in the early 1930s, there wasn't really much at the beach which was sometimes referred to as "ugly white sand." That is, until a Gideon Thomas decided he could do something with it. Instead of growing food, he was going to "grow people.
On May 2, 1936, he held the formal opening of Panama City Beach with an amusement park and whole Florida lobsters for 75 cents each. Since then, it is a bumper-to-bumper crop indeed. In 1953 the state recognized his effort by naming a major thoroughfare "Thomas Drive."
So, when you're in town, and get on Thomas Drive, that's how it became that name.
However, one sad thing is that the many small mom and pop motels and businesses are being replaced by gigantic condo buildings and corporate America's offerings.
PINEAPPLE WILLY's
In 1984, local businessman William Buskell, aka "Pineapple Willy" bought the Pier 99 Lounge and changed the name to Pineapple Willy's, and the rest is eating and partying history.
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