Panama City Beach Businesses Seeing Steady Business This Labor Day Weekend - WMBB News 13 - The Panhandle's News Leader

Panama City Beach Businesses Seeing Steady Business This Labor Day Weekend

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By Kelsey Peck - bio | email

We just watched the weather throughout the hurricane and saw it didn't affect the beach," says Hollie Farmer. She and her husband planned their trip to Panama City Beach a few weeks ago and were excited they didn't have to cancel it.  It's their last weekend before school starts back up in Georgia and she says things will begin to get crazy.

Single red flags were flying today at the beach. It's the first time in nearly a week the water was open to the public.

Meanwhile there were some who preferred to spend their fun indoors today...like the Mccrary family from Iowa. It's their first time at the attraction Wonderworks. It's also their first trip to Panama City. It's a trip they're glad they were able to make as Hurricane Isaac did have them questioning the vacation they planned nearly 6 months ago.

"We were in wait and see mode," says Tim Mccrary, "we didn't really want to change our plans, so we waited until the last minute to make sure Isaac was gonna by-pass panama city."

Kim Roberson is the Customer Service Manager at Wonderworks and says while business has been steady...she's not so sure if they'll meet last year's numbers.

"Last year we did better on Sunday than Saturday, so we're hoping tomorrow is busier than today, but so far so good for today," says Roberson.

An area restaurant on the beach, Sharkey's, said business for them was steady today too. "We were kinda fearful that with the storm people wouldn't be here but they're actually here and it's just like we wanted."

Sea Haven Beach Properties right next door says they have only about 30 vacancies out of the 400 plus rooms. And though they did receive some cancellations, they say they've made up for it with walk-ins.

While the Labor Day weekend wraps up the summer season, the Tourist Development Council is working on a fall marketing campaign to make the beach a year 'round destination.