Not to be confused with Miracle Strip at Pier Park. Associated with Shipwreck Island Water Park.Miracle Strip Amusement Park is an abandoned theme park built in 1963 located in Panama City Beach, Florida, Right across the street from the beach. The highlight of the park was The Starliner Roller Coaster, an "out-and-back" wooden coaster designed by John Allen upon the park's initial conception. A few other rides lay nearby to the Starliner and a small arcade center and food stands rounded out the fledgling park.As the strip grew in popularity and Panama City Beach became more of a tourist location, the park grew as well. More and more rides were added throughout the late 60s until the 80s, and the park grew up around the Starliner, which was by far the main draw for the park's entire run. As the city became more of a spring break hotspot, the popularity of the family friendly Miracle Strip Park decreased, though it remained a draw for families up to the 2000s.OpeningIn 1963 the Starliner was the first coaster built in Florida. Coasters in general were on the decline after World War II and many doubted the success of the coaster. A group of men in Panama City Beach joined together in a partnership to start up the new attraction. James I Lark Sr., Harry Edwards, Alf Coleman, Bill Parker, Dawn Bennet and Julian Bennet. The group pulled together money at the end of 1962 and the building of the Starliner began in early 1963. Dawn and Julian Bennet originally owned the land the coaster was built on and because of there attribute it cut down on start up cost tremendously.
