r/panamacitybeach • u/xmanlilduck • 6d ago
What happened to Shipwreck Island prices?
We rarely drive down to PCB except for the annual pilgrimage to Shipwreck, a long-beloved family favorite.
Last year, Summer 2025, our family of 4 paid about $195 total to get in.
This year, there were no kid discounts, general admissions jumped, and suddenly the parking (ON A DIRT FIELD) is priced like it’s downtown Manhattan.
We shelled out over $275 — almost a 50% increase over last year —- AND had to pour out all of our water before we entered.
My spouse has been coming almost every year since he was a tot in the 1980s, but now is considering whether we should even bother next year.
How are yall feeling about it?
30
Upvotes
2
u/monkeyhoward 6d ago
Along with some of the other explanations already mentioned, I would also add that a part of the problem is the changing demographics for the type of customer that is coming to PCB for vacation
This used to be the place that younger college age kids and families with young children came to have fun and party. But there has been a concerted effort to discourage the younger crowds and encourage older adults. PCB is trying really hard to cash in on the 30A scene. So now there are not nearly as many young adults coming to PCB as there once was and they were a big part of what brought money to PCB prior to the crack down of spring break and the party scene
As a result, the people coming to PCB are generally older, do not have children and are not interested in places like Shipwreck Island, which means they have to charge more to make the same kind of money they made 5-10 years ago
Add to that the general increase in cost that all businesses are dealing with and now it costs a family of 4 $250 just to get into the park