What’s Being Built Near Pier Park in Panama City Beach? 2026 Development Update

By Roger Rietsema, Realtor® | Allison James Estates & Homes
Research updated September 16, 2026

Panama City Beach continues to change quickly in 2026. Around Pier Park, along Highway 79 and into the West Bay corridor, construction is adding entertainment, restaurants, housing, health care, transportation improvements and commercial space. Development near 30A and Inlet Beach is moving as well.

This page tracks the projects that matter most to people considering a home, condo, investment property or move to Panama City Beach and the nearby 30A area. I separate announced projects, approvals, active construction and completed openings whenever possible so a proposal is not mistaken for something that is already being built.

Quick Links

• Project status at a glance
• Pier Park construction and attractions
• Palmhaven
• Highway 79, FSU Health and West Bay
• 30A and Inlet Beach development
• Back Beach Road and Front Beach Road
• ECP Airport expansion
• Shipwreck Island
• Upcoming public meetings to watch
• What buyers should watch
• Frequently asked questions

Panama City Beach & 30A Development Status at a Glance

Status guide: An announcement is not the same as an approval. An approval is not the same as a construction start. Published completion and opening dates can also change.

What's Being Built Near Pier Park?

Pier Park City Center: The Area Around Topgolf Is Still Evolving

Pier Park City Center is a major piece of the future buildout east of the established Pier Park shopping district. St. Joe describes the project as nearly 80 acres planned for additional entertainment concepts, restaurants, complementary retail and visitor accommodations.

Topgolf is already operating, while my August 2026 photograph above documents roadway, drainage and utility work around the surrounding City Center property.

St. Joe has also described a surf attraction as the second major entertainment anchor for this area. That project is Shell Point Beach & Surf Club, discussed below.

View the official Pier Park City Center page →

Shell Point Beach & Surf Club

Shell Point is planned beside Topgolf within Pier Park City Center and is one of the area's most closely watched future attractions. Plans have described a surf lagoon using Endless Surf technology along with family recreation, pools, a clubhouse, restaurant and other surf-club amenities.

The most important distinction right now is status: the official Shell Point website says “Coming 2027,” but I have not independently verified a full construction start as of September 16, 2026. That is why this page continues to classify it as an approved/planned project rather than an operating attraction.

Follow Shell Point's official project website →

Bonny Read Run Park at Pier Park West

Bonny Read is a proposed family entertainment attraction next to Pirates Voyage. Panama City Beach City Council approved plans in July 2026 for a project of roughly 4.5 acres featuring miniature golf, an arcade and electric go-karts.

The approval does not mean construction automatically begins. WJHG reported that the project still must complete the city's development review process.

Read WJHG's City Council coverage →

Ruby Tuesday Near Pier Park Drive

A Ruby Tuesday is being developed near the southeast corner of Pier Park Drive and Panama City Beach Parkway, close to LongHorn Steakhouse. Site activity was visible in August, but I have not found a reliable public opening date.

Read local PCB Life coverage →

Hook'd Pier Bar & Grill Rebuild

Hook'd, across from Russell-Fields Pier, continues to rebuild following fire damage. Earlier reports discussed a spring 2026 reopening target, but construction was still clearly underway when the photograph below was taken in September. For that reason, I would not rely on the old reopening estimate.

Background: WJHG coverage of the rebuild →

Palmhaven: City Council Upholds Approval

This is one of the biggest changes since the previous version of this article.

On September 10, 2026, Panama City Beach City Council upheld the Planning Board's approval of the Palmhaven Traditional Neighborhood Overlay District Master Plan. The project is planned for the property at 12610 Front Beach Road and is expected to include approximately 160 homes.

The final agreement includes several public-oriented features, including a multi-use trail, larger setbacks, outdoor showers and 40 public golf-cart parking spaces. WJHG reported that Fischer Homes is responsible for constructing and maintaining the added public amenities.

Traffic, development density and stormwater were among the concerns raised during public review. The current plan includes a large on-site stormwater retention area intended to manage runoff under city requirements.

Important status: Palmhaven has cleared the City Council appeal, but WJHG reports that the developer still must receive a final development order before construction can officially begin.

Read WJHG's September 10 Palmhaven update →
Watch the City of Panama City Beach's September 10 meeting highlights →

Highway 79, FSU Health, Ward Creek & West Bay

The Highway 79 corridor has become one of the most important long-term growth areas in Panama City Beach. Residential development, medical construction, retail and airport-related growth are increasingly connected along this corridor.

FSU Health Panama City Beach Hospital

Construction is underway on the new FSU Health hospital near Highway 79 and Philip Griffitts Sr. Parkway, adjacent to the outpatient medical office building that is already serving patients.

FSU's official project announcement says the first phase can accommodate up to 180 beds and include services such as emergency medicine, general surgery and diagnostic imaging, with specialized service lines planned as the health system develops.

Timing clarification: FSU's official target is a 2028 hospital opening. Other project material has discussed earlier construction-completion milestones. Those are not necessarily the same thing as the date patients will begin being treated in the hospital.

Read FSU's hospital announcement →
Read FSU's August 2026 construction update →
My detailed guide: What FSU Health could mean for Panama City Beach real estate →

Watersound West Bay Center: Publix Development Underway

The Publix at Watersound West Bay Center should no longer be described simply as a rumored or proposed grocery store. St. Joe announced that development of the Publix Super Market commenced.

Plans call for an approximately 50,000-square-foot Publix with pharmacy, deli and bakery, plus an adjacent liquor store. St. Joe also describes approximately 11,000 square feet of additional inline commercial space.

The larger Watersound West Bay Center is planned for approximately 500,000 square feet of commercial space as the Highway 79/West Bay area grows.

I have not found a reliable official public opening date for the Publix, so this page will continue to treat the opening date as unconfirmed.

Read St. Joe's official Publix / West Bay Center announcement →

Salt Grass and Ward Creek

Residential development is also continuing north of Panama City Beach Parkway. Ward Creek includes the Bayside, Breakwater and Salt Grass neighborhoods, with homebuilders adding new housing near the Highway 79, West Bay, Latitude Margaritaville and airport corridors.

This matters because the area is increasingly developing as more than a vacation corridor. New year-round housing, medical facilities, commercial development and airport-related employment are creating a larger permanent-resident base north of U.S. 98.

Explore my Ward Creek new-construction guide →

What's New Near 30A & Inlet Beach?

Watersound Town Center: Anthropologie, Johnnie-O & More Retail

Watersound Town Center continues to expand near the eastern end of 30A.

St. Joe announced in August that Anthropologie signed a lease for an approximately 9,000-square-foot store. The location is also planned to include Anthropologie Weddings. Johnnie-O has opened at the center.

More importantly for development watchers, construction has started on the new retail building that will house Anthropologie and additional tenants that have not yet been announced. St. Joe says another retail building is anticipated to break ground later in 2026.

Watersound Town Center currently includes approximately 170,000 square feet and was reported by St. Joe as approximately 98% leased. Long-range plans call for approximately 400,000 square feet.

Read St. Joe's August 2026 retail expansion announcement →

Watersound Weddings & Events

There is another very recent Watersound Town Center announcement. St. Joe launched Watersound Weddings & Events, a centralized planning business for weddings and other events across its hospitality portfolio.

The services are already available, while a physical Watersound Town Center storefront is anticipated to open in early 2027. The location is intended to complement the recently announced Anthropologie Weddings store.

Read the September 9 St. Joe announcement →

Villas at Longleaf Park at Watersound Origins

New residential construction also continues in Watersound Origins. Fischer Homes is marketing paired villa designs at Villas at Longleaf Park in Inlet Beach, and current builder listings include multiple quick move-in homes marked as under construction.

This is useful for buyers who like the east end of the 30A area but are comparing lower-maintenance new construction north of Scenic Highway 30A with homes inside Rosemary Beach, Alys Beach, Seacrest and Inlet Beach.

See Fischer Homes' current Longleaf Park information →
Explore Inlet Beach real estate →
Explore Rosemary Beach →
Explore Seacrest →

CR 30A Right-of-Way Improvements: Dune Allen Area

Walton County Beach Operations issued a public workshop notice for CR 30A right-of-way improvements from east of Hilltop Lane to west of Allen Loop West.

A corrected county notice lists the workshop for September 21, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the South Walton Courthouse Annex, 31 Coastal Centre Boulevard in Santa Rosa Beach.

Meeting-time note: Walton County's online calendar has also displayed a different time for this meeting, while the county's later “Correction” notice specifies 5–6 p.m. Anyone planning to attend should verify the live notice before leaving.

Read Walton County's corrected CR 30A workshop notice →

Western Lake Bridge Replacement

The Western Lake Bridge replacement remains an active 30A-area transportation project. Walton County's September traffic advisory continues to show construction activity, including material deliveries, paving and temporary lane impacts.

Exact weekly closures change, so visitors, owners and buyers heading through this part of 30A should check current traffic advisories rather than relying on an older closure schedule.

Check Walton County's latest construction traffic advisory →

U.S. 98 / Back Beach Road Widening

The U.S. 98 widening project remains one of the most consequential infrastructure projects in Panama City Beach.

The first major segment, from Mandy Lane to Nautilus Street, has reached the point where all six lanes are open. WJHG reported in July that this first section was wrapping nearly a year ahead of schedule.

• Mandy Lane to Nautilus Street: six lanes open.
• Nautilus Street to Richard Jackson Boulevard: published completion target is late 2027.
• Richard Jackson Boulevard to the Hathaway Bridge: published target is late 2030.

Those remaining dates are project targets and can change. Drivers should still expect traffic shifts and occasional nighttime lane closures as work proceeds.

Read WJHG's latest Back Beach Road construction report →

Front Beach Road CRA Segment 4.1

Another project worth watching is Front Beach Road CRA Segment 4.1. The City of Panama City Beach currently has an active design-build procurement for this segment.

A public review committee meeting is scheduled for September 17, 2026 at City Hall to discuss submittals associated with the city's CRA program work.

View the city's Front Beach Road Segment 4.1 procurement page →
View the September 17 public meeting notice →

Frank Brown Park Pickleball Courts

The City of Panama City Beach's bid page now lists the Frank Brown Park pickleball project as awarded. The project scope includes covered and uncovered pickleball courts, a restroom facility, stormwater improvements and supporting water, sewer and infrastructure work on approximately 1.5 acres at the southern end of Frank Brown Park.

View the official Frank Brown Park pickleball project →

ECP Airport Expansion: One of the Biggest Growth Stories to Watch

Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) is now much more than a terminal-expansion story. The airport is adding terminal capacity while also preparing additional land for aviation and commercial development.

Groundwork and vertical construction at the ECP North Terminal expansion site. Photo by Roger Rietsema, September 2026.

Steel framework and groundwork at the ECP North Terminal expansion site. Photo by Roger Rietsema, September 2026.North Terminal Expansion Moves Into Vertical Construction

ECP broke ground on an approximately 80,000-square-foot North Terminal expansion. Plans call for three additional gates, six airline baggage offices, four additional baggage-claim carousels, more seating and concessions, new and more accessible restrooms and expansion/relocation of the TSA checkpoint.

The project also received an $8 million federal Airport Terminal Program grant.

The newest major milestone came in September: a September 14 Panama City News Herald report said the terminal project had begun vertical construction. That moves the project beyond the earlier foundation, slab, utility and underground work documented in airport construction updates.

ECP Passenger Traffic Is Still Growing

The latest official activity report currently posted by ECP covers July 2026.

• July 2026 passengers: 238,809
• July 2025 passengers: 229,785
• Year-over-year July increase: 3.93%
• 2026 passengers through July: 1,263,735
• 2025 passengers through July: 1,197,245
• Year-to-date increase: 5.55%

For Panama City Beach and 30A property owners, this matters because air access supports vacation travel, second-home ownership, relocation and business development throughout Northwest Florida.

View ECP's official aviation statistics →

350 Acres North of the Terminal

The airport is also taking initial steps toward development of approximately 350 wooded acres north of the terminal.

WJHG reported in August that the first phase involves stormwater and drainage work before roads and clearing advance. The plan also includes reconfiguring an existing pond to create additional parking capacity. Airport leaders have described the larger goal as creating room for additional industries and businesses.

Read WJHG's report on the 350-acre expansion area →

New Airport Restaurants & Retail

The airport board has also approved a new concessions arrangement with SSP America. Local television coverage says the airport wants more Northwest Florida flavor in its food and retail program, including partnerships involving Sharky's and Runaway Island.

The new program is expected to include both sit-down and faster grab-and-go options as terminal renovations progress. WJHG reported a multi-phase rollout over roughly the next two to three years.

Read WJHG's ECP concessions update →

New Aviation Maintenance Projects Could Add Jobs

Another important airport-area story involves aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities.

The Panama City News Herald reported September 14 that IAG Aero Group plans an approximately 120,000-square-foot engine MRO facility at the airport, while Premier Aviation plans a two-bay narrow-body aircraft hangar. Airport Executive Director Parker McClellan told the newspaper he expects both projects to begin construction in early 2027.

These projects are worth watching from a real-estate perspective because they are tied to year-round aviation employment rather than tourism alone.

Read the Panama City News Herald airport development report →

Next ECP Board Meeting

The next regular Panama City-Bay County Airport and Industrial District board meeting is currently scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. in the airport's second-floor Board Room.

View ECP board meetings, agendas and minutes →

Shipwreck Island: New Waterslide Approved

This project has also moved from the “watch” category to an official approval.

On August 27, Panama City Beach City Council approved a new attraction at Shipwreck Island Waterpark. WJHG reports the proposed waterslide will be approximately 50 feet tall on the east side of the park near Hutchison Boulevard.

City leaders described it as an approximately $5 million investment expected to add around 20 seasonal jobs.

An exact construction-start date and opening date were not included in the report, so those remain to be confirmed.

Read WJHG's Shipwreck Island approval report →

Topgolf & Pirates Voyage: Already Open

Two projects that used to appear on Panama City Beach “coming soon” lists have now moved into the completed/open category: Topgolf and Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show.

That distinction matters when evaluating future Pier Park development. They are no longer speculative anchors. They are operating attractions that can generate traffic and support additional development around the Pier Park City Center and Pier Park West areas.

Upcoming PCB, Airport & 30A Public Meetings to Watch

For development research, some of the best information appears first in meeting agendas, planning documents and public workshops. Here are the most relevant upcoming dates I found as of September 16, 2026.

Meeting dates and agendas can change. Always check the official calendar shortly before attending.

Panama City Beach official calendar →
Walton County official meeting calendar →
ECP Airport board meetings →
Walton County October 7 beach-activities workshop notice →

Latest Local TV, Newspaper & Government Updates

These are some of the most useful recent reports and official publications I reviewed for this September update:

• City of Panama City Beach: September 10 City Council five-minute highlight video
• WJHG: Palmhaven approval upheld by PCB City Council
• WJHG: new Shipwreck Island waterslide approved
• WJHG: ECP begins process to develop 350 acres north of the terminal
• WJHG: new ECP concessions and local restaurant partnerships
• Panama City News Herald: terminal vertical construction and new aviation MRO projects
• WJHG: Back Beach Road widening progress
• St. Joe: Anthropologie and Watersound Town Center expansion
• St. Joe: Watersound Weddings & Events announcement
• Walton County: current construction traffic advisories, including Western Lake Bridge

What Does All This Development Mean for Buyers?

Development does not automatically make every property a better investment. The effect can vary significantly by neighborhood, building and even which side of a road a property sits on.

1. Access may matter more than straight-line distance

A condo may appear close to Pier Park, the hospital or a major attraction on a map but still require a difficult turn, U-turn or congested route. When comparing properties, I look at how people actually reach the property.

2. Construction can be both an opportunity and a temporary inconvenience

Road improvements and new commercial projects can improve long-term accessibility, but buyers should also consider current construction noise, lane shifts and neighboring work.

3. Highway 79 is becoming more important for year-round living

The combination of FSU Health, West Bay commercial development, Ward Creek housing, Latitude Margaritaville, the airport and aviation employment is creating a different type of growth north of the traditional beachfront condo market.

4. 30A's growth continues north of Scenic 30A

Watersound Town Center, Watersound Origins and U.S. 98-area development are expanding the year-round commercial and residential base serving Inlet Beach, Rosemary Beach, Seacrest, Alys Beach and surrounding communities.

5. Never assume short-term rentals are allowed

If rental income matters, verify the specific property's zoning, deed restrictions, condominium documents, HOA rules and local registration requirements. A new development near the beach is not automatically a legal short-term rental property.

Explore Panama City Beach investment condos →
See my guide to Panama City Beach beachfront condos →

Frequently Asked Questions

What new projects are being built near Pier Park in 2026?

Current projects and planned developments include Pier Park City Center infrastructure, Shell Point Beach & Surf Club, Bonny Read Run Park, a Ruby Tuesday restaurant, the Hook'd rebuild and other commercial development around the Pier Park corridor. Topgolf and Pirates Voyage are already open.

Has Palmhaven been approved?

Panama City Beach City Council upheld approval of Palmhaven's master plan on September 10, 2026. However, the developer still needs a final development order before construction can officially begin.

When will Shell Point Surf Club open?

The official Shell Point website currently says Coming 2027. I have not independently confirmed a full construction start or a guaranteed opening date, so buyers should treat 2027 as the project's published target rather than a certainty.

When will the new FSU Health hospital in Panama City Beach open?

Construction is underway. Florida State University's official plan currently targets a 2028 opening.

Is Publix at Watersound West Bay Center confirmed?

Yes. St. Joe announced commencement of development of an approximately 50,000-square-foot Publix Super Market at Watersound West Bay Center. I have not found a confirmed public opening date.

What's new at Watersound Town Center near 30A?

Johnnie-O is open, Anthropologie has signed a lease for an approximately 9,000-square-foot store with Anthropologie Weddings, construction is underway on the building it will occupy, and St. Joe anticipates another retail building breaking ground later in 2026. Watersound Weddings & Events is also planning an early-2027 storefront.

What is happening at Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport?

ECP's North Terminal expansion has moved into vertical construction. The airport is also preparing approximately 350 acres north of the terminal for future development, expanding concessions, adding gates and baggage capacity and working with aviation companies planning new maintenance facilities.

Is Costco coming to Panama City Beach?

As of this September 16, 2026 review, I still cannot verify an official Costco announcement for Panama City Beach. Costco's current corporate “New Locations” page does not list Panama City Beach, and its Florida warehouse directory does not show a Panama City Beach location. Until Costco or a documented local development filing confirms one, I would treat social-media claims as rumor.

Check Costco's official new-location page →

How This Development Update Is Researched

I update this page using a combination of firsthand site observations and photographs, City of Panama City Beach agendas and bid records, Walton County notices and meeting calendars, Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport board documents and passenger reports, Florida State University updates, developer announcements and reputable local reporting.

Development timelines change. A project can be approved and later redesigned, delayed or canceled. For real-estate decisions, I recommend verifying the current development order, permit, recorded restrictions and project status rather than relying only on marketing material or an older news story.

Planning a trip before you buy? For Panama City Beach vacation accommodations, visit Emerald Beach Rentals. You can also see Barefoot Paradise PCB.

Last research review: September 16, 2026. I will continue updating this page as projects move from proposal to approval, construction and opening.