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

Updated August 16, 2026

By Roger Rietsema, Realtor® with Allison James Estates & Homes

If you are wondering what is actually being built near Pier Park, here is the quick answer: roadway and utility work is active inside Pier Park City Center near Topgolf; Ruby Tuesday and Hook’d Pier Bar & Grill are under construction; the 100-bed FSU Health hospital is projected for completion in 2027; Shell Point Surf Club received conditional city approval, but I could not verify a construction start; and Costco is still only a rumor.

I live and work in Panama City Beach and photographed the Pier Park City Center roadwork, Hook’d rebuild and Ruby Tuesday site in August 2026. This update separates projects that are open, under construction, approved or only proposed. Those differences matter if you are deciding where to buy, sell, live or own a vacation rental.

What Is Actually Being Built Near Pier Park?

Topgolf and Pirates Voyage are already open. They should no longer be described as future Pier Park projects.

If you are comparing properties in this part of Panama City Beach, start with my Panama City Beach real estate guide or search current homes and condos for sale.

Pier Park City Center Road Construction Near Topgolf

The construction visible near Topgolf appears to be part of Pier Park City Center’s internal road, drainage and utility network. The larger mixed-use development covers approximately 80 acres between Panama City Beach Parkway—also known as Back Beach Road or U.S. 98—and Front Beach Road.

Earlier planning information placed the development generally between Powell Adams Road and Hills Road. Initial work focused on roads, utilities and stormwater infrastructure that would be needed before additional restaurants, entertainment, hotels, residential buildings or commercial space could be developed.

Topgolf became the first operating business in Pier Park City Center when it opened on June 27, 2025.

Will the New Road Connect Back Beach Road to Front Beach Road?

Possibly, but I have not found an official map or opening announcement confirming that drivers will be able to use this exact road as a continuous public shortcut from Back Beach Road to Front Beach Road.

The new streets should provide access to future development parcels and connect with the surrounding Pier Park road system. What remains unclear is the final public access plan and whether every internal road will be open for through traffic.

Until the City or developer publishes the final traffic plan, I would describe this as Pier Park City Center roadway and infrastructure construction—not a completed Back Beach Road-to-Front Beach Road connection.

Sources: The St. Joe Company’s Pier Park City Center and Topgolf announcement and local reporting on the Pier Park City Center road and drainage plan.

Is This Part of the Front Beach Road CRA Project?

Not exactly. Pier Park City Center is a private mixed-use development. The City’s Front Beach Road Community Redevelopment Area work is a separate group of public infrastructure projects.

Front Beach Road Segment 4.1 extends from Lullwater Drive to Hills Road and includes Powell Adams Road. Segment 4.2 continues east from Hills Road toward Lantana Street. The City currently lists both segments as working through the permitting process.

The private and public projects are close to one another, but they should not be treated as the same road project or assumed to have the same construction schedule.

Official source: Panama City Beach Front Beach Road CRA project limits and status.

FSU Health Hospital Near Highway 79

The FSU Health hospital is one project that is clearly under construction. The campus covers approximately 87 acres near Highway 79 and Philip Griffitts Sr. Parkway.

The medical-office building opened in 2024 with urgent care, primary care, outpatient surgery and specialty practices. The next phase is a planned 100-bed inpatient hospital with an emergency center, surgery, cardiology, imaging and other hospital services. Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare currently projects completion in 2027.

This matters most to full-time residents, retirees, medical workers and buyers looking north of Pier Park. Better access to healthcare can make the Highway 79 corridor more practical for year-round living, but it does not automatically make every nearby property a good investment.

Insurance costs, HOA fees, traffic, builder pricing, lot premiums and competing resale inventory still have to make sense.

Read my full guide to what the FSU Health hospital may mean for Panama City Beach real estate, or review the official hospital construction information.

Growth Along the Highway 79 Corridor

Several large projects north of Pier Park are aimed more at full-time residents than tourists. These projects affect grocery access, healthcare, housing supply and traffic along Highway 79 and West Bay.

Latitude Margaritaville and Ward Creek

The St. Joe Company reported 2,359 occupied homes at Latitude Margaritaville Watersound as of June 30, 2026, with another 183 homes under contract. The current development plan calls for approximately 3,700 homes.

Ward Creek is also planned for substantial residential growth through communities that include Bayside, Salt Grass and Breakwater.

For buyers, the practical question is how a new builder home compares with the resale market. Check the advertised base price, lot premium, upgrades, deposit requirements, HOA fees, insurance, completion language and nearby inventory.

Builder incentives can help a buyer today, but they may also make it harder to resell while the builder is still offering new homes with discounted rates, closing-cost assistance or upgrade packages.

Sources: The St. Joe Company’s second-quarter 2026 report, Ward Creek community information and Breakwater at Ward Creek builder information.

Watersound West Bay Center and Publix

Watersound West Bay Center is being developed near Latitude Margaritaville and the Highway 79 corridor. St. Joe announced development of an approximately 50,000-square-foot Publix Super Market, an adjacent liquor store and roughly 11,000 square feet of additional inline retail space.

The larger center is planned for a mix of shopping, restaurants, offices and medical uses. This may not receive the attention of a new attraction, but grocery stores, restaurants and medical services close to home can make a noticeable difference for people living in the area year-round.

Buyers should still distinguish between what is open, what is under construction and what only appears on a long-range site plan. Future buildings may take years to complete, change tenants or never move forward in their original form.

Official source: The St. Joe Company’s Watersound West Bay Center and Publix announcement.

Breakfast Point East

Breakfast Point East has moved beyond early site work and is now an active new-home community with multiple builders. The long-range plan calls for more than 700 homesites and allows for possible future multifamily, retail, office and hotel uses.

That does not mean every building shown on a master plan is currently under construction. Buyers should look at the specific phase surrounding a property, current builder activity, school traffic, road access and the amount of future inventory that could compete with a resale or long-term rental.

Official source: Breakfast Point East community and builder information.

Front Beach Road and U.S. 98 Construction

Road improvements can help traffic flow and drainage over time, but active construction can create problems for owners and guests in the meantime. Detours, noise, median changes, harder parking access and temporary entrance restrictions can affect a vacation rental even when the finished project is beneficial.

U.S. 98 From Mandy Lane to Richard Jackson Boulevard

FDOT describes this as a 4.8-mile widening from four lanes to six. All six lanes are now open from Mandy Lane to Nautilus Street.

The remaining work from Nautilus Street to Richard Jackson Boulevard is active and is currently estimated for completion in late 2027. Planned improvements include sidewalks, bicycle lanes, drainage work, signal upgrades and changes around the Pier Park Drive intersection.

U.S. 98 From Richard Jackson Boulevard to the Hathaway Bridge

This is a separate 3.565-mile phase with a different schedule. The current completion estimate is late 2030.

Plans include six travel lanes, bicycle lanes, sidewalks, ADA pedestrian improvements, drainage and traffic-signal work. Construction dates can change because of weather, utility conflicts, design adjustments and material availability.

If you are considering a property along either construction zone, drive the route during normal weekday traffic and a busy weekend. Check whether the property’s usual entrance could be affected by a median, turn restriction or temporary work zone.

Updates: July 2026 U.S. 98 construction report and the City’s Front Beach Road CRA project page.

Buyers comparing the east side of Panama City Beach can also explore Thomas Drive homes and condos for sale.

Shipwreck Island’s Proposed 50-Foot Slide Complex

LSE Shipwreck Island, LLC requested a Large Conditional Use for the approximately 18.91-acre waterpark at 12201 Hutchison Boulevard. The application calls for relocating an existing water-play structure and replacing it with a new 50-foot-tall slide complex.

The Panama City Beach Planning Board heard the request on August 12, 2026. When this article was updated, I had not found posted written minutes or a documented final result that would support calling the project approved or under construction.

The amended August 12 agenda also moved the proposed pickleball-court regulations to the September 9 meeting. The agenda included other citywide planning items, but it did not identify those items as new Pier Park construction approvals.

If approved and built, the slide complex could update one of Panama City Beach’s longtime family attractions. Nearby owners should still watch construction timing, traffic, parking and operating noise. One new attraction by itself does not guarantee higher rental income.

Review the official August 12 Planning Board recording, the amended Planning Board agenda and the Shipwreck Island website.

Is the Shell Point Surf Club Wave Pool Being Built?

Shell Point Beach & Surf Club is planned for approximately 10 acres immediately east of Topgolf in Pier Park City Center. The main feature would be a large surf pool designed to produce different waves for beginners and experienced surfers.

Plans have also included family pools, a children’s splash area, clubhouse, restaurant and bar, retail space, rentals, a surf academy and event areas.

The project received conditional city approval in 2025, but development-order, construction-management and building-permit steps still remained. Earlier announcements discussed a possible 2027 opening, but as of August 16, 2026, I could not verify an official construction start or dependable opening date.

My view is straightforward: it could be a useful year-round attraction near Pier Park if it gets built. It would offer something to do away from the beach and could help on cooler days or when Gulf conditions are poor.

It is also a specialized and expensive project with financing, engineering and operating risks. I would not advise a buyer to pay a premium for a nearby property based on a promised opening date that has not been confirmed.

Sources: Shell Point Beach & Surf Club and local reporting on the surf-club approval and remaining development steps.

What Is Open and What Is Still Coming Near Pier Park?

Topgolf and Pirates Voyage Are Open

Topgolf and Pirates Voyage both opened in June 2025. They are no longer coming-soon projects.

Topgolf opened on June 27, 2025, with 74 climate-controlled hitting bays, a restaurant and bar. It became the first operating business in Pier Park City Center.

Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show is open at 16061 Panama City Beach Parkway. Buyers and rental owners should treat both businesses as existing attractions rather than future development.

Bonny Read Fun Park

Panama City Beach City Council approved a conditional use for Bonny Read Fun Park in July 2026. The approximately 4.5-acre attraction is planned near Pier Park West and Pirates Voyage.

Current plans include miniature golf, an indoor arcade and an electric go-kart track. Residents raised concerns about noise, lighting and drainage, and the City required electric go-karts.

The project still has to complete development review, permitting and other preconstruction steps. I would not describe it as under construction until site work or an official construction announcement can be verified. No dependable opening date has been announced.

Source: July 2026 City Council approval report.

Hook’d Pier Bar & Grill Rebuild

Hook’d Pier Bar & Grill is being rebuilt beside Russell-Fields City Pier in front of Pier Park after the former restaurant was damaged by fire.

Plans call for a larger two-story restaurant with additional seating and an expanded deck. During my August 2026 site visit, crews were working on the second floor.

An earlier public target called for a spring 2026 reopening, but that date passed while construction remained active. I have not found a dependable replacement date. The accurate description for now is under construction—not open yet.

Background: Hook’d Pier Bar & Grill rebuild report.

Ruby Tuesday Near Pier Park

Construction is underway on a new Ruby Tuesday on an approximately 1.35-acre site near the southeast corner of Pier Park Drive and Panama City Beach Parkway. The location is next to LongHorn Steakhouse.

This is the restaurant construction shown in my August 2026 photo below. I have not found a dependable public opening date, so I would avoid posting a specific month until the company or developer announces one.

Source: August 2026 Pier Park development report.

Is Costco Coming to Panama City Beach?

Costco rumors continue to circulate, especially around Pier Park and the Highway 79 corridor. I checked again for this update and found no officially announced Panama City Beach location.

Panama City Beach is not listed on Costco’s current new-locations page. I also did not find a Costco corporate announcement, signed lease identified by a local developer, named Costco tenant in a government filing or permit tied to a Costco project.

A Facebook post, map pin or claim that Costco is looking at Panama City Beach is not enough. Large retailers evaluate multiple markets without building in every one of them.

Bottom line: Costco remains a rumor as of August 16, 2026. Check Costco’s official new-locations page before sharing an opening date.

Proposed Residential Development at 12610 Front Beach Road

Applications involving approximately 29.2 acres at 12610 Front Beach Road describe a proposed residential subdivision on a central Panama City Beach site involving Front Beach Road, Hutchison Boulevard, Clara Avenue and nearby streets.

At its July 8, 2026 meeting, the Planning Board voted 4-3 to recommend approval of the Traditional Neighborhood Overlay District request. The recommendation included a 20-foot natural vegetative buffer beside existing residences and along Hutchison Boulevard where feasible.

Application materials discussed approximately 162 lots, but the plan remained conceptual. A Planning Board recommendation is not the same as final development approval, issued building permits or vertical construction. The final design, timing and number of homes could change.

Official source: Panama City Beach public meeting and agenda archive.

What These Projects Could Mean for Buyers and Property Owners

The west side around Highway 79, Ward Creek and West Bay continues to add full-time housing, healthcare and everyday shopping. Pier Park remains one of the main entertainment, shopping and vacation-rental areas. Central Panama City Beach has planning activity near Shipwreck Island and the 12610 Front Beach Road site. The east side is dealing with the longer U.S. 98 construction schedule toward the Hathaway Bridge.

New development can improve convenience, access and visitor demand, but it can also create traffic, construction noise and additional competition.

Before buying near one of these projects, I would check:

• Whether the project is open, under construction, approved, conditionally approved or only proposed
• Traffic and property access during a weekday and a busy weekend
• Parking availability and whether construction affects the normal entrance
• Actual walking distance and the safety of the route to Pier Park or the beach
• HOA or condo fees, reserves, insurance and possible assessments
• Short-term rental rules, occupancy limits and minimum-stay requirements
• Actual rental history after management, cleaning, repairs, taxes and utilities
• How much new housing or vacation-rental competition is planned nearby
• Whether builders are offering incentives that could compete with a future resale
• Flood zone, insurance availability and the property’s claims history

Development can be one reason to consider an area, but it should not be the only reason to buy. Current comparable sales, property condition, insurance, HOA finances, beach access, parking and rental restrictions usually matter more than an attraction that may not open for several years.

Review my Panama City Beach buyer FAQ or explore Panama City Beach investment condos for sale.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the road being built near Topgolf in Panama City Beach?

The visible grading, roadway, drainage and utility work appears consistent with the infrastructure network for Pier Park City Center, an approximately 80-acre mixed-use development anchored by Topgolf. I have not found official confirmation that the exact road shown will become a continuous public connection from Back Beach Road to Front Beach Road.

Is the Pier Park roadwork part of the City’s Front Beach Road project?

Not exactly. Pier Park City Center is a private mixed-use development. Front Beach Road Segment 4.1 is a City CRA project extending from Lullwater Drive to Hills Road and including Powell Adams Road. The projects are close to each other but have separate plans, approvals and schedules.

When will the U.S. 98 widening be finished?

There is not one completion date. The current estimate is late 2027 for the remaining work from Nautilus Street to Richard Jackson Boulevard and late 2030 for the separate phase from Richard Jackson Boulevard to the Hathaway Bridge.

Is the FSU Health hospital under construction?

Yes. Construction is active on the planned 100-bed inpatient hospital near Highway 79 and Philip Griffitts Sr. Parkway. Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare currently projects completion in 2027. The medical-office building on the campus is already open.

Is the Shell Point surf lagoon under construction?

I could not verify an official construction start as of August 16, 2026. The project received conditional city approval and still appears active, but buyers should not rely on an earlier opening estimate until a groundbreaking and updated schedule are announced.

Is the new Ruby Tuesday near Pier Park under construction?

Yes. Construction is underway near the southeast corner of Pier Park Drive and Panama City Beach Parkway, next to LongHorn Steakhouse. I have not found a dependable public opening date.

When will Hook’d Pier Bar & Grill reopen?

The two-story rebuild is under construction beside Russell-Fields City Pier. An earlier spring 2026 reopening target passed, and I have not verified a dependable replacement date.

Is Costco officially coming to Panama City Beach?

No official Panama City Beach Costco location has been announced as of August 16, 2026. Panama City Beach is not listed on Costco’s current corporate new-locations page.

Will these projects increase Panama City Beach property values?

Some projects may improve convenience, employment and visitor demand, but property values still depend on the exact location, comparable sales, property condition, insurance, HOA finances, rental restrictions, traffic and competing inventory. A proposed attraction should never replace a property-specific market analysis.

Need help comparing a Panama City Beach home, condo or investment property near Pier Park? Call or text Roger Rietsema at (850) 596-5844, or send me a message here.

Information is based on public records, company announcements, local reporting and site observations available as of August 16, 2026. Development plans, budgets, permits, tenants and construction schedules can change. Verify facts that could affect a purchase directly with the appropriate government agency, developer, property association, lender, insurance provider and other professionals.