At certain times of the year you’ll see awe-inspiring displays of colors as the bright orange ball dips below the horizon. It’s worth the $2.25 walking access fee to watch the sunset over the shimmering emerald water from the end of the pier.

With our south facing location the sun rises and sets over the gulf nearly year-round. Spanish mackerel are typically caught in droves and make the perfect homemade po-boy. Hauling in a 30-pound king is not uncommon, which makes a tasty smoked fish dip with plenty to share. From the mackerel family we’ve got a yearly run of king and Spanish. For catch-and-release sport fishers we’ve got tarpon, blue fish, sharks, and even the occasional sailfish when darker waters reach the pier. Pensacola Beach fishing on the pier is excellent as its length provides anglers of all skill levels the chance to land a variety of delicious fish like pompano, redfish, mahi mahi, flounder, whiting, sheepshead, and even cobia. At just over a fourth of a mile, the Gulf Fishing Pier on Pensacola Beach is a must see when you visit our little piece of paradise. Here, you can outfit your tackle box, catch your dinner, sportfish, and sightsee all from one of the longest concrete piers in the world. There’s also an alcohol-free zone just slightly west for a family-friendly vibe. If it’s high-energy excitement you’re after, Casino Beach is the place to be. Once there, you’ll find lots of free parking, but be sure to grab your flip flops because the asphalt will be sizzling hot in summer. This beloved icon is hard to miss as you drive south from Bob Sikes Bridge or west from Navarre.

That fun-loving spirit lives on today in the stunning area we still call Casino Beach, which is marked by a giant water tower painted to look like a beach ball. In 1972, the site was demolished, but you can still find some of its salvaged wooden beams at Apple Annie’s in the Seville Quarter.

There was also a bath house, banquet hall, dance pavilion, restaurant, and 1,200-foot pier. Although there wasn’t any gambling going on, there was no shortage of good times.įor decades, the casino played host to beauty pageants, boxing matches, fireworks displays, and boat races. After the first bridges opened, locals flocked here to experience a brand-new casino built by the Pensacola Beach Company. The modern era of Santa Rosa Island began in 1931 with Casino Beach.

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