Panama City Beach in Bay County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Bid-A-Wee Beach Park

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. Bid-A-Wee Beach Park Marker

Inscription. On February 22, 1926, WWI Veteran Harry C. Cailey of St. Andrews filed claim under the Homestead Act for 140.52 acres on this Gulf of Mexico location. His patent deed, signed by President Calvin Coolidge, required he maintain residency for six-months. On September 5, 1928, he paid $1.25 per acre and received a warranty deed. One year later he sold the property to Dr. Grover C., and Eula C. Miller of Chipley, Florida. Eula named the beach Bid-A- Wee, Scottish for "bide your time a short while,” to honor her mother's heritage. In January 1936, she filed a plat for a portion of the beach for the development of Bid-A-Wee community and Bid-A-Wee Beach Park (BAWBP). In February 1938, she dedicated the 2,500-foot beach to the property owners of the community, with a highly restrictive covenant governing the land use "for park purposes only." Eula Miller died on June 15, 1985. Since then, the BAWBP organization has successfully prevented attempts to commercialize the beach. BAWBP is the only remaining undeveloped private beach in Panama City Beach, Florida. In January 2006, BAWBP, acquired the titles to this historic beach property

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with an intent to preserve its natural beauty.

Erected 2024 by Bid-A-Wee Beach Park, Inc. and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-1231.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Parks & Recreational Areas • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is February 22, 1926.

Location. 30° 12.092′ N, 85° 51.031′ W. Marker is in Panama City Beach, Florida, in Bay County. It is at the intersection of Front Beach Road (Florida Route 30) and Argonaut Street, on the right when traveling east on Front Beach Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Panama City Beach FL 32407, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Florida Panhandle.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. Bid-A-Wee Beach Park Marker

the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Techdiver Submarine (approx. 3.3 miles away); Man in the Sea Museum History (approx. 3.3 miles away); U.S. Navy Sealab Program (approx. 3.3 miles away); US Navy Sealab Program (approx. 3.3 miles away); Swimmer Delivery Vehicle (SDV) MK 6 (approx. 3.3 miles away); Swimmer Delivery Vehicle (SDV) MK 7 (approx. 3.3 miles away); Swimmer Delivery Vehicle (SDV) MK VIII (approx. 3.3 miles away); Decompression Chamber (approx. 3.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Panama City Beach.

Also see . . . Bid-A-Wee beach receives historical marker. (Submitted on April 13, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 14, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 13, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,205 times since then and 141 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 13, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.