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Pensacola Beach... One Year Later

By Jennifer Allan-Hagedorn

Education & Training with Sell with Soul

July 08, 2011 01:29 AM

Last summer I wrote a series of blogs about Oil on the Beach - specifically, Pensacola Beach, where I'd just moved. Since I was new to town, it was my first summer as an official Pensacola Beach babe, so I didn't know what a "normal" summer on the beach was like. Due to the oil spill and subsequent media hype attention, the island I lived on was practically deserted all summer and, I can admit, that it was kinda nice. Yeah, the beaches were a little (sometimes a lot) oily and there was occasionally a stench of burning oil in the air, but from a purely selfish, it's-all-about-me perspective, having an island to yourself during the height of tourist season wasn't the worst thing in the world.

Anyway, it's a year later and thankfully, the days of wondering if the beautiful white sand beaches of the Florida Panhandle will survive and if the economy will ever recover are over. The beaches are again gorgeous and as far as I can tell, the local economy is doing just fine, thank you. Long waits at popular restaurants, weekend backups on the bridges, jam-packed parking lots and even the real estate agents seem to be busy.

Just for fun, here are some photos of Pensacola beach LAST summer... and THIS summer...

Parking Lot

Pensacola Beach Parking Lot LAST 4th of July weekend at 1pm

Parking Lot

Pensacola Beach Parking Lot THIS 4th of July Weekend around 1pm

Oil

Oil on the Beach LAST July

beach

NO Oil on the Beach THIS July

Casino Beach LAST July

beach

Casino Beach THIS July

What a difference a year makes!

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Susan Haughton

Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA

Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Mother Nature has an amazing ability to recover from all sorts of disasters, both natural and man made. Glad to see Pensacola Beach thriving again!

Jul 08, 2011 01:48 AM

Hrisco & Associates

Hrisco & Associates - Roanoke, TX

Roanoke Homes for Sale - Roanoke Neighborhoods

Hi Jennifer, its good to see the beach has recovered in some ways, though i'm sure the marine life still has a ways to go.

Jul 08, 2011 01:52 AM

Jennifer Allan-Hagedorn

Sell with Soul - Pensacola Beach, FL

Author of Sell with Soul

I think Mother Nature did a good job. The wildlife-watching (birds, fish, turtles, dolphins, etc) has been fabulous this year. My husband, who is a wildlife biologist here says the sea turtle nesting season was crazy - lots and lots of new sea turtles in the world this year!

Jul 08, 2011 03:06 AM

Loreena and Michael Yeo

3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co. - Prosper, TX

Real Estate Agents

So nice to see the wonderful and positive difference, gf!!! You have my life I want on the beach. But I love Frisco more. Guess I wont be Da Beach Babe.

Jul 08, 2011 04:18 AM

Mike Frazier

Carousel Realty of Dyer County - Dyersburg, TN

Northwest Tennessee Realtor

Jennifer, I own a condo in Destin and we really never got that oil on the beach except one day when there were little tar balls which took 3 hours to pick up. I envy you living on the beach all the time.

Jul 08, 2011 04:32 AM

Lydie Ouellet Dickinson

Realty Executives Tri County, Bellingham MA - Bellingham, MA

Realtor

Susan said it best: Mother Nature has this amazing ability to recover. But I do understand what you mean about "being selfish"... I would have think the same! ; )

Jul 08, 2011 06:11 AM

For the record... BP is still here cleaning up. I'm actually impressed - you can almost always see a few BP contractors walking the beach with their little buckets picking up the remnants of the oil.

I'm on the beach right now waiting for the Blue Angels Air Show Dress Rehearsal...yeah... life is gooood at the beach ;-]

Jul 08, 2011 07:17 AM

Diane McDermott

Realtor®, GRI, Landis e2 Real Estate, LLC - Charlotte, NC

Charlotte NC Real Estate Market

Jennifer, what great comparison photos! SO happy to hear your area is doing so well just a year later

Jul 08, 2011 08:39 AM

Kevin J. May

Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL

Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

Only Mother Nature could turn that disaster into a faded memory. Talk about "Superhero", no one could've predicted the outcome without her help. Pensacola Beach Babe has a nice ring to it, JAH!

Jul 08, 2011 09:09 AM

Debb Janes

Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA

Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Good to hear Jennifer - the photos from the prior year to current are quite telling. It's also impressive that BP remains on the job to clean up their mess - although, they should. Glad you're enjoying your lifestyle.

Jul 08, 2011 12:02 PM

Debb - I'm very impressed with BP actually. Last year we made fun of them a bit because they said "We'll be there til the last drop of oil is gone!" - we thought it was just hype... but they are, indeed, still here.

Jul 08, 2011 12:13 PM

Dick and Dixie Sells

Sells Real Estate, LLC - Trinity, FL

Realtors, Tampa Bay Florida Homes For Sale

Jennifer, we used to live in Pensacola back in the 80's and it is heart warming to see those photos showing the beach looking good and the people enjoying themselves. Thanks for sharing this.

Jul 11, 2011 01:40 AM

Sue Gabriel

Cleveland, OH

Great photos! Like most unfortunate things in life, it's hard to imagine a "happy ending". But sometimes...if we just wait long enough and have faith...it all works out.

Jul 11, 2011 02:12 PM

Tricia DeSouza

HomeSmart - Scottsdale, AZ

Selling Scottsdale Luxury

I love these photos! So great before and after comparisons. Great to hear and see things are doing so much better down there now than they were last year. Sad how we always hear all the disaster stories but never any update when it becomes better.

Jul 12, 2011 07:45 AM

Pensacola Beach... One Year Later

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Jennifer Allan-Hagedorn

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