Tiki Golf on beach cleaned up

Innisfree Hotels plans big changes

Pensacola News Journal - October 10, 2011

Plans are in the works to breathe new life into Tiki Island Golf & Games on Pensacola Beach.

Gulf Breeze-based Innisfree Hotels recently bought back the lease on the property from Charles "Chic" Demerau, who owned and operated the amusement venue for 10 years.

"It will have a totally fresh new life," said Jill Thomas, Innisfree's new director of marketing. "It's a great Gulf-front property and a dynamic space that should be properly used."

In recent years, the prime property on Casino Beach had been declining. Trash often floated in the waterfall lagoon of the miniature golf course, lights along the course were out and the nearby arcade was underused.

Scott Wheatley, a Hollywood set designer who helped create the theme for the Bridge Bar & Sunset Lounge in Gulf Breeze, is working as a consultant for Innisfree to create concepts for the golf course and arcade building.

He is expected to present preliminary ideas to the Santa Rosa Island Authority board during its committee meeting on Oct. 26. The presentation will include a request to use the arcade building for something other than an amusement park.

He's been meeting with Innisfree management on what to do.

"Right now, we're in an imagining stage," he said. "For the arcade, we're leaning toward something like an aviation-themed bar or restaurant. But, we still have a long way to go for it becoming a sure deal."

The waterfall and lagoon have been cleaned up and clear, clean water has replaced the dyed, dark-blue water. Wheatley is working on a concept to build a tiki hut on the course grounds so the club and golf ball rentals can be moved out of the arcade. The Hampton Inn is managing the golf course.

Thomas said whatever plans are settled on, Innisfree's ultimate goal is to make the property more fun and more accessible to Innisfree's three Gulf-front hotels: Hampton Inn, Hilton and Holiday Inn Resort.

"It will be clean and managed like a first-class amusement destination," she said. "There's not a lot of family attractions off the beach. That's part of our goal: To create a fun, family amenity."

Darlene Hammond, Broker, CDPE,CIAS
RE/MAX America’s Top Realty
2777 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, FL  32563
Cell: (850) 572-2615 | Office: (850) 934-4449