NEWS

Destin’s economic solution: Build your own domed beach

Randall Sanders, Speaking Out

The Seagaia Ocean Dome was the world's largest indoor waterpark, located in Miyazaki, Japan, according to Wikipedia. The Ocean Dome, which was a part of the Sheraton Seagaia Resort, measured 300 meters in length and 100 meters in width, and was listed on the Guinness World Records. It opened in 1993, and visitor numbers peaked in 1995 at 1.25 million a year. Depending on the season, the entrance cost in 1995 was roughly $20 to $30. The Ocean Dome was officially closed on Oct. 1, 2007 as part of a renovation and partial re-branding of the resort. It hasn’t reopened yet. For more information see www.amusingplanet.com/2012/01/seagaia-ocean-dome-artificial-beach-in.html

If the Emerald Coast wants to eliminate the cyclical regional economy of seasonality revenue why not all the developers get together and build one of these somewhere away from the current congested areas?

Maybe next to the remote parking area with monorails to move people into the central districts. Surely, that would help save the environment.

The local residents may just get their town back too.

Randall Sanders Sr. Destin