$502,481Average Value$269Average Price per Sq Ft12Homes For Sale
A grand selection of food in Upper Grand Lagoon
In Upper Grand Lagoon, parking tells the story. Good luck finding a spot outside one of the restaurants on Thomas Drive during peak dining hours. This community lays claim to the largest collection of independently owned eateries in the wider Panama City Beach region. It’s a quality that adds flavor to a community with a more native feel than the nearby beach haven to the west. “More residential, more local,” says Quinn DiBacco, vice president and North Florida manager of DiBacco Importing & Distributing in the neighborhood. “A lot of local restaurants, good food. We do get tourists down on this end, because the Grand Lagoon’s right here. But this is generally where all the people who live here come.” Don’t get it twisted, though — there’s still plenty of outdoor fun to be had here, too.
Off The Hook Bar and Grill offers outdoor waterfront dining with a casual atmosphere and great food in Upper Grand Lagoon.
In the water, on the water, or above the water, there's fun for the whole family in Upper Grand Lagoon.
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Fresh seafood and more galore
In a community surrounded by water, seafood dominates. People here have their pick of fresh fish, shrimp, oysters and more. “I probably eat out personally three to four times a week. We always eat [in this area],” says Nicole Hulgan, owner of Pieces on the Beach, a coastal chic and antique market in Upper Grand Lagoon. “Even when I go to the west end of the beach, it’s just not the same. Here, we’ve got some great local restaurants.” One hotspot is Christo's Sports Bar & Grill, a local favorite connected to, of all things, a gas station. The eclectic dining spot features a wide menu and plenty of TVs, which come in handy during football season. Richard Anderson, a local Realtor with Premier Properties of Bay Co., says everything on the menu there is good, whether its shrimp just from the water or piping-hot Philly cheesesteaks. Other popular options include J. Michaels Restaurant, renowned for its oysters, or Dat Cajun Place Cafe where “The name speaks for itself,” says Anderson, a native of the region. Locals looking to celebrate often head over to North Lagoon Drive for Capt. Anderson's Restaurant & Waterfront Market and The Grand Marlin, two upscale dining options. And when people feel like mixing it up, there’s a Publix on Thomas Drive, convenient for grabbing groceries for a home-cooked meal.
Christo's Sports Bar and Grill is a local favorite for lunch, dinner, and sports in Upper Grand Lagoon.
The Grand Marlin is passionate about offering an ever-changing menu, made from scratch daily, using only the freshest seafood and highest quality ingredients.
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Single-family homes are ubiquitous in Upper Grand Lagoon
Upper Grand Lagoon branches out into a labyrinth of residential corridors around Thomas Drive. Though close to the beach, it tends to be quieter and heavily residential. Single-family homes dominate the landscape, some dating back to the 1950s. Many have new traditional Craftsman and Mediterranean styling with spacious floor plans. Situated on a peninsula that juts into the Grand Lagoon and Saint Andrew Bay, this neighborhood offers plenty of waterfront homes. One of the most popular such locations is the gated community of Bay Point. “The good thing about this [neighborhood] is it’s not a cookie-cutter thing,” Anderson says. “These are all custom homes.” Though buyers can find homes in the $200,000s, most landlocked options will cost somewhere in the $400,000 to $600,000 range. Meanwhile, a home with a water view usually tops $1 million and can climb as high as $2 million. Townhomes in the area are less expensive but can climb into the $600,000 range, depending on location.
Large meditteranean style homes are common throughout Upper Grand Lagoon neighborhoods.
Massive estate homes on the water can be found in upscale gated communities in Upper Grand Lagoon.
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A battle for the best Bloody Mary
Who doesn’t love a little bit of competition? It’s fitting that this restaurant hub is home to the Annual Grand Lagoon Bloody Mary & Music Festival, held in November at the Sheraton Panama City Beach Golf and Spa Resort. Local watering holes vie for recognition of the “Best Bloody Mary in the Grand Lagoon,” and the event includes live music, too. Locals looking for fresh produce frequent the Grand Lagoon Waterfront Farmers Market, held on weekends at Capt. Anderson's Restaurant.
Large homes on spacious lots on the golf course demand top dollar when they go on the market in Upper grsnd Lagoon.
Capt. Anderson's restaurant in Upper Grand Lagoon is one of those rare "family" restaurants that not only survives, but strengthens and improves through the years.
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St. Andrews is a boon
While world-class beaches are less than 10 miles away, locals are even closer to another natural gem: St. Andrews State Park. This 1,200-acre expanse is one of the most popular outdoor attractions in the state, attracting one million visitors each year. St. Andrews is an accommodating space as well, whether someone wants to fish or go bird watching. Marc Miller, a local realtor with RE/MAX By the Sea, likes the park for surfing. It has the best waves, he says. “Everybody goes there,” says Miller, who has been a realtor for over three years after previously working at Panama City’s Naval Surface Warfare Center. “They’ve got walking trails, you can camp, they’ve got a boat launch in there.”
Boaters can take advantage of this community’s location along the lagoon and the bay for leisurely voyages. Those without a boat, meanwhile, can explore using one of the myriad charters here — many of them are located by Capt. Anderson's Restaurant and the adjacent Capt. Anderson's Marina. “For a long time, every year, I would charter one of the boats over here and take a group of friends for an all-day fishing trip, and have a great time,” Anderson says.
Dune Lakes are home to many species of wading birds in Upper Grand Lagoon.
Whether on jet skis, fishing or skiing boats, or large cruisers, summer is perfect for water fun in Upper Grand Lagoon.
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Thomas and Lagoon make navigation simple
Thomas Drive and North Lagoon Drive are hubs of activity in Upper Grand Lagoon, but they’re also stretches that link locals to other parts of this region. North Lagoon Drive can take drivers up toward Front Beach Drive, the main waterside artery in neighboring Panama City Beach. Thomas Drive connects to U.S. Route 98 for commutes across the lagoon, toward Panama City. Locals can also access the Bayway bus service here, thanks to the multiple stops along Thomas Drive.
Upper Grand Lagoon is a residential community with plenty of outdoor fun and shopping and dining options.
US Hwy 98 runs through Upper Grand Lagoon leading to Panama City Beach.
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Bay District hits high marks
The wide-ranging Bay District Schools system covers students in Upper Grand Lagoon, a district with a B-plus overall grade on Niche. The area’s A-minus-rated Patronis Elementary has an active PTO, one described as the heartbeat of campus. At the B-plus-rated Surfside Middle, extracurricular activities include multiple sports teams, among them a championship-winning girls volleyball team. J.R. Arnold High also carries a B-plus grade, and students here can participate in career and technical education programs on topics ranging from construction technology to early childhood technology.
The Surfside Middle School family will provide a standards-based and technology-rich curriculum to promote student learning and foster self-esteem.
Patronis Elementary School has 648 students in grades K-5 with a student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1.
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Written By
Lia Jones
Photography Contributed By
Kevin Willis
Video By
Christian Gortler
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Cindy Armstrong Karr,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Upper Grand Lagoon, FL sell after 73 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Upper Grand Lagoon, FL over the last 12 months is $260,000, down 32% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
REDUCED! waterfront! HOA is 600.00 a quarter. BRAND NEW 5 Bedroom waterfront home on Grand Lagoon with assigned boat slip and gated community. This huge custom home is 3890 sq feet. Home has a downstairs master bedroom with stunning water views in 3 directions. Home is move in ready. Quartz countertops, tankless gas hot water heater, and gas stoves for cooking. Hurricane windows and doors. This
REDUCED $10,000. MOTIVATED SELLER! HOA IS 800.00 a quarter.This is a beautiful updated home on North Lagoon! This home is packed with value, comfort, and coastal living perks. Located in a very desirable neighborhood with low HOA dues, community pool, and a club house for entertaining. Boat slip included with a lift. Hop on your boat and spend a day of fishing in the gulf or a day at Shell
Introducing a brand new home nestled in the exquisite gated community of Sanctuary Beach! This stunning 4 bedroom, 3 bath residence boasts an inviting open-concept layout, seamlessly connecting indoor and outdoor living spaces. Revel in the elegance of Quartz countertops adorning soft-closing cabinets, complemented by a master bath featuring double vanities and an expansive custom
$10K PRICE Fabulous small, private community of 24 townhomes - off the main road, peaceful & quiet. 3/2.5 with single car garage. Kitchen, living & dining down, all bedrooms & laundry up. Master suite has trey ceiling and attractive arched doorway into master bath. Double vanity, walk-in closet. Large, front-loading W&D upstairs near all the bedrooms, conveys with sale. Kids or guest rooms down
WATERFRONT, First floor, all one level. Fabulous sunset views from almost every room: master bedrm, LR, DR & Kitchen. Immaculate condo with beautiful granite in kitchen & both baths. SS appliances. Eat-in kitchen plus breakfast bar AND separate dining area. Corner electric fireplace connects the dining to living areas. Custom shutters on all windows and front door. Low maintenance tile and LVP
Rental projections up to $28K! Your turn-key coastal lifestyle awaits at 1307A in St. Thomas Square. This well-appointed residence, nestled behind private gates and perfectly perched above the vibrant local retail/restaurant spaces of the Plaza, offers over 620 sq ft of meticulously designed living space. Revel in the sophistication of ideal interior upgrades and unwind on your private balcony
Available immediately, this 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath condo is located in the gated community of Island Reserve, just minutes from the beach. The third floor unit overlooks the courtyard and features new luxury vinyl plank flooring and a walk-in tub for accessibility. Both bedrooms are spacious master suites with private baths and walk-in closets. Huge resort style pool, onsite gym, indoor basketball
Like its namesake ocean gem, Perla is a rare find for those seeking an active and refined lifestyle. Contemporary 1, 2, and 3-bedroom apartment residences blend sophisticated style and quiet comfort with the quintessential coastal allure of 30A and Panama City Beach. Days that sparkle with poolside fun and laughter blend into evenings that glow with golden hour sunsets reflected on the waters of
This charming 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom townhome located in the heart of Panama City Beach, FL. This home features luxury vinyl plank flooring throughout the main living areas, cozy carpet in the bedrooms, and stainless steel appliances in the spacious kitchen. The neutral paint on the walls provides a blank canvas for you to make this house your own. Enjoy the convenience of having lawn care
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