Editor’s Note: As part of the “100 Days of Summer,” The Log will be exploring Destin and the activities it has to offer during the summer season. We turn our attention to off-the-beach entertainment this week.
When the skies are gray and the water is choppy, or the kids just need a break from the beach, what are the options for land entertainment in Destin? One answer is The Track Family Recreation Center at 1125 U.S Hwy. 98 East.
Good, old-fashioned fun can be found at The Track with speedy go-karts, miniature golf courses, bumper rides, a kids country, and of course big thrill rides.
Annette Manual, general manager for The Track, has been working at the park since its opening year in 1989.
“I started a week after it opened, and at the time I thought this would just be a summer job, but these guys are just awesome people to work for,” she said.
This year marks the park’s 25th anniversary, and Manual says a lot has changed in the park over its quarter-century of operation.
“When I first started, all we had was the arcade, the family and rookie tracks and the bumper boats,” she said. “We added the kid’s country and super thrill rides later that year, then bumper cars and miniature golf the next year.”
Manual said it was nearly a decade later, in 1998, when the most popular rides of the park, the wooden and slick go-kart tracks were added.
Today the park features five go-kart tracks, eight kiddy rides, two 18-hole miniature golf courses, two thrill rides, two bumper rides and an arcade with more than 50 games and attractions.
“A lot of people don’t realize that we are all one park,” Manual said. “The two sides of the park are separated by the miniature golf course, so some people think the thrill rides and wooden and slick tracks are a separate park.”
The Track lives up to its claim as a family recreation center, as guests are invited to enjoy rides together, bring picnic meals to share on the deck, and maximize the rare leisure of fun together.
“We pride ourselves in being very family oriented,” said Manual. “We have activities for people of all ages, for young people, and the young at heart. Creating memories worth repeating is our biggest goal.”
Although there are height and age limits for all of the rides in the park, there is something for everyone at The Track.
“One of my favorite things here is watching families coming off of rides, telling stories about the ride. I love that we can provide something for them to enjoy together as a family,” said Manual.
The Aldy family, visiting from Hattisburg, Miss., came off of the wooden track ride together laughing and already re-living the experience.
“It’s fun. The kids love the go-karts, the bumper boats and the golf. It’s a good break from the beach,” said Sonya Aldy.
Over on the putting green, the Chambers family, from Birmingham, Ala. was moseying through one of the courses cheering on the youngest of their crew.
“I’ve been coming here since I was a kid,” said Loren Chambers. “I was just telling my kids this morning that I remember The Track from when I came when I was about 12 years old.”
On rainy days the park’s arcade is the biggest hit, featuring classic skee-ball and grabby claw machines, and newer games such as The Fast and The Furious and Fruit Ninja to name a few.
“The arcade is really busy on rainy days,” said Manual. “But if it’s raining and people want to play golf or bumper boats we open those up for them as well.”