The modern era of Santa Rosa Island began in 1931 with Casino Beach. After the first bridges opened, locals flocked here to experience a brand-new casino built by the Pensacola Beach Company. Although there wasn’t any gambling going on, there was no shortage of good times. For decades, the casino played host to beauty pageants, boxing matches, fireworks displays, and boat races. There was also a bath house, banquet hall, dance pavilion, restaurant, and 1,200-foot pier. In 1972, the site was demolished, but you can still find some of its salvaged wooden beams at Apple Annie’s in the Seville Quarter.