OKALOOSA COUNTY ACQUIRES SS UNITED STATES FOR REEF

Okaloosa County commissioners believe they have sealed the deal to purchase the SS United States. The cost is just over $10 million. For several months, both Okaloosa and Escambia counties have been vying for the ship. The snag has been dock fees that Okaloosa County will pay. It's estimated that the economic benefit will be $3 million annually. The project will also include a land-based museum. Once sunk off Destin-Fort Walton Beach, at nearly 1,000-feet long, the SS United States will be a home for a diverse range of marine life and attract divers and anglers from around the world.