Pensacola Connection for April 2026

This month: goodbye to old good times, hello to hillbilly hilarity, and ALOHA from Hawaii!

FIRST: Sadly, this is NO April Fool’s Day joke article. We have lost another local family entertainment venue. Splash City Adventures, formerly known as Sam’s Fun City & Surf City amusement & water parks, has filed for bankruptcy, gone out of business, and permanently shut down, along with the AMC 18 Cinemas. Both have been located on the same property on North ‘W’ Street, in Pensacola’s North Car City district, for the past 26 years. Having first opened for business on September 22^nd, 2000 as Sam’s Fun City by owners Richard & Terry Sanfilippo, the park was a gift to their daughter Samantha. It operated under that name for 22 years, featured costumed Jay Ward cartoon characters like Rocky the Flying Squirrel & Bullwinkle Moose. and even expanded into a Surf City water park by 2001 (same season AMC 18 first opened) until Sanfilippo sold the business in October of 2022 to independent investors. Under the new management, the park became Splash City Adventures, and partnered with PensaCon to present their HalloweenFest 2022 at the joint venue, that first October weekend. (They also hosted short films showcases with local filmmakers, including Stephen Wise’ “Sur’vi” of 2017. I also shot part of my own 2002 college thesis short film “Pensacola in Pictures” at this place, but never got to screen it there.) But time, it seems, is the final judge, and now the park seems to have lost too much revenue to exist any longer. The marquee is shut down, the gates are closed, and rides including antique cars, go-karts, a roller coaster and park perimeter train, are being sold and carted off. What will happen next to this North Pensacola property on Highway 29, whether it’s a new car dealership, apartment housing block or otherwise, remains to be seen. With cloudy crystal ball in hand again, this reporter will keep watch of this story and property, to see what happens and report about it again, in the near future.

NEXT: You know the Marx Brothers, Laurel & Hardy, Abbott & Costello, even Cheech & Chong… THIS IS NOTHING LIKE THAT! But don’t take MY word for it. Maverick Durant & Ken “Big Led” Ledbetter have become Pensacola’s own independent adult redneck comedy duo, starring in a video series called: “The Trailer Park Adventures of Bubba & Cletus.” They began in 2017 with their own original rap song about their love for Miller Lite beer, produced by Shawn Yabui (aka ‘Yabui Ent’) of Yabui Media, then followed it up in 2024 by forming their own label Collablab Films and shooting a pair of shorts called “Trailer Park Troubadours” about beer, hookers, sex-talk, trash-talk, girl scout cookie trafficking (yeah, you heard me) and would you believe: taking dumps in backyard dumpsters? Eww... Not MY personal comic preference, but they’ve been filming pretty steadily in the Navy Boulevard, West Warrington, and Myrtle Grove districts of Southwest Pensacola, on a “passion” budget. Sadly in late September of 2025, co-star Ken Ledbetter passed away from an undisclosed illness. This led to re-casting, so new co-star Bayse Locke now plays Hot Rod, changing the series title to “The Cletus Chronicles.” For their latest episode (not sure how many they’re up to now: 5,6 or 7? Details still pending from Durant) in Myrtle Grove, I got called in on Thursday, March 19^th to help with boom grip work for sound. No salary, but Durant did compensate me for gas money. (Guess I can count that as ‘semi-pro.’) Once finished, the new episodes are typically showcased in a “Collablab Movie Night” at the Subculture Art Gallery Bar & Bandstand, on the corner of West Gadsden & ‘V’ Streets, every few months or so. Here’s hoping I’ll see my name in the tech credits. Meanwhile, check out the links below:

“Miller Lite Rap video” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klo_reaFnm0&list=RDklo_reaFnm0&start_redio=1

“Collablab Productions Facebook Link"

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570526169019

AND FINALLY: In the world of music television, looks like that Hollywood golden ticket paid off! Fans of Pensacola vocalist Keyla Richardson were ecstatic to watch her place in the Top 20 on Season 24 of “American Idol” on the night of Monday, March 23^rd,2026. The show was recording its O’hana Round at Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii, with panel judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan offering commentary from their table, with home viewers able to vote for their favorites, on social media at the show’s website, or by phone text.

Of the 10 vocalists competing in a 1-hour broadcast, Keyla was the 10^th and final performer, as she belted out the Beatles’ cover “With a Little Help from My Friends.” (If you’re more familiar with the Joe Cocker cover version, that became the TV theme to ABC’s “The Wonder Years” starring Fred Savage, from 1988 to 1993, before the 2021 reboot. >Ahem< But, I digress…) Keyla's performance FLOORED THE WHOLE HOUSE! Her “Janis Joplin-sounding, Tina Turner-sounding…” vocal style was praised by the judges, securing her place in the Top 20 on March 30^th. Keyla got a sneak preview of the episode on March 16^th at a screening party on March 16^th at Andy D’s on Pensacola Bay, with family and friends watching along with her. Looks like they saved the best for last.

“WEAR TV-3 News Spot: Keyla Richardson Returns Home”

Keyla brings Keke Palmer to tears, then BURNS UP the stage!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdyG16PlyK8

Best of luck to Keyla on her way to the big finals!

(Now I just need to see what happened to that guy from Mobile, for next month’s column…)

Okay, that’s all for April, and the middle of spring.

Until next month, Later, Gators!

_______________________________

Sincerely yours, KENNETH L. MANNING

Your Pensacola Connection

49 Murphy Lane, Pensacola, FL 32505

Phone: 1-850-287-2581