It is Easy in Cocoli...

Escape To Panama Cocoli invites you to drop by the Clubhouse and enjoy a great time of socializing and reminiscing of those wonderful easy days of long ago… kick back, get comfortable the show is about to start... Here enjoy some world famous Cocoli Wontons with your favorite beverage. You will love them for sure! We are now open 24/7. Now here is a heads up, meet us all at the Panama Canal Reunion in July. Do not miss this great opportunity to get together like we use to do at the Cocoli Clubhouse... Lets reminisce about Cocoli where the living was easy... Yes, nestle on the west bank of the Panama Canal, just past U.S. Naval Station Rodman off La Bruja Road lies the enchanting town site of Cocoli. Cocoli for many years was my home. In its hey day it boasted everything from a clubhouse to a clinic dispensary for common prescriptions. There were four family houses, duplexes, cottages, single apartments for the bachelors, and also 12 family units. It was a bustling town like those carved out of the jungle of the Panama Canal building days. Yes, living in Cocoli was fun! I can still see it in my mind’s eye as if it were only yesterday. The main part of the town was on a mesa surrounded by a series of low hills to the west that led toward K-9 Road and Miraflores Locks. A portion of the town dropped away rather sharply to the west past the Cocoli Elementary School... that is just for starters... You too have a story to tell... yes indeed. Way beyond la Bruja Road lies Cocoli....Let the magic begin. Are you looking for Adventure? Then why not escape to Panama? When you get there go over to the best little town site in all the old Canal Zone... Yes go to Cocoli, where the living was easy... Way beyond La Bruja Road lies the enchanting town of Cocoli....where the living was easy. Cross over the bridge and you are on your way to Cocoli. The Chiva is flying now. There is the sign for Cocoli... Parada... Yo dije Parada. Yes, Senor bus stop! A shot of Cocoli arriving from Naval Station Rodman. The Chiva will make a quick right so hang on....Was the Chiva going to fast? Next stop the clubhouse! Everybody out... Here you see the Cocoli Service center in 1940. it later became know as the clubhouse. Just think you didn't have to join a country club to become part of this clubhouse. The old clubhouse had everything from a movie theater, bowling alley, tailor shop, barber shop, shoe repair, soda fountain, bingo hall, and dinning area.The Cocoli Clubhouse began operation under the Special Engineering Division in 1940 and became a Panama Canal Clubhouse in March 1945. The clubhouse was transferred to the US Navy on March 1, 1953. This is a typical street found in most townsites in the old Canal Zone. In Cocoli we had some of these same streets. An interesting note is that J Street Johnny lived on Sago Street... I lived one street over on Tamarind Avenue closer to the Cocoli Grade School and gym. The Walkers lived on Nicobar Street. Yes, it was a fun place to live. Then in the mid 50's came the era of technicolor and super Kodak color. The whole world became all the colors of the rainbow. So Cocoli got a splash of color. We kids loved it! This is a typical 4-family Tropical. There were many of these in Cocoli. My school in Cocoli. All the magic of living in the old Canal Zone started here. Later it would continue as all the kids went on to Balboa High School. The bus ride to Balboa would be a daily adventure. What kid would want to miss that? Cocoli had some real power hitters on this team. These sluggers made Cocoli proud. Maybe you recognize somebody you know or just maybe you are part of this great team. Baseball was quite popular in the old Canal Zone. Here is another Championship team from Cocoli. The number one watering hole on the west bank of the Panama Canal... the Cocoli VFW Club. Siestas Siestas in the afternoon Power naps we call them Always welcome, don't you know In a hammock or in the bed, if too hot......then on the floor. Never say no to a siesta, Make it for hours, if you can, If not then 30 minutes will do just fine. Si! Very refreshing once it is done. Viva Siestas! One by one..... Have you had your siesta today?

This is one of my all time favorite pictures! The Cocoli Theater showed 2 movies a night. A real favorite of mine was "Casablanca." What a picture show. Bogie could always make you feel you were part of the action on the screen. Yes, indeed... the airport scene was just awesome! Yes, the line where Rick says, "Louie, I think this is the beginning of a wonderful friendship..." echoes volumes of how good Casablanca was received by the general public. If you haven't seen it... I strongly recommed it! You will be glad you did. The US Navy has been part of the Canal Zone since the beginning... Cocoli for part of its history was a Navy town. Here is the battleship Ohio going through the cut in the Panama Canal in 1915.

To believe.....to reach.....to strive is to keep a dream alive. If you use each today as a chance to reach out, to learn something more of what life's all about....... If you follow your dreams, strive to make them come true..... Then life's sure to bring all the best things to you. -----Unknown

COCOLI... Land of Las Brujas... Enter at your own risk.

Escape to Panama BHS Class of 1957 It has been a real pleasure sharing something more about my town Cocoli as I remember it. Feel free to check out other pages.....you'll be glad you did! So take care and drop by again. We will all be here, God willing. Hasta la Vista. See you on the flip side. Photo Credits: Author, Bill Fall, Montana, CZ and PCC Archives Little Stories to enjoy Sing and rejoice, tra-la-la, for fortune is smiling upon you!