Could have sworn it was State Forest

[Matt J]

Does anyone know what's going on with the land on the east side of 395 directly north of Nature Walk? There were 2 signs (1 now the other fell down) announcing a "land use change" meeting for June 28th with the Walton County Commissioners. According to the Walton County Property Appraisers website all of the land North of Nature Walk is State Forest. Does the state need County approval to build a welcome center or something along those lines?

 

[scooterbug44]

No idea - I saw the signs too, hope it doesn't mean the state forest has been quietly sold and slated for development!

I hear a rumor that St. Joe now owns park of Deer Lake State Park.

 

[Matt J]

No idea - I saw the signs too, hope it doesn't mean the state forest has been quietly sold and slated for development!

I hear a rumor that St. Joe now owns park of Deer Lake State Park.

That was a back door deal too. They purchased pretty much up to the parking area at the park and most of the western edge to give Watersound Beach an actual beach access.

 

[scooterbug44]

You mean they actually BOUGHT part of the park? :shock:

 

[Matt J]

You mean they actually BOUGHT part of the park? :shock:

Yes, if you go to www.waltonpa.com you can use the map under the search feature (similar to google earth) and see that there was a purchase of the park from the State of Florida to St. Joe company in I believe 2005. That map is loads of fun, according to it the beach from 395 going west is not owned by those owners but in fact a lady who lives in Virginia.

 

[scooterbug44]

Can anyone explain to my why/how St. Joe was able to buy part of a state park?

 

[Matt J]

If I remember correctly on this one they offset the purchase with some swamp land in the north part of the county. I would love to trade any amount of acreage near Defuniak for some Gulf frontage in Grayton.

 

[scooterbug44]

I'd definitely be willing to swap some Nowal swampland for Sowal beach frontage.................and I'd gladly let anyone who behaved themself use "my sand".

Is the traded land going to be a state park for all to enjoy or is it just useless land in the middle of nowhere?

 

[DuneAHH]

Yes, if you go to www.waltonpa.com you can use the map under the search feature (similar to google earth) and see that there was a purchase of the park from the State of Florida to St. Joe company in I believe 2005. That map is loads of fun, according to it the beach from 395 going west is not owned by those owners but in fact a lady who lives in Virginia.

Yeah...an' I are her!!
an' I own the whole beach...
an'...an'...
the price of admission is.. uhh...
a lifetime supply of ... uh...
whutever I say...uh...cuz...
I'm the boss of
...uhhh
The Whole Beetch.
Yeah...that's the ticket;-)

 

[soappedaler]

The land use signs could have been on Nature Walk property not State forest land. If you look at this map you see that the northen 80 acres of Nature Walk is surrounded on three sides by state forest. http://www.beachtobay.org/html/eastern_lake_trail.html

As for St. Joe buying State Park land, I don't think so. What you may be looking at as a land sale is part of a settlement agreement the state has with St. Joe. In this agreement, done in the early 90's, St. Joe and the state of Florida settled a legal dispute over a whole lot of land in Walton County. I have a copy somewhere but you can read it online. In this settlement agreemnt the state got the land that is Deer Lake State Park, however St. Joe was allowed a beach access through the park for it's property west of the Park. I believe this was recently worked completed.

If you don't know the histroy I'll give a basic outline.
St. Joe owned much of South Walton since 1920 or so when purchased by Jim Ball. Then sometime in the 80's a group called, DGI then Emerald Coast Joint Ventures (ECJV) purchased the land from St. Joe. Lots of interesting stories about these folks. ECJV goes bankrupt and State buys the land at auction. BTW Walton County Commisioners were livid and wanted what was to become Point Washington State Forest, part of Grayton Beach State Park and the Cassine Nature trail area to be turned over to them so they could sell it to develpers. I kid you not! Meantime St. Joe sues the state wanting some of the land back since ECJV didn't make payments or something, hence the settlement agreement. There's a lot more to this but believe me state land isn't easily sold or traded.