Thinking of a SOWAL Vacation think again

[steel1man]

enjoy the beach the way you want to! But that will not happen in Walton County....

Navarre beaches open to all

There are no “no trespassing” signs on Navarre Beach.

Neither are there security guards lurking on the dry white sands of Santa Rosa County to escort walkers to the water’s edge before they cross a particular parcel deemed private property.

All of the beaches in Santa Rosa County are open to the public, and most folks seem to like it that way.

“My thinking is you should be able to get on the beach and walk all the way to Fort Pickens if you want to,” County Commissioner Bob Cole said.

Here there’s no discussion of HB 631 or customary use. And, according to Santa Rosa County Administrator Dan Schebler, no issues in need of addressing as the tourist season approaches.

Unlike Walton County, where many jealously guarded beach lots run from the toe of the dune to the mean high water line, on Navarre Beach the vast majority of beach parcels, both residential and commercial, were platted and sold with the intention of leaving a large swath of coastline open to the public, according to Phil Babiak of Century 21 Island View Realty.

The few commercial entities that might have at one time claimed ownership to the mean high water line have been forced over the years to give up any such claim due to the fact that the 3.7 miles of sand that comprise Navarre Beach have had to be reconstructed.

South Santa Rosa County was hammered in 1995 by hurricanes Erin and Opal, and again by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, which was followed in quick succession by Tropical storms Arlene and Cindy and Hurricane Dennis in 2005.

 

[James Bentwood]

"The few commercial entities that might have at one time claimed ownership to the mean high water line have been forced over the years to give up any such claim due to the fact that the 3.7 miles of sand that comprise Navarre Beach have had to be reconstructed."

So instead of being able to build our beaches back after the storms, delays in that process mean that beachfront owners had time to lawyer up and prevent public beaches. A disgusting land grab.

 

[jodiFL]

We need to stop talking about all this "Navarre is awesome' stuff...its my place to runaway to and I dont want it to turn into here.

 

[Teresa]

Panama City Beach also has beaches open to the public pretty much everywhere.

Our secret Florida getaway is very secluded with wide open beaches open to everyone including dogs and bonfires whenever you wish with no permit required. And no beach chair setups anywhere. Old Florida.

Most Florida beaches have some reasonable beach access restrictions for resorts and condos. But the Walton County situation is a serious problem for our tourism and our economy Not to mention that it is wrong to claim ownership of our beaches and put up signs and ropes and fences.