South Walton, SoWal, 30A —if you’ve vacationed in the panhandle of Florida, you know about the powder white sand and emerald water here. The Gulf of Mexico boasts beaches unlike any other, and that sentiment is especially true when it comes to the South Walton community.
South Walton is comprised of numerous beach towns and locally owned shops and restaurants. It has become one of the top vacation spots in the U.S. The national beach guru Dr. Beach and the New York Daily News both praised it as a hidden gem. South Walton has gained a huge following of beach-goers. Every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to their beaches. This results in a thriving tourism industry. It also results in traffic congestion and crowded beaches.
As a result, Walton County has purchased more beach-front land for approximately $1.5 million. Located in Miramar Beach on Scenic Gulf Drive, the property will accommodate more public beach access points and a bathhouse. In total, the purchase adds another 410 feet of access to the beaches of South Walton.
30A.com reports, “Since August 2016, Visit South Walton has purchased seven beachfront parcels for a total of 747 feet of beachfront. [It will] all be used to create three new regional access points. They also purchased a 7.35-acre inland property that currently serves as additional parking in the Rosemary Beach area. The total spend for these properties is $25.6 million.”
This takes South Walton’s number of public beach access points into double digits: 10. Visitors can find the newly added access points in Miramar Beach, Seagrove Beach, and Dune Allen Beach. Furthermore, bathhouses and a lifeguard station are planned for each of the South Walton beach access points.
Discover the beaches of Northwest Florida and Coastal Alabama for yourself. Book your stay on 30A today and find out why the beaches of South Walton are heralded as one of the Gulf Coast’s hidden gems.
