DuneLaker

Once again, a newspaper has inaccurately reported a cool South Walton event as being in Destin (Okaloosa Co.) instead of SoWal (Walton Co.). Seems Walton County's Sandestin has teamed up with the Northwest Florida Regional Airport to offer accommodations at Sandestin in SoWal as a Wheel of Fortune prize. Sure we can promote the entire wonderful Emerald Coast region here in Northwest Florida. Each community has its unique attributes. But, Sandestin isn't one of Destin's resorts. This must be corrected now and not be allowed to continue or we'll get more inaccurate statements like this in story, "The two Okaloosa County businesses have teamed up to offer an all-expense paid trip to Destin as a prize on the game show." Goodness!!!

Accurate place location will become even more important for South Walton and Walton County as the new Bay County airport comes on line. With traffic concerns, etc, it may actually be a shorter time commute from the new Bay County airport to Sandestin. Travelers should at least be given an accurate choice. They need to know they are coming to SoWal, Scenic 30-A, the Beaches of South Walton and all our wonderful communities in Walton County.

We can work together with other counties in our great Emerald Coast Northwest Florida region , but we can't let our best beaches, restaurants, parks, etc. be credited to another county. Don't siphon off renters, hotel guests and home buyers to another county. The names we already have are just fine. Just don't let publicity writers or new little focus groups who don't know the area or have their own agenda put out inaccurate press releases.

BTW, Emerald Coast is used throughout this region, not just Okaloosa County or Walton County. In the Panama City, Bay County phone book, for instance, there are over 100 phone numbers for businesses with "Emerald Coast" as part of their name.

SHELLY

It could have been worse...they could have promoted it as an all-expense-paid trip to The™ Beach

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But hey...Top Ramen tastes a whole lot better when you eat it off of a Granite Countertop. (Mr & Mrs Too Much Homebuyer)

Florida State Flower

goodwitch58

has anyone else read the first issue of the new magazine "850 Business? I read it this morning (think it came out in the Fall) and found it interesting/amusing some of the comments about Northwest Florida as a region...some of the ideas about The Beach, and just generally the disconnect that seems to exist in some people's minds. As Dunelaker is so good at pointing out--Walton Co needs to be sure we are correctly identified.....

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"If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them."
George Orwell

SWGB

Seems to be updated.

Spin the 'Wheel,' win a trip to Sandestin | wheel, sandestin, screen - News - Northwest Florida Daily News

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DuneLaker

Indeed, an update was made. That is called rapid response. We probably shouldn't put our guard down just yet, though. However, I am hopeful we are beginning to pierce the void.

30A Skunkape

Isn't Sandestin in old Pt Washington?

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DuneLaker

Do you have a map, official document or perhaps an old letter with postmark that would give some insight or answer that question? For sure, Sandestin isn't in Destin! I have a copy of 1895 land grant signed by President Grover Cleveland that gave John Wesley 100 acres in the Pt. Washington area. That is the earliest SoWal land grant I have. The one for the Grayton area was the next year in 1896, also signed by President Cleveland. When I looked at the coordinates some time ago, I didn't recall that it went over that far. Later land grants by settlers who considered themselves to be in Pt. Washington could exist. It would take a lot of time and analysis to plot each grant to confirm original United States land grant borders. I might do that one day when I get some other projects off my plate. Anything you might add would certainly be interesting and informative. Since Pt. Washington and SoWal areas were originally within Walton County's 1824 borders, but then left to be in Washington County from 1825 until 1913, I've always wanted to dig around more in the Washington County archives.

TableFiveChef

Duneaker what on earth is your beef with Destin? I was born and raised in Destin but currently live in Miramar. I understand that Destin has took a turn for the worse as far as development goes but Destin still is a major commerce hub for this area. (Fishing) I have followed your posts for the last couple of years and you repeatedly bash Destin. you certainly are entitiled to your opinion but you seem to be lobbying for banishing Destin off the map.

SWGB

She's not bashing Destin, just trying to keep our wonderful area unique and distinct from condo land. She is correct that if we do not keep a unique identity then we will be lumped in with PCB or Destin over the years. Personally I don't want this area associated with the pictures of 20 story condos that are synonymous with Destin and PCB.

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momof2kids

My beef is when people call the Miramar Beach area "Sandestin" area. Sandestin is the resort; Miramar Beach is where Sandestin is located... That's just my issue though...

scooterbug44

It's not a Destin bashing issue, it's an accuracy issue. People constantly credit events and attractions from our area to Destin.

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"I hate to break it to you, but this year (and probably the next few) was going to suck even if Jesus himself was president. These problems were not created overnight and they aren't going away overnight." -Jdarg

DuneLaker

I like Destin and have many good friends over in Okaloosa County. I also love and am impressed with South Walton and Walton County and believe events here should be credited correctly. SoWal's and WalCo's commerce should progress nicely with our great beaches, unique coastal dune lakes, historical significance, first class resorts and restaurants and now location between two major airports. I haven't been posting for years, btw, so don't know what you're talking about following my posts for years. I just joined SoWal and am coming up on my one year anniversary. Sorry if my facts and corrections upset you. Past posts often said something about other areas having their own unique attributes. But, that doesn't mean SoWal and WalCo shouldn't get credit for their unique attributes and events.

DuneLaker

It is an issue worthy of further research, though. I wish I had more primary source material on Miramar Beach. I did see a great deal of information displayed at a private showing one afternoon. I sure enjoyed seeing a picture and cutline recently that showed Colonel Grimaldi, founder of Miramar Beach, at his homestead in 1926. I've often wondered why the Wesley's didn't go through with naming the Eastern Lake area Miramar, and ended up calling it Eastern Lake Estates instead. On a 1931 map given to me by Barbara Grimaldi, the Eastern lake area on the west side is "Miramar." Maybe the Wesleys decided Col. Grimaldi already had that name in SoWal. Being one of the oldest counties in Florida, Walton County has a lot of history to be sorted out and revealed.

ShallowsNole

FYI, our TDC does not use the name "Destin" in advertising. This has raised the ire of several of the property owners I work with, who insist on advertising their Miramar Beach properties as being in Destin. One lady in particular picked a catfight with the TDC staff several years ago over this very issue.

I also have Walton County property owners who advertise their properties on VRBO as being in the "heart of Destin."

The kicker happened about twenty years ago, when I worked at a bank adjacent to Sandestin. One of our customers was joking with our staff, most of whom were from Freeport and DFS, asking if anyone was "from here." I volunteered that I grew up "here." The gentleman asked where, and I stated "Point Washington." He looked at me blankly, and I mentioned it was where Eden State Gardens is. He said "that's fifteen miles down the road! I wanted to know who grew up HERE!" I replied that nobody grew up at Sandestin (which of course is no longer true), as it was a pine forest until 1974. The customer called our home office to complain that I was rude...

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Andy A.

Absolutely dead on! Even though I live in a condo (actually its a townhome) I agree with your assessment completely.

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Congress only does two things well...Nothing at all and overreacting.

Andy A.

Your posts on the historical significance and evolvement of WalCo (nice synonym) are magnificient! Please keep them coming.

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Congress only does two things well...Nothing at all and overreacting.

DuneLaker

Sorry about your incidents. Thanks for standing up for SoWal and Walton County. Funny how those folks who erroneously use Destin, are quick to backpedal when there is a shark attack. Then, they are quite happy for it to be Miramar Beach! They should be concerned about their renters safety and safe evacuation in an emergency with proper place identification. Whether one goes out the toll bridge in Okaloosa County to evacuate, or use the free roads and bridges in Walton and Bay Counties could make a difference one day.

I'd like to address his, "is anyone from "here" issue." There were people "here" from some of the earliest recorded times in Florida. When Cabeza de Vaca passed by here in 1528, he noted native peoples in the area. It has been translated now so you can go read his report in English from Spanish.

Then, much later, there are a number of incidents reported in the Territorial Papers of Florida that describe native peoples here. As cultures mixed, who knows who might still be around.


Another favorite story of mine is one of the later Indian/Settler attacks recorded in this area. This was long after Jackson's horrible "Removal" of native people from Northwest Florida along the Trail of Tears. It happened in 1842, long after Walton County had become a County in Florida, but before Florida was a state and remained a U.S. Territory. I won't go into the entire story here, but it begins in a report "Adjutant General's Office, WASHINGTON, Septr. 12th 1842. Col: J.H. VOSE 4th Infy. comdg. 9th Dept. Cedar Keys Florida. SIR; Intelligence has this day reached the War Department that a fugitive Creek Indians (fifty) attacked the house of a Mr. Perkins, near a place called Holmes' Valley, Washington County, W.F. on the morning of the 31st ultimo, and murdered him with all his family, except one child that made its escape. The Indians who committed this outrage are said to be secreted between the Bays of St. Andrews and Choctawhatchee and adjacent swamps."

That would be around "here."

There is also some cool archeological research that shows canals dug in the Sandestin area connecting the bay through coastal dune lakes to gulf.


Lots of research to do.

DuneLaker

WalCo for "Walton County" seemed safer than WaCo, which some might pronounce wacko. Too much fun with that. Waco is already taken by a popular band in SoWal.