Cypress Dunes beach access

**Miss Critter** · 01-12-2010, 03:53 PM

Can anyone tell me about Cypress Dunes beach access? Is or was there a beach shuttle that runs from the develpment to the beach? It it's still running, is it seasonal and is there a cost?

And what's the best, nearest beach access for visitors? I can't imagine visitors finding Stallworth. Would Dune Allen access be the best since it has restrooms and more parking?

Thanks for the help!

**joho** · 01-12-2010, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by MissCritter

Can anyone tell me about Cypress Dunes beach access? Is or was there a beach shuttle that runs from the develpment to the beach? It it's still running, is it seasonal and is there a cost?

And what's the best, nearest beach access for visitors? I can't imagine visitors finding Stallworth. Would Dune Allen access be the best since it has restrooms and more parking?

Thanks for the help!

MC
Cypress Dunes Sales Office 850.622.0145
I agree with Stallworth Public Beach access being hard to find.
The fact that Dune Allen has restrooms and much more parking is probably a better choice.

Don't forget a little north of the developement you have Topsail State Preserve Park.

**Miss Critter** · 01-12-2010, 04:54 PM

Thanks joho! I'll give them a call.

**Miss Critter** · 01-13-2010, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by joho

MC
Cypress Dunes Sales Office 850.622.0145
I agree with Stallworth Public Beach access being hard to find.
The fact that Dune Allen has restrooms and much more parking is probably a better choice.

Don't forget a little north of the developement you have Topsail State Preserve Park.

This number is out of service.

But thanks anyway, joho.

Anybody else know anything about a beach shuttle to/from Cypess Dunes?

**Beach Runner** · 01-13-2010, 10:44 AM

The people I know who own a second home there just walk straight to the beach through the state park. Apparently there is a well-worn path there.

**Miss Critter** · 01-13-2010, 10:49 AM

Thanks, BR.

**Beach Runner** · 01-13-2010, 01:32 PM

See it? Now I'm not sayin' that it's legal ...

**ASH** · 01-13-2010, 01:37 PM

Woah! That's the first I saw of that path. That looks like quite a hike. If the homes in the photo are, let's say 40 feet wide, then scaling that out makes that path more than 1,000 feet long. Just food for thought when you're lugging a cooler, chairs, shovels and a tent....

**kurt** · 01-13-2010, 01:47 PM

Not cool - and much easier and legal to go to a public access. The trail in that shot is east of Cypress Dunes. And it is at least 1000 feet.

**ASH** · 01-13-2010, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by MissCritter

This number is out of service.

But thanks anyway, joho.

Anybody else know anything about a beach shuttle to/from Cypess Dunes?

There is a different phone number on www.cypressdunes.com
Try (850) 267-3642

**ASH** · 01-13-2010, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by kurt

Not cool - and much easier and legal to go to a public access. The trail in that shot is east of Cypress Dunes. And it is at least 1000 feet.

And that's from the Southern most edge of the state park. Most of the homes are much further North.

Amen....not cool.

**scooterbug44** · 01-13-2010, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by kurt

Not cool - and much easier and legal to go to a public access. The trail in that shot is east of Cypress Dunes. And it is at least 1000 feet.

If memory serves, there was at least one fence where that path is..................and no deeded access. We can certainly see that there is no walkover protecting the dunes.

**Beach Runner** · 01-13-2010, 05:01 PM

Yes, my earlier photo was wrong. Here is Cypress Dunes and the paths.

**kurt** · 01-13-2010, 05:24 PM

Do you get the "not cool" part?

**Miss Critter** · 01-13-2010, 07:03 PM

For some reason, I don't see the first photo. And the second photo is through the dunes, which I know is against the rules. Think I'll stick with recommending Dune Allen access.

**Beach Runner** · 01-13-2010, 07:13 PM

Originally Posted by kurt

Do you get the "not cool" part?

Yes, I'm not stupid. Like I said, "I'm not sayin' that it's legal ... "

Originally Posted by MissCritter

For some reason, I don't see the first photo. And the second photo is through the dunes, which I know is against the rules. Think I'll stick with recommending Dune Allen access.

I deleted the first photo.

**SWGB** · 01-14-2010, 10:12 AM

There is a fence so I'm not sure how they are using the path. The homes directly to the south also used to have a path, but the state fenced that in too.

**Smiling JOe** · 01-14-2010, 10:43 AM

The last time I looked, someone had cut through the barbed wire fence.

The Stallworth entrance has maybe two parking spaces and one is handy-capped only. The better solution is to drive or bike to Dune Allen Regional access. Or, go to the Topsail State Park day use.

There is no longer a sales office for Cypress Dunes to my knowlegdge.

**Smiling JOe** · 01-14-2010, 10:44 AM

BTW, there in no shuttle service from Cypress Dunes.

**Miss Critter** · 01-14-2010, 11:00 AM

Thanks, SJ. Are there any beach shuttle services along 30A?

**Smiling JOe** · 01-14-2010, 11:04 AM

Not of which I am aware, other than several which operate only for their own community like Seacrest Beach.

Cypress Dunes pushed the limit with that project. There website even states that their pool is adjacent to the state park "and the Gulf." Cypress Dunes is difficult to sell as a beach rental. You may get someone once, but I bet they don't repeat.

**Minnie** · 01-14-2010, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by Smiling JOe

Not of which I am aware, other than several which operate only for their own community like Seacrest Beach.

Cypress Dunes pushed the limit with that project. There website even states that their pool is adjacent to the state park "and the Gulf." Cypress Dunes is difficult to sell as a beach rental. You may get someone once, but I bet they don't repeat.

I have looked at a couple of rentals online for Cypress Dunes and they show photos of the pool with the Gluf in the background, so are these photos taken with a high power zoom, or they totally photoshopped.

Can you see the Gulf from the pool.

**Miss Critter** · 01-14-2010, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by Minnie

I have looked at a couple of rentals online for Cypress Dunes and they show photos of the pool with the Gluf in the background, so are these photos taken with a high power zoom, or they totally photoshopped.

Can you see the Gulf from the pool.

Yep, Minnie, you can see it. You just can't access it. There's preserve land between the development and the beach. If memory serves, this was supposed to be addressed with a community walkover, but money and/or permitting prevented it from happening.

**Minnie** · 01-14-2010, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by MissCritter

Yep, Minnie, you can see it. You just can't access it. There's preserve land between the development and the beach. If memory serves, this was supposed to be addressed with a community walkover, but money and/or permitting prevented it from happening.

Thanks, it looks like a beautiful development in the photos.

**Miss Critter** · 01-14-2010, 01:37 PM

It's nicely done, with really great amenities. It's a shame that the economy sidelined it, as it did so many projects here. There's an REO lot listed in there for under 40K - 20 under $100k between short sales and foreclosures. Times have certainly changed.

**ray** · 01-14-2010, 01:54 PM

the big builder willis or something owned all the lots in there. did he go under?i like the developement but i just like the other side of 30-a much better from grayton to rosemary

**NotDeadYet** · 01-14-2010, 02:16 PM

Yep, Minnie, you can see it. You just can't access it. There's preserve land between the development and the beach. If memory serves, this was supposed to be addressed with a community walkover, but money and/or permitting prevented it from happening.

The walkover was wishful thinking. The state never gives easements through their preserved land, unless it is the only possible access to private property. When the state refused, they sued, trying to prove a prescriptive easement. They lost.

**Smiling JOe** · 01-14-2010, 05:36 PM

John Willis Homes is still in business as I understand it. I think like most developers at the time, he ran into financial troubles, but I am pretty certain he is still building homes.

**GoodWitch58** · 01-15-2010, 06:38 AM

Too bad that he cut through so much of the cypress swamp for this development...

**kurt** · 01-15-2010, 07:10 AM

Some photos from the property - Photos - Beaches of South Walton - 05/15/06

**Smiling JOe** · 01-15-2010, 07:56 AM

Love seeing the new green growth on the Cypress Trees.

**ASH** · 01-15-2010, 08:24 AM

Great photos Kurt. It looks like they are from 2006. It would be cool to see photos of the exact same locations four years later.

**Miss Critter** · 01-15-2010, 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by goodwitch58

Too bad that he cut through so much of the cypress swamp for this development...

Agreed, but compared to the clearcutting that went on in many other areas (Driftwood immediately comes to mind), Cypress Dunes did a fair job of conservation. But, as a New Orleans girl, I would have to say that building on a swamp is never really a good idea. . .

**kurt** · 01-15-2010, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by ASH

Great photos Kurt. It looks like they are from 2006. It would be cool to see photos of the exact same locations four years later.

Thanks - there are a few cypress ponds on the property that weren't disturbed except for adding boardwalks. One does have a road and bridge through it.

**SWGB** · 01-15-2010, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by goodwitch58

Too bad that he cut through so much of the cypress swamp for this development...

Originally Posted by MissCritter

Agreed, but compared to the clearcutting that went on in many other areas (Driftwood immediately comes to mind), Cypress Dunes did a fair job of conservation. But, as a New Orleans girl, I would have to say that building on a swamp is never really a good idea. . .

Keep in mind that that area was in the path of a tornado during a hurricane years ago so much of it was "naturally" clear cut. In fact the great gulf views from the beach club and houses will eventually grow back.

**Smiling JOe** · 01-15-2010, 12:14 PM

Is that why Cypress Dunes is in the C.O.B.R.A. zone?

**ASH** · 01-16-2010, 09:20 AM

Originally Posted by Smiling JOe

Is that why Cypress Dunes is in the C.O.B.R.A. zone?

Is all of it listed as COBRA?

**Miss Critter** · 01-16-2010, 09:28 AM

Here's one recent article on COBRA:

Passive Federal Protection
Restrictions on the availability of Federal money for loans or Federal flood coverage in these protected areas do not preclude the use of "free market" loans or open market flood insurance. Further, these laws do not disallow building and development in these areas; they just don't allow the use of Federal dollars to finance, insure, build roads to or supply potable water to such development.
Owners are allowed to develop their property as they desire (subject to building codes and laws) but without any federal money. The government did not take away property rights, just the availability of Federal funds, thus the term "Passive Federal Protection."
Determination of Coverage Eligibility
Only the US Fish and Wildlife Service can officially determine if a property is located in a CBRS unit or an OPA. Although these zones are indicated on applicable Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), boundary lines on older FIRMs are only approximations and can be off by as much as 100 yards (affecting as many as three houses). No local surveyor, building inspector or other town official has the authority to make an official determination.
Standard flood insurance policies require that if ANY part of a structure is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), the entire building must be rated in the higher risk zone as per the prior discussion. This rule does not necessarily apply in CBRS units or OPA's. If a building is dissected by a CBRS or OPA boundary line, provisions in the law may allow the property to remain eligible for Federal flood coverage. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis depending on the specific details and history of the property in question.

How CoBRA Zones and OPA's Affect Flood Coverage | Articles | MyNewMarkets.com