We just returned from our annual family vacation in sowal. In the 28 years that we have vacationed in the area we have grown from a family of 5 to a family of 17! Our time together with our family which inclueds 8 grand children is priceless. I am saddened to say that because of the ridiculous issues that are going on with cusomary use and beach chair vendors I am researching other areas. In order to get a space on the beach so that we could keep close tabs on our grandchildren, we had to get up at 5:30 AM to be on the beach before the beach chair company, 30A-Shade. We have small, traditional umbrellas and chairs that we transport with us year after year. Our hearts are saddened by the conditions created by the customary use issue. I am working on completing the affidavid and sending pics of our vacations dating back to 1991. I am hoping that someone takes notice and changes are made...we love sowal and don’t want to have to search for a new vacation place.
The picture of the beach chairs at the water’s edge show how we sandwiched ourselves between the vendors...we are the small umbrellas! We stayed in a 6 bedroom home in Summer’s Edge near Eastern Lake. Our beach access was at Ramsgate.
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beachmabeachmaBeach Lover151 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Lover
beachmaBeach Lover151 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Lover32,451 views
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TrumanTrumanBeach Fanatic654 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
TrumanBeach Fanatic654 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticSo sad - but glad you have made some lasting memories. I hope you find another paradise that isn't lost.
The Florida story of over development keeps repeating but will end soon because there are but a few serene spots left.
The Florida story of over development keeps repeating but will end soon because there are but a few serene spots left.
steel1mansteel1manBeach Fanatic2,287 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
steel1manBeach Fanatic2,287 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic#33
The beach Mafia Rules and BCC and TDC WILL NOT step in and control..TDC will NOT enforce the rules no matter how many calls you make....
Pictures from Blue Mountain Beach public access...
Pictures from Blue Mountain Beach public access...
TeresaTeresaSoWal GuideSouth Walton, FL30,985 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Guide
TeresaSoWal GuideSouth Walton, FL30,985 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal GuideThank you for sharing your experience. We are working on it! Hopefully customary use will be restored. But as you show here, beach vendors have completely ruined the world's most beautiful beaches. It is absolutely ridiculous to allow it. Other beach communities have very strict rules limiting vendors and so should we.
The most frustrating thing about the vendors was that there was never a day when all of the chairs/umbrella’s were occupied. Many sat empty and just occupied space!
steel1mansteel1manBeach Fanatic2,287 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
steel1manBeach Fanatic2,287 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticThe most frustrating thing about the vendors was that there was never a day when all of the chairs/umbrella’s were occupied. Many sat empty and just occupied space!Definition of a SOWAL “Ghost Chair”....which are IlLEGAL....Law says ONLY rented chairs are allowed to be pre-Setup...However, Brian and his gang of TDC don’t enforce this law...hence lots of Ghost Chairs....but if you sit on one of them someone will pop up out of a sand dune and charge you....
TreeFrogTreeFrogBeach FanaticSeagrove1,793 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
TreeFrogBeach FanaticSeagrove1,793 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticThat was my neighborhood walkover during my 11 years in SoWal. I'm glad I got out before the greed won out. If I were spending several thousand dollars to rent a vacation house, I'd be truly cheesed off. Not to mention never coming back.
Ohio GirlOhio GirlBeach LoverSagamore Hills OH239 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Lover
Ohio GirlBeach LoverSagamore Hills OH239 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach LoverThere shouldn't be any pre-setup, period. If someone wants to rent a chair, it should be set up when the person is actually at the beach and taken down when the person leaves.
There shouldn't be any pre-setup, period. If someone wants to rent a chair, it should be set up when the person is actually at the beach and taken down when the person leaves.
Exactly what we kept saying the entire week! It is beyond a problem...it’s happening everywhere up and down 30 a.
We will be moving on. I am searching now for a house in Orange Beach or possibly Carillon for next year.
James BentwoodJames BentwoodBeach Fanatic1,615 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
There shouldn't be any pre-setup, period. If someone wants to rent a chair, it should be set up when the person is actually at the beach and taken down when the person leaves.Easy to say. Not easy to accomplish unless you have full time gear on the beach with attendants like the resorts. Walton County shouldn't be in the beach vending business. The alternative is to lease out property and take a cut or have vendors bid on accesses. Another mess and opportunities for abuses.
The other alternative is to ban vendors on public beaches. I'm sure there are plenty of private property owners withing walking distance of an access that would be happy to make money by employing vendors and gear like a resort. Another can of worms and something that would have to be regulated by the county and more legal headaches.
However I am for banning vendors on public property. If people need chairs and umbrellas and boats, etc. let them stay at a resort. Keep the public beaches free and clean.
steel1mansteel1manBeach Fanatic2,287 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
steel1manBeach Fanatic2,287 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticEasy to say. Not easy to accomplish unless you have full time gear on the beach with attendants like the resorts. Walton County shouldn't be in the beach vending business. The alternative is to lease out property and take a cut or have vendors bid on accesses. Another mess and opportunities for abuses.It’s call Public for a reason..if not you would call it 30A Shades ( are what ever) beach.... Since the Beach Mafia doesn’t own or pay property taxes on, YET they earn 10’s of thousands of dollars ever summer season...( estimated via math and chair setups x daily rental cost equals over $50,000 per season) $$$$$ talks.....
The other alternative is to ban vendors on public beaches. I'm sure there are plenty of private property owners withing walking distance of an access that would be happy to make money by employing vendors and gear like a resort. Another can of worms and something that would have to be regulated by the county and more legal headaches.
However I am for banning vendors on public property. If people need chairs and umbrellas and boats, etc. let them stay at a resort. Keep the public beaches free and clean.
seabythegroveseabythegroveBeach Fanatic480 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
seabythegroveBeach Fanatic480 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticWhy can't tourist carry their chairs and umbrellas to the beach each day like the lowly locals?
Why can't tourist carry their chairs and umbrellas to the beach each day like the lowly locals?
We bring, carry and remove our chairs and umbrellas every day. There were plenty of tourist who did the same. 30A Shade, the beach chair vendor, occupied ALL of the wet sand line from 6 AM to 6 PM. They stack their chairs, umbrellas and plastic tables at the beach walk/ dune line at the end of the day.We took ours back to the house everyday. They don’t even follow the “leave no trace” regulation. Another big contributung issue that we observed was that many owner’s advertise “daily beach chair/umbrella set up” included in their rental rates. It’s really a sad state of affairs. I have recently had a friend ask for recommendations on where to stay on 30A because she knows we have been doing it for 28 years...I told her we were moving on next year because this year was the last straw. I don’t own, but I have invested thousands of dollars over the years in our family vacations in SOWAL.
steel1mansteel1manBeach Fanatic2,287 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
steel1manBeach Fanatic2,287 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticWe bring, carry and remove our chairs and umbrellas every day. There were plenty of tourist who did the same. 30A Shade, the beach chair vendor, occupied ALL of the wet sand line from 6 AM to 6 PM. They stack their chairs, umbrellas and plastic tables at the beach walk/ dune line at the end of the day.We took ours back to the house everyday. They don’t even follow the “leave no trace” regulation. Another big contributung issue that we observed was that many owner’s advertise “daily beach chair/umbrella set up” included in their rental rates. It’s really a sad state of affairs. I have recently had a friend ask for recommendations on where to stay on 30A because she knows we have been doing it for 28 years...I told her we were moving on next year because this year was the last straw. I don’t own, but I have invested thousands of dollars over the years in our family vacations in SOWAL.Please copy the affidavit sign notarized and mail in...if we don’t we can’t complain
James BentwoodJames BentwoodBeach Fanatic1,615 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
contributung issue that we observed was that many owner’s advertise “daily beach chair/umbrella set up” included in their rental rates.Not a problelem since there are actually people using them.
Emerald DrifterEmerald DrifterBeach FanaticSanta Rosa Beach616 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
Emerald DrifterBeach FanaticSanta Rosa Beach616 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticJames, you have posted the the answer.
1. If the county owns the property, NO VENDORS AT ALL, even if a visitor wants chairs. It's the only way to stop this.
2. Let the chair vendors contract with the individual BF owners, houses and condo complexes.
3. Once this is in place, all chairs are to be removed by sundown and placed behind the dunes, not at the toe of the dune.
Beachma, I recommend trying out Gulf Shores area, OR the West End of Panama City Beach, depending on where you drive in from.
Next week, vote out the commissioner whose son has a beach "service" and the public MAY have a shot at having 100% of our access back, instead of the current 50% we have now.
James BentwoodJames BentwoodBeach Fanatic1,615 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
Vote out Corrupt Cecilia Jones
happy2Bmehappy2BmeBeach FanaticSowal879 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
Entitlement isn’t pretty...her twin is Greed.
photocat2005photocat2005Beach Comber7 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Comber
Why can't tourist carry their chairs and umbrellas to the beach each day like the lowly locals?
For starters, not all tourists own or can feasibly transport (e.g. flying in) chairs and umbrellas to SoWal.
It has been a few years since we've been to SoWal but heading there soon. I can't say I completely follow all of this controversy but I don't live there.
From a purely visual stand point, the beach is far more attractive with the beach vendor umbrella/chair set-up. Looks far better than the hodge podge of oversized canopy / tent sprawl. That said if I lived there, it would be far more economical and nicer to bring my own - so I get that part.
As tourists, it is far easier and much more enjoyable for us to rent from the "mafia" I guess, so I apologize as we will continue to do so when we visit.
If you don't like beach chairs and umbrellas - go to Hilton Head Island or most of the other East Coast beaches. They are generally not nearly as pretty, sand is rough and very hot (wear shoes) and the Atlantic is a poor substitute for the emerald waters of the gulf. But you'll be free of the evil beach chair / umbrella peeps.
James BentwoodJames BentwoodBeach Fanatic1,615 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
For starters, not all tourists own or can feasibly transport (e.g. flying in) chairs and umbrellas to SoWal.Sandestin . Topsail . WaterColor . Seaside . Rosemary Beach . Carillon Beach
It has been a few years since we've been to SoWal but heading there soon. I can't say I completely follow all of this controversy but I don't live there.
From a purely visual stand point, the beach is far more attractive with the beach vendor umbrella/chair set-up. Looks far better than the hodge podge of oversized canopy / tent sprawl. That said if I lived there, it would be far more economical and nicer to bring my own - so I get that part.
As tourists, it is far easier and much more enjoyable for us to rent from the "mafia" I guess, so I apologize as we will continue to do so when we visit.
If you don't like beach chairs and umbrellas - go to Hilton Head Island or most of the other East Coast beaches. They are generally not nearly as pretty, sand is rough and very hot (wear shoes) and the Atlantic is a poor substitute for the emerald waters of the gulf. But you'll be free of the evil beach chair / umbrella peeps.
More chairs, umbrellas, boards, boats than you know what to do with.
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