seacrestkristiseacrestkristiBeach Fanatic3,538 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
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:roll: Calling on all your memories of Spring in Sowal from a natives or ole timers view. Did any of you grow up in Sowal or visit in the 50's, 60's and 70's? What did you do before everything was built up? Could you camp on the beach back then? Have bonfires? Was it very built up here in the 70's? Wonder what the first restaurant was like? Was there a hang out place? :cool: Was it mostly scrub forest then? :blink: Just curious...
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103
steele mamasteele mamaBeach FanaticNewnan, Georgia3,357 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
steele mamaBeach FanaticNewnan, Georgia3,357 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticSteele Mama, you drove in your car from Grayton to Inlet on the beach?Yea a Scout from Hartford AL! I didn't drive, I just rode. 😱
supermom262supermom262Beach FanaticGrayton Beach1,843 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
supermom262Beach FanaticGrayton Beach1,843 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticYea a Scout from Hartford AL! I didn't drive, I just rode. 😱
Just think if you would have had a video camera and filmed the landscape. I can only imagine...!
One thing I remember clearly, Jaws had just been released the summer before I think, and we were deathly afraid of going into the gulf at night and there were a lot of kids swimming in the gulf at night!
steele mamasteele mamaBeach FanaticNewnan, Georgia3,357 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
steele mamaBeach FanaticNewnan, Georgia3,357 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticJust think if you would have had a video camera and filmed the landscape. I can only imagine...!It was definitley dark when we made that drive and many more around Grayton Beach. It's a miracle any of us survived! Jumping the tops of dunes in an open dune buggy. 😱 Yea, swimming at night.
One thing I remember clearly, Jaws had just been released the summer before I think, and we were deathly afraid of going into the gulf at night and there were a lot of kids swimming in the gulf at night!
:roll: I can almost hear ya'll screamin' and laughin' now! How funn. What grayt memories! Next time I'm on the beach I'm sure to think of all ya'll flyin' around with the whole place to yourselves.:razz: Were Rick's and Puzzles clubs? Was that like the rock to disco era? That was kinda scary. :shock: Or was it another kinda scary? :blink:
Did ya'll swim in the lakes too? Were there many gators? Can't wild boars kill a person?
Lived several places in Florida but never saw dune lakes until my 1st visit to Seagrove in 1990. Someone told me they are very rare. How awesomely breathtaking ... :wub:
BTW, those books are at the library and Eden Gardens gift shop too.
Ya'lls' first hand stories are wonderful. Keep 'em comin'.
:welcome: liquorqueen!
Did ya'll swim in the lakes too? Were there many gators? Can't wild boars kill a person?
Lived several places in Florida but never saw dune lakes until my 1st visit to Seagrove in 1990. Someone told me they are very rare. How awesomely breathtaking ... :wub:
BTW, those books are at the library and Eden Gardens gift shop too.
Ya'lls' first hand stories are wonderful. Keep 'em comin'.
:welcome: liquorqueen!
steele mamasteele mamaBeach FanaticNewnan, Georgia3,357 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
steele mamaBeach FanaticNewnan, Georgia3,357 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic:roll: I can almost hear ya'll screamin' and laughin' now! How funn. What grayt memories! Next time I'm on the beach I'm sure to think of all ya'll flyin' around with the whole place to yourselves.:razz: Were Rick's and Puzzles clubs? Was that like the rock to disco era? That was kinda scary. :shock: Or was it another kinda scary? :blink:
Did ya'll swim in the lakes too? Were there many gators? Can't wild boars kill a person?
Lived several places in Florida but never saw dune lakes until my 1st visit to Seagrove in 1990. Someone told me they are very rare. How awesomely breathtaking ... :wub:
BTW, those books are at the library and Eden Gardens gift shop too.
Ya'lls' first hand stories are wonderful. Keep 'em comin'.
:welcome: liquorqueen!
I think Rick's was probably best described as a dive. Not sure. Very small place!
I swam in Western Lake all my life. We started skiiing at very early ages and I spent time in the lake every day. We fed a gator from our dock but I never saw one while swimming.
I understand that the boars came from the Miller place across the lake. They were raising them and there were no fences. Right? I read that someplace.
Definitely the Good Ole Days!
supermom262supermom262Beach FanaticGrayton Beach1,843 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
supermom262Beach FanaticGrayton Beach1,843 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticHey Steele Mama!
My parents leave Grayton today, will stay in Seagrove with my Aunt and Uncle for a few days before heading back to Michigan. So sad when they leave. If I'm lucky, they will be back at 4th of July, if not it'll be after Christmas:(
Out of curiosity, what do you think about trying to get a bike path from Grayton Corners past D&K's? I'm not sure if you saw in the Easter Exchange the post I wrote about my Dad getting hit on his bike in Grayton. We have been talking a lot about the flag system for the Gulf, but I think with the amount of people in the road on Defuniak, biking, running, walking their dogs, kids in the street etc, that we need to try to make this area safer for the high usage of people there. I know the homeowner meeting is in April. I'd like to hear what think. Maybe a petition can be circulated, not sure. Kathy from D&K's saw a young girl go down on her bike in front of a car there as well.
Thanks!
My parents leave Grayton today, will stay in Seagrove with my Aunt and Uncle for a few days before heading back to Michigan. So sad when they leave. If I'm lucky, they will be back at 4th of July, if not it'll be after Christmas:(
Out of curiosity, what do you think about trying to get a bike path from Grayton Corners past D&K's? I'm not sure if you saw in the Easter Exchange the post I wrote about my Dad getting hit on his bike in Grayton. We have been talking a lot about the flag system for the Gulf, but I think with the amount of people in the road on Defuniak, biking, running, walking their dogs, kids in the street etc, that we need to try to make this area safer for the high usage of people there. I know the homeowner meeting is in April. I'd like to hear what think. Maybe a petition can be circulated, not sure. Kathy from D&K's saw a young girl go down on her bike in front of a car there as well.
Thanks!
steele mamasteele mamaBeach FanaticNewnan, Georgia3,357 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
steele mamaBeach FanaticNewnan, Georgia3,357 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticHey Steele Mama!Oh my! No I haven't read that. I don't know what all the legalities of the path would be but it certainly is necessary now. The traffic is unbelievable! We don't need to wait until a child dies. Sorry, that was a sad thing to say but you know.
My parents leave Grayton today, will stay in Seagrove with my Aunt and Uncle for a few days before heading back to Michigan. So sad when they leave. If I'm lucky, they will be back at 4th of July, if not it'll be after Christmas:(
Out of curiosity, what do you think about trying to get a bike path from Grayton Corners past D&K's? I'm not sure if you saw in the Easter Exchange the post I wrote about my Dad getting hit on his bike in Grayton. We have been talking a lot about the flag system for the Gulf, but I think with the amount of people in the road on Defuniak, biking, running, walking their dogs, kids in the street etc, that we need to try to make this area safer for the high usage of people there. I know the homeowner meeting is in April. I'd like to hear what think. Maybe a petition can be circulated, not sure. Kathy from D&K's saw a young girl go down on her bike in front of a car there as well.
Thanks!
Grayton GirlGrayton GirlBeach FanaticSowal351 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
Grayton GirlBeach FanaticSowal351 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticThis is the LiquorQueen's sister here. Thought you might enjoy this photo from 1964 of me and my sisters (those are bathing suit bottoms, not underwear - we were ahead of our time with the topless thing) with our mom on the beach in Grayton at the Pass (what we have always called the outfall of Western Lake).
In the background, above Beachmama's head, is our lone beach house (white) on the dune, and in the upper right near the corner you can see the old Washaway Hotel. (The Washaway was moved to new pilings after Opal in 1995 and it is now much higher and somewhat closer to the beach.)
You will notice no structures on the beach to the west of our beach house. That was our playground, and we had names for every dune and indian pottery location out there. We spent hours and hours playing in the dunes, making expeditions to the Lonesome Pine (a giant pine tree that stood by itself in what is now Grayton Dunes State Park - it was a landmark for fishermen and locals and was featured on post cards at the Store) and having picnics in Magnolia Grove, a place out in the dunes where the magnolias came together to make an enclosed "cave." It was quite idyllic.
In the background, above Beachmama's head, is our lone beach house (white) on the dune, and in the upper right near the corner you can see the old Washaway Hotel. (The Washaway was moved to new pilings after Opal in 1995 and it is now much higher and somewhat closer to the beach.)
You will notice no structures on the beach to the west of our beach house. That was our playground, and we had names for every dune and indian pottery location out there. We spent hours and hours playing in the dunes, making expeditions to the Lonesome Pine (a giant pine tree that stood by itself in what is now Grayton Dunes State Park - it was a landmark for fishermen and locals and was featured on post cards at the Store) and having picnics in Magnolia Grove, a place out in the dunes where the magnolias came together to make an enclosed "cave." It was quite idyllic.
Wow, Grayton Girl ya'll were ahead of your time! What an awesome pix? You should have that blown up and framed. Ya'll look very happy and so did your momma. :wub: Look at the little one playin' with somebody's belly button. How precious! Ya'll were just little brown biscuits, weren't you?
My sister and I wore a similar style on Jacksonville Beach about the same year. :clap_1: It was already built up on the beach though compared to these pictures anyhow. How awesome! Tell me more about your playground please. What about the pottery? Was it Creek? Did you ever find any bones? sorry...Is the giant pine still there? 😀 What a wonderful playground! :razz: Thanks, GG! :bow:
My sister and I wore a similar style on Jacksonville Beach about the same year. :clap_1: It was already built up on the beach though compared to these pictures anyhow. How awesome! Tell me more about your playground please. What about the pottery? Was it Creek? Did you ever find any bones? sorry...Is the giant pine still there? 😀 What a wonderful playground! :razz: Thanks, GG! :bow:
Edited
liquorqueenliquorqueenBeach Lover160 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Lover
liquorqueenBeach Lover160 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach LoverHey...sorry SteeleMama. I thought you were your eldest child. Glad your keeping abreast of the area and those "gulls of yours."
Whoever was asking where Ricks Run-a-ground was, it was located in one of the houses that we locals call the "BrickYard." Just down from Sally's Convenience Store that that WONDERFUL LIQUOR STORE, Blue Mtn. Liquors!:floor::clap_1:
As my father likes to say, "you could play tittelewinks (sp?) on 30-A for a good 30 minutes till a car came by. This was the 60's!
The last Wild Boar I heard was about 1985 and I heard it grunting over in the Grayton Beach State Forest in "new Grayton" when I was running. I believe that was the end of that era.
Whoever was asking where Ricks Run-a-ground was, it was located in one of the houses that we locals call the "BrickYard." Just down from Sally's Convenience Store that that WONDERFUL LIQUOR STORE, Blue Mtn. Liquors!:floor::clap_1:
As my father likes to say, "you could play tittelewinks (sp?) on 30-A for a good 30 minutes till a car came by. This was the 60's!
The last Wild Boar I heard was about 1985 and I heard it grunting over in the Grayton Beach State Forest in "new Grayton" when I was running. I believe that was the end of that era.
johojohoBeach Fanatic1,133 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
johoBeach Fanatic1,133 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic:roll: I can almost hear ya'll screamin' and laughin' now! How funn. What grayt memories! Next time I'm on the beach I'm sure to think of all ya'll flyin' around with the whole place to yourselves.:razz: Were Rick's and Puzzles clubs? Was that like the rock to disco era? That was kinda scary. :shock: Or was it another kinda scary? :blink:
Did ya'll swim in the lakes too? Were there many gators? Can't wild boars kill a person?
Lived several places in Florida but never saw dune lakes until my 1st visit to Seagrove in 1990. Someone told me they are very rare. How awesomely breathtaking ... :wub:
BTW, those books are at the library and Eden Gardens gift shop too.
Ya'lls' first hand stories are wonderful. Keep 'em comin'.
:welcome: liquorqueen!
To answer your question regarding Ricks and Puzzles, Ricks was probably
one of "the first" drinking holes on 30A. It was located in one of the houses in Blue Mountain Beach. After it went south another owner tried his luck calling it Puzzles. It was quite the happening place for locals. They would gather for weekend championship darts. Both woman and men would compete. Hey we had to entertain ourselves somehow........
Actually there wasn't anything scary about either one it was all locals and we knew everyone back in those days.
iwishiwasthereiwishiwasthereBeach FanaticTennessee2,875 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
iwishiwasthereBeach FanaticTennessee2,875 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticThis is the LiquorQueen's sister here. Thought you might enjoy this photo from 1964 of me and my sisters (those are bathing suit bottoms, not underwear - we were ahead of our time with the topless thing) with our mom on the beach in Grayton at the Pass (what we have always called the outfall of Western Lake).
In the background, above Beachmama's head, is our lone beach house (white) on the dune, and in the upper right near the corner you can see the old Washaway Hotel. (The Washaway was moved to new pilings after Opal in 1995 and it is now much higher and somewhat closer to the beach.)
You will notice no structures on the beach to the west of our beach house. That was our playground, and we had names for every dune and indian pottery location out there. We spent hours and hours playing in the dunes, making expeditions to the Lonesome Pine (a giant pine tree that stood by itself in what is now Grayton Dunes State Park - it was a landmark for fishermen and locals and was featured on post cards at the Store) and having picnics in Magnolia Grove, a place out in the dunes where the magnolias came together to make an enclosed "cave." It was quite idyllic.
What a wonderful pic and childhood!!! The beauty of the place never changes!
ShallowsNoleShallowsNoleBeach FanaticPt Washington4,279 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
ShallowsNoleBeach FanaticPt Washington4,279 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticRick's Run-a-Ground...man, I hadn't even THOUGHT of that place in years. Probably decades! When it was open, though, I think I was still underage and more interested in sneaking into Nighttown in Destin. 🙂
But speaking of the little brick houses...anybody remember "Moontide?" And the fellow who stuck the little ads up at all the stores in SoWal...assistant needed? Must be female, 18 - 24, offer room and board, all expenses paid...:shock: :creepy:
Grayton Beach...RIP Nicky Frye. I grew up with him, but you didn't stay any length of time in Grayton without meeting Nicky. He is missed.
And what a grayt pic of the Haynes family...(hope it was ok to say that!) Y'all's mother was an awesome, beautiful lady. :blush:
But speaking of the little brick houses...anybody remember "Moontide?" And the fellow who stuck the little ads up at all the stores in SoWal...assistant needed? Must be female, 18 - 24, offer room and board, all expenses paid...:shock: :creepy:
Grayton Beach...RIP Nicky Frye. I grew up with him, but you didn't stay any length of time in Grayton without meeting Nicky. He is missed.
And what a grayt pic of the Haynes family...(hope it was ok to say that!) Y'all's mother was an awesome, beautiful lady. :blush:
Bobby JBobby JBeach FanaticBlue Mountain beach4,041 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
Bobby JBeach FanaticBlue Mountain beach4,041 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticDoes anyone remember when someone painted SEASIDE "SUCKS" on the Seaside water tower...:cool:
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