Scenic Gulf Drive

I am still looking for older photos of this area, but this is the only one I had at hand from August 3, 2001 almost 6 years ago (pre-Tropical Storm Isidore for the weather watchers among us) . Note the cars and beach usage. As I said, this is not a new phenomenon.

I am still looking for older photos of this area, but this is the only one I had at hand from August 3, 2001 almost 6 years ago (pre-Tropical Storm Isidore for the weather watchers among us) . Note the cars and beach usage. As I said, this is not a new phenomenon.

beachsio2,
Thank you for the pic. Nice to see that the dunes were once nourished.
I am aware that the TDC services the garbage brown bags up and down the beach and I have talked to them at length. They are consistent in their patrols and do a great job. Even they throw their hands up in despair when it come to trash on the beach. We have talked to the vendors and warned that they will have their permits jeopardized if they do a poor job of trash pickup.
Please understand that despite the public parking that has gone on for a while, this is not a PUBLIC park nor has it ever been. Unlike James Lee Park or the Miramar beach public access at Pompano Joe's, this area is privately owned and has never been public. We have talked to long time residents (some were at the meeting and testified) that say there were NO PARKING signs up at one point like elsewhere along scenic hwy 98. Every other beachside property owner has their beach area fenced and gated.
Let us see what the outcome will be after the next meeting in July.
Maybe organized parking is the ticket.
Its just hard to see how caviler people are with such a beautiful resource. They come and enjoy the beach and leave it worse for wear.
Restrooms are in no ones plans and the Wales Tale is a horrible option as it stands.
peace.

A large part of the current parking problem is that most of the "parking" got washed away/eroded, so cars are crammed in and even closer to the roadway then they used to be and there is no room to walk behind the acrs along the road's shoulder like there used to be.

As you can see in the picture, cars used to be able to pull in straight as opposed to parking paralell to the road like they do now (which has also reduced the "spots" available). I am constantly surprised that cars aren't overshooting/getting undercut and ending up on the beach. I saw an SUV last week that was right at the edge at a quality lean.

I have no sympathy for someone living/renting in a highrise on old 98 and complaining about their crowded "private" beach & traffic. You created the density.

"..I have no sympathy for someone living/renting in a highrise on old 98 and complaining about their crowded "private" beach & traffic. You created the density..."
bug,
just as a fyi...we can live with the density we created..its the other "public density" we cannot live with.
Its no secret we paid a lot less for this drop dead all-day-long gorgeous view. In return we must put up with the "density".
My solution..open all beach front property to the public..tear down those fences...make it open season for any beach goer in ALL of SoWal. Let them park anywhere to use the beach.
That would include all of you high rolling low risers on 30-A. QED.

My solution..open all beach front property to the public..tear down those fences...make it open season for any beach goer in ALL of SoWal. Let them park anywhere to use the beach.
That would include all of you high rolling low risers on 30-A. QED.

Great suggestion ............ my beach access is already public w/ a brand spanking new dune walkover built by the TDC!

You are more than welcome to go to the one by my house! You won't have any trouble getting in as there isn't any type of fence or gate and it isn't crowded because it is surrounded by single family/duplex homes. Parking is available on any nearby side street. Only drawback is no public restroom, but they have those at the public beach access down the road.

Is this the area across and down from the Seascape Resort? I remember a Whales Tail being there in '86 or so. Just a small bar and grill. I think it got taken out by one of the hurricanes. Evidently they have rebuilt. Hence the parking lot. I have fond memories of that area. 20 years or so ago that's where we honeymooned. Ahhhhhhhhhh..........the memories...........younger.......had more hair.........at least on the top of my head.

A Logical position;
The beach is more crowded than ever, especially on weekends. But, hey, it's the season! Your condo's contribute much to the problem. The conjestion problem has a negative impact on our local lifestyle.You profit by our inconvenience .
The county offers a reasonable plan to bring organization to chaos, and make it pretty too!
Now you realize that beach restoration will be repeatedly needed to save your home. And, you need us to pay for it!
Why not compromise and allow a nice area with organized parking, and a boardwalk that you will use more than anyone?

Welcome Jack. Sowal is like crack, so let er rip!!!! Remember on slowal you will need a stage name like blue mountain brokeneck. :rofl:

JDarg's shack rules

JDarg's shack rules

It has good feng shui from the former owners.

The conjestion problem has a negative impact on our local lifestyle.You profit by our inconvenience .

Hey jack..sounds like you need to convalesce in Jdarg's shack..let her feng shui soothe your tired mind.

My solution..open all beach front property to the public..tear down those fences...make it open season for any beach goer in ALL of SoWal. Let them park anywhere to use the beach.
That would include all of you high rolling low risers on 30-A. QED.

You're not going to get a lot of argument on that one with this crowd. 30-A has great beach access - we go to different beaches all of the time, from Stallworth to Inlet Beach, and never have any problem parking or with crowds. We also have not one but three (or four, if you count Camp Helen just past the end of 30A) absolutely beautiful state parks with facilities. Between the state parks and the countless public access points, those of us who don't live smack dab on the ocean have many options for beachgoing. There will even be a new parking lot and facility built right between Seaside and Watercolor this summer, and so far I haven't heard any complaints.

Sure, there are a few homeowners, and homeowner's associations, which are trying to create "private" beaches on 30A, but even those usually have a public access nearby, and I really hope that we'll never lose the right to stroll the strand. I think then you would see some fireworks out of this crowd.

Hey jack..sounds like you need to convalesce in Jdarg's shack..let her feng shui soothe your tired mind.

dsilver, you quote out of context. It is part of the position. But it is better to hang in a shack with friends than in a mansion with adversaries.

There will even be a new parking lot and facility built right between Seaside and Watercolor this summer, and so far I haven't heard any complaints.

That parking lot has been open for some length of time, already.

That parking lot has been open for some length of time, already.

Yes, it has been, but since the Walton Sun reported on it a couple of weeks ago as though it were a brand new thing, I figured no one knew about it.

They are going to add "facilities", according to the Sun, and make it a full blown public access.

Yes, it has been, but since the Walton Sun reported on it a couple of weeks ago as though it were a brand new thing, I figured no one knew about it.

They are going to add "facilities", according to the Sun, and make it a full blown public access.

And most likely lifeguards in Summer 2008..

..I really hope that we'll never lose the right to stroll the strand. I think then you would see some fireworks out of this crowd.

Good,
May the Gods never allow us to Californicate SoWal.
Our beaches are our greatest public asset. My suggestion was not tongue-in-cheek.
However, in a perfect world, or at least in a world where members of this board inhabited the earth, we would see a decorum and a sense of order permeate the use of our beaches. We would be mindful of our intrusion with our automobiles, we would certainly never litter, and most of all be respectful of the rights of others using the beach. Thats the perfect world.

Welcome to the mayhem of scenic Hwy 98. Sure , I chose to live here and sure high density condo living increases the volume of people..thats no so bothersome. What is bothersome is the absolute disregard that people have that park beach side. Our condo hoards have our parking..we park in our lot and walk to the beach..and are assaulted by the crazy people parked there. That wont change with the county's plan. It will only get worse.
Now mix open container drinking with this picture.........

30-A is not an option for most people looking for a quick beach fix. They either have to pay the fees to enter the public beach parks or come on down to scenic Hwy 98..its free....never mind where you park or where you throw your garbage or if you are inebriated or where you defecate or urinate..there are no controls.
Dogs, college party animals, kids, hot women, insane people taking chances with their lives, huge crowds camped for days with their large throw-away canopies, vendors and yoga practitioners..all there trying to coexist with the rampant garbage and the cacophony of drunken vacationers.
Thats pretty much it..red neck Riviera? Terrible term..but the absolute lack of common decorum and manners is jaw dropping!
I'll stop my rant..and thanks for listening. Gee I feel better!! Time for another cup of tea.

30-A is not an option for most people looking for a quick beach fix. They either have to pay the fees to enter the public beach parks or come on down to scenic Hwy 98..its free....never mind where you park or where you throw your garbage or if you are inebriated or where you defecate or urinate..there are no controls.
Dogs, college party animals, kids, hot women, insane people taking chances with their lives, huge crowds camped for days with their large throw-away canopies, vendors and yoga practitioners..all there trying to coexist with the rampant garbage and the cacophony of drunken vacationers.
Thats pretty much it..red neck Riviera? Terrible term..but the absolute lack of common decorum and manners is jaw dropping!

Disilvar, I hear the frustration with uncaring beach goers in your posts. I think most SoWallers also have that similar frustration with these people, no matter if they are parking at the beach or on the Chattahoochie River on a tube. I don't agree with your thoughts that these people cannot visit the beaches along 30A without paying. Granted, there isn't much parking at the accesses along 30A, but they are free to the public. I think one major difference between Miramar and 30A is that 30A has open accesses located down the majority of the length of the road, and Old 98 in Miramar, has a fence or buildings, without public access. Therefore, the people who don't live within walking distance, drive, and find the only place where the public is not stopped from accessing the beach. That happens to be the Whales Tail area, which is presented in this parking lot scenerio. Please don't think these trashy people are found only on that stretch of beach. I think they may be concentrated heavily there, for the aforementioned reasons, but those people make up our general population in the USA, IMO. They are also found along the beaches of 30A, even in WaterColor, Seaside, etc.

I drove that stretch of Old 98, yesterday, and I saw cars parked in every way posible. On the south shoulder of the road, I saw parallel parked cars facing both directions, east and west. I saw cars parked at 45 degree angles in both directions. (very dangerous when leaving.) Cars were also parked backed in at 45 degrees. Some were even parked at perpendicular to Old 98. It was the most hap-hazard trainwreck that I've seen. Maybe helping to orgainize these crazy people would be a start.

I also noticed tents on the beach, not too far away from the "No tents on the beach" signs, and beach umbrellas were three deep. Thanks, but no thanks.

Regarding condo living, some people are very against high rises. I would like to point out that if done correctly, high rises can be valuable to protecting the land. Unfortunately, I haven't seen it done right around here. By concentrating the human impact into one small piece of earth, we can limit our footprint. The key to this is that the surrounding land must not be developed. It must remain natural. If you've ever seen the views from a highrise condo, you will understand why some people love them. This is the same mindset of the walkable communities like Seaside. Unfortunately, they leave very little undeveloped, and other communities, like WaterColor, develope right up to the property line, also leaving little undeveloped.

http://www.co.walton.fl.us/default.asp?id=141&releaseaction=view&releaseID=133

Agenda for tomorrow's meeting. It looks like this issue goes at 4:40 (a huge approximation I am sure!).

http://www.co.walton.fl.us/default.asp?id=141&releaseaction=view&releaseID=133

Agenda for tomorrow's meeting. It looks like this issue goes at 4:40 (a huge approximation I am sure!).

very HUGE appoximation.

Don't forget the County attorney's opinion after the 4:40 presentation unless they decide to merge them into one. It's listed as Phase 3 Beautification Project..

Don't forget the County attorney's opinion after the 4:40 presentation unless they decide to merge them into one. It's listed as Phase 3 Beautification Project..

Thanks- I missed that one. Wish they would be a little more detailed on the agenda!

Thanks- I missed that one. Wish they would be a little more detailed on the agenda!

Why do that? Then the groupies that go to EVERY meeting would have a harder time finding a seat when you "special eventers" come

Why do that? Then the groupies that go to EVERY meeting would have a harder time finding a seat when you "special eventers" come

Just noticed the thread title. That drive, long ago, stopped being scenic, and even more so in the last three years when townhomes were built, blocking most of the beautiful water and beaches, as well as putting those homes at higher risk for damage from storms.

The mind boggles that anyone is allowed to build or rebuild south of Scenie 98 anymore after how bad it was for those kinds of structures after Ivan and Dennis, and how vulnerable the area still is even after renourishment. Talk about an area that should not be insured by federal flood insurance.