Sanctuary at Redfish

Maybe you can load all your beach stuff in the car in the morning (including a bike), drive down and park, then bike back to the condo and everyone walk or bike down to the beach later in the day.


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Sounds like an old trick to me.

Sounds like an old trick to me.

And no one knows an old trick like GB does. ;-)


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And no one knows an old trick like GB does. ;-)


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Touchee, where did we meet?

SJ, I have attached a survey of the area you mentioned earlier, are these home owners seriously trying to claim the land in front of the Public Beach Access?

So it sounds like the parking may be filled up in August and we shouldn't count on getting a spot.

Correct, hence my earlier comment about renting or bringing a bicycle or two, or three. Big Daddy's Bike Shop, located just over the hill, to the west, rents and delivers bicycles, and they are good people, too.

SJ, I have attached a survey of the area you mentioned earlier, are these home owners seriously trying to claim the land in front of the Public Beach Access?

I have not heard that, nor have I intended to state that in this thread. The properties which I was talking about in this particular thread are the Gulf front properties extending westward, from Big Redfish Lake, up to the Public Access at Hwy 83. The stretch of properties does include three public accesses to beaches which are being claimed as privately owned. The survey you posted is for the four properties to the immediate west of the 83 public access. My guess is that they will claim the beach in front of their properties, just as everyone to the west has done, up through The Retreat, except for the Redfish Village, which in a public County Meeting stated that they would dedicate the beach portion of their deeded property to the public, in order to get approval for building the restrooms and making it a private access for the owners in Redfish Village. (how crazy is this? Private Access to public beach vs public access to private beach. No wonder everyone is confused as to who owns what.)

I have not heard that, nor have I intended to state that in this thread. The properties which I was talking about in this particular thread are the Gulf front properties extending westward, from Big Redfish Lake, up to the Public Access at Hwy 83. The stretch of properties does include three public accesses to beaches which are being claimed as privately owned. The survey you posted is for the four properties to the immediate west of the 83 public access. My guess is that they will claim the beach in front of their properties, just as everyone to the west has done, up through The Retreat, except for the Redfish Village, which in a public County Meeting stated that they would dedicate the beach portion of their deeded property to the public, in order to get approval for building the restrooms and making it a private access for the owners in Redfish Village. (how crazy is this? Private Access to public beach vs public access to private beach. No wonder everyone is confused as to who owns what.)

Okay, I just misread your previous post.

Is Redfish perhaps meaning that they won't enforce the wetsand/drysand boundary? In other words you can use it if you can get thru the barbed wire and dobermans on either side?

My family has also decided to vacation at Sanctuary @ Redfish this summer. I hope we haven't made a bad decision to do so. We have stayed at Adagio for the past 3 summers and the beach there is getting so crowded. We were hoping for more privacy (and a larger condo) and have been told we should have that. I just hope the boat ride across the lake isn't too much of a hassle. We don't have small children, just a few teenagers who enjoy spending their time between the pool and beach. When I decided to take the place, I remembered reading the beginning of this thread when SJ gave it some nice reviews. Do you still think it's a decent place to vacation, SJ, or would you opt for something different? Our problem is that we need a place that sleeps at least 7 in beds (not sleeper sofa) as my 15 year old son has requested an actual bed this year. He's not spoiled; he's just 6 ft. tall and growing! We prefer southside of 30A with some sort of view of the beach so that cuts out many beautiful homes (which we'd have a walk to the beach anyway right).

gayboi, If Redfish Village did indeed dedicate the lower elevation of the beach to the public as they said they would, the public can use the beach. The public can walk across any beach, as I understand, without trespassing, so you could go down the 83 public access and walk west to that beach. However, don't try to go through the Private Access with restrooms. It is gated.

kimbug, I cannot answer your question. In the past, no one has tried to claim the beach to the east of the 83 access as private, but I saw the deed filed in Sept 2007, staking claim to the beach, so there may or may not be trouble. We'll see. Yes, the condos at Sanctuary at Redfish are nice, but there is no dedicated beach access for them, and they are not beach front. My guess is the boat shuttle is a fairly easy way to access the beach. I'm not sure if you tell the boat driver to pick you up in an hour, or what. They haven't had enough users to have a regular schedule. The only potential problem of walking to the beach at the hwy 83 access is that the property owners on both sides may try to kick you onto the wet sand. Not all of the owners to the west of that access have defended the beach as their own property, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them following suit. I'd guess the public access at 83 is maybe 75 ft wide, so if the property owners kick everyone onto that narrow stretch of beach, you could be thinking twice. Time will tell.

My family has also decided to vacation at Sanctuary @ Redfish this summer. I hope we haven't made a bad decision to do so. We have stayed at Adagio for the past 3 summers and the beach there is getting so crowded. We were hoping for more privacy (and a larger condo) and have been told we should have that. I just hope the boat ride across the lake isn't too much of a hassle. We don't have small children, just a few teenagers who enjoy spending their time between the pool and beach. When I decided to take the place, I remembered reading the beginning of this thread when SJ gave it some nice reviews. Do you still think it's a decent place to vacation, SJ, or would you opt for something different? Our problem is that we need a place that sleeps at least 7 in beds (not sleeper sofa) as my 15 year old son has requested an actual bed this year. He's not spoiled; he's just 6 ft. tall and growing! We prefer southside of 30A with some sort of view of the beach so that cuts out many beautiful homes (which we'd have a walk to the beach anyway right).

If you had Gulf Front at Adagio I think you'll be disappointed. As for the sleeper sofa, I don't think that's spoiled or height. I'm all of 5' 8" and wouldn't sleep on one of those torture devices.

gayboi, If Redfish Village did indeed dedicate the lower elevation of the beach to the public as they said they would, the public can use the beach. The public can walk across any beach, as I understand, without trespassing, so you could go down the 83 public access and walk west to that beach. However, don't try to go through the Private Access with restrooms. It is gated.

That is more clarifying. I still can't believe the deed issue. If that works, I'm gonna have a lovely piece that extends from Defuniak down 331 to 283 and then thru the state park. The new addition will be a lovely beach front lot with Western lake in the backyard. Hope the ranger doesn't mind.

gayboi, If Redfish Village did indeed dedicate the lower elevation of the beach to the public as they said they would, the public can use the beach. The public can walk across any beach, as I understand, without trespassing, so you could go down the 83 public access and walk west to that beach. However, don't try to go through the Private Access with restrooms. It is gated.

kimbug, I cannot answer your question. In the past, no one has tried to claim the beach to the east of the 83 access as private, but I saw the deed filed in Sept 2007, staking claim to the beach, so there may or may not be trouble. We'll see. Yes, the condos at Sanctuary at Redfish are nice, but there is no dedicated beach access for them, and they are not beach front. My guess is the boat shuttle is a fairly easy way to access the beach. I'm not sure if you tell the boat driver to pick you up in an hour, or what. They haven't had enough users to have a regular schedule. The only potential problem of walking to the beach at the hwy 83 access is that the property owners on both sides may try to kick you onto the wet sand. Not all of the owners to the west of that access have defended the beach as their own property, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them following suit. I'd guess the public access at 83 is maybe 75 ft wide, so if the property owners kick everyone onto that narrow stretch of beach, you could be thinking twice. Time will tell.

Thanks, SJ. After panicking, almost cancelling, and getting everyone in my family upset (somewhat usual for me when planning a vacation), we've decided to keep our reservation at Redfish. The natural surroundings, beauty of the property (and a call to the management company) convinced me to give it a try. Apparently, the boat operator is also the maintenance person. Guests are given his cell phone number and are to call him when ready to depart the beach. We'll see how that goes . We have never had a bad experience visiting sowal and this property has too many amenities to not try it out. I'm sure I'll let everyone know how it goes. Hopefully none of our party will be hauled off to jail for sitting on the "wrong" section of beach ;-)!

Didn't mean to scare you, but I think it is fair for people, spending mucho money to come to the beach, to know what they are getting and the circumstances regarding the claims to the sandy beach, being made by some. I think if you are aware, you will at least be somewhat prepared if someone calls the cops on you for sitting at the beach. The Sanctuary at Redfish has some great views across Big Redfish Lake.

Apparently, the boat operator is also the maintenance person. Guests are given his cell phone number and are to call him when ready to depart the beach. We'll see how that goes .

Captain Dwayne F. Schneider, must suck to be him. :roll:


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kimbug stayed there in june 2007. great place you will have a great time.
the positives: new, uncrowded, good health club, great pools, good service lunch brought to you at the beach if you like.
not so positives: not on the beach, beach access is by boat as you noted, and there was some lady there everyday trying to sell her unit to anyone that would listen.

picture of the beach:http://www.sowal.com/bb/gallery/showimage.php?i=6997&catid=newimages

Didn't mean to scare you, but I think it is fair for people, spending mucho money to come to the beach, to know what they are getting and the circumstances regarding the claims to the sandy beach, being made by some. I think if you are aware, you will at least be somewhat prepared if someone calls the cops on you for sitting at the beach. The Sanctuary at Redfish has some great views across Big Redfish Lake.

I appreciate the advice, SJ. We rented from vrbo.com but dealt with the owner's management company (which is new for us) and they were pretty confident about the beach access and they also mentioned the sister property, Sanctuary by the Sea next door that has deeded beach access. IDK, if the cops show up, I'll just let my brother-in-law handle it since he's a cop too ! We're kind of harmless...not tent dwellers, don't have loud children and definitely pick up after ourselves (and others)!

The property does look to have some beautiful views and the unit we have booked is on the 3rd & 4th floor. I'm secretly hoping for the master bdrm. upstairs so that I can enjoy a quiet morning or 2 looking at the lake, dunes and gulf. That combo alone makes the boat ride seem worth it! And SHELLY, ur right about being the boat captain...it probably does suck!

Do you know anything about the Sanctuary by the Sea? Is construction still ongoing?

I believe Sanctuary by the Sea is open for business. However, I don't think the Sanctuary at Redfish owners get to share amenities and dedicated beach access of SbytheS. Not many dunes to look at from S at RF, but more than in NE Ohio.

I believe Sanctuary by the Sea is open for business. However, I don't think the Sanctuary at Redfish owners get to share amenities and dedicated beach access of SbytheS. Not many dunes to look at from S at RF, but more than in NE Ohio.

True dat, SJ, unless you count the "dunes" of snow I've got accumulating in my yard NE Ohio does nothing for me in the winter ! You've just given me more to think about since the mgmt. co. mentioned that since SbytheS has access we could just use that beach in case of a problem. Confusing to say the least. Again, I appreciate the way you look out for those of us in search of fair & honest answers when it's not cheap to rent a nice place.

I just found a place @ Watersound that I would love to rent so I'm starting my campaign right now. Guess I'll have to start a new thread for advice....

I haven't seen signs posted on the beach in front of S by the S, stating private property, yet. Haven't even looked at the deeds for that property. However, that stretch of beach has been empty for a long time. It may be different as the rentals grow for those developments, but for the moment, it remains quiet, and the birds love to hang out on that stretch of beach. One thing is for certain, it will be much quieter than where you stayed last year if your avatar is any sign of where you stayed.

I'll be glad for any change in venue to tell the truth. Although the pool @ Adagio (where we've stayed last 3 years) is very fun for the kids (and husbands who pretty much act like the kids ) we also like the beach. But I find it hard to concentrate on a book let alone hear the sounds of the beach with the crowds of people surrounding me in that area. I know, maybe I should come for a visit in the Fall.

Wherever we decide, we'll have a good time. We always do; that's why we keep coming back !

Kimbug,

Looks like you have the same thoughts about Sanctuary at Redfish that we have. Since it's new, I think it will be very quiet. Plus, they do have nice amenities, especially the pools. Like you, I'm concerned about how to get to the beach. I guess if we take the boat shuttle, we should be okay if we stay in the area where they drop us off since there aren't any homes right there.

I went online to check out the county property records. I could only find 42 units that have actually been purchased. Of those, there are 21 that are currently up for sale. Looks like there may have been a good deal of investors who bought these units in hopes of flipping them. I searched high and low on the Internet. I also called up every rental management company. I was only able to locate 7 units that are currently available to rent. We are looking at an end-unit on the 3rd floor for the first week of August. When are you guys planning your vacation?

Lisa

Stayed there in june 2007. great place you will have a great time.
the positives: new, uncrowded, good health club, great pools, good service lunch brought to you at the beach if you like.
not so positives: not on the beach, beach access is by boat as you noted, and there was some lady there everyday trying to sell her unit to anyone that would listen.

q1,

You posted a beautiful photo of the beach. Exactly where was the photo taken?

Did the boat shuttle drop you off near the inlet to Redfish Lake? Did you have to wait long to get picked up to be brought back? A concern during August is that we may want to get off the beach right away if a storm comes up suddenly.

Lisa

There is only one place the boat can drop you off, due to the Lake being mostly surrounded by private property. That place is the outflow/inlet. The chairs I've seen from Sanctuary at Redfish are typically set up near the Gulf, very close to the outflow -- easy walk from the Lake. The boat driver seems to always be Johnny on the spot, and I've never seen anyone waiting at the outflow. I'm guessing the guy doesn't have much to do, other than drive the boat and some misc. things. Today, there were just four seagulls nesting on the beach, with two other long legged birds which I have not seen before. There were also a four kids running around the beach and through the sand dunes. Looked like they headed into Bannerman.

Lisa

Picture was taken directly in front of the boat drop point. There is only one drop point at the outflow.

In terms of waiting, never had to wait long, 5 minutes max. Boat driver was more than attentive.

I'm curious on the boat issue, I understand getting to the beach, but if you don't have a cell phone how do you get back from the beach? Signal Flares?