General discussion & info about South Walton, Florida.

All About SoWal

Advertise or find a business, discuss business.

Business & Services

Jobs

Festivals, classes, gatherings, activities.

Events & Music

Food & Dining

Marketplace

property, realtors, builders, development, infrastructure ...

Real Estate

Long Term Rentals

Vacation Rentals

SoWal Lounge

Matt J

SWGB

It'll turn into a "bid by site" program so the little guys don't have a chance.

It&#039;ll turn into a &quot;bid by site&quot; program so the little guys don&#039;t have a chance.

Jim Tucker

Beach Fanatic

Or will county bid out the whole lot, or large sections? Some of the vendors banded together to form an association. Maybe to get clout and lobby.

[QUOTE="Jim Tucker, post: 925117, member: 1336"]Or will county bid out the whole lot, or large sections? Some of the vendors banded together to form an association. Maybe to get clout and lobby.[/QUOTE]

They created a lobbying group to prevent the county from really regulating them, it's very similar to the South Walton Business Association. Apparently it's perfectly normal for someone to create an association that oversees the members so that government doesn't have to.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Jim Tucker">Or will county bid out the whole lot, or large sections? Some of the vendors banded together to form an association. Maybe to get clout and lobby.</blockquote><br />
They created a lobbying group to prevent the county from really regulating them, it&#039;s very similar to the South Walton Business Association. Apparently it&#039;s perfectly normal for someone to create an association that oversees the members so that government doesn&#039;t have to.

steel1man

[QUOTE="Matt J, post: 925118, member: 4760"]They created a lobbying group to prevent the county from really regulating them, it's very similar to the South Walton Business Association. Apparently it's perfectly normal for someone to create an association that oversees the members so that government doesn't have to.[/QUOTE]
Well an association regulated by members WILL NOT WORK!! These guys are in it for the MONEY ONLY and they want as many setups as they can get along wet water !!  Tourists with their own chairs and locals be damned.. Everyone knows the whole Customary Use thing started because of vendor mafia trying to take over every access point. Making everyone who didn’t want their services spread out East and west onto innocent beach front owners supposed land.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Matt J">They created a lobbying group to prevent the county from really regulating them, it&#039;s very similar to the South Walton Business Association. Apparently it&#039;s perfectly normal for someone to create an association that oversees the members so that government doesn&#039;t have to.</blockquote>Well an association regulated by members WILL NOT WORK!! These guys are in it for the MONEY ONLY and they want as many setups as they can get along wet water !!  Tourists with their own chairs and locals be damned.. Everyone knows the whole Customary Use thing started because of vendor mafia trying to take over every access point. Making everyone who didn’t want their services spread out East and west onto innocent beach front owners supposed land.

bentley williams

[QUOTE="steel1man, post: 925120, member: 22770"]Well an association regulated by members WILL NOT WORK!! These guys are in it for the MONEY ONLY and they want as many setups as they can get along wet water !!  Tourists with their own chairs and locals be damned.. Everyone knows the whole Customary Use thing started because of vendor mafia trying to take over every access point. Making everyone who didn’t want their services spread out East and west onto innocent beach front owners supposed land.[/QUOTE]
I thought customary use didn't blow up until the county's beach nourishment efforts forced the hand beach front owners. Vendor conflict and proliferation has made it worse.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="steel1man">Well an association regulated by members WILL NOT WORK!! These guys are in it for the MONEY ONLY and they want as many setups as they can get along wet water !!  Tourists with their own chairs and locals be damned.. Everyone knows the whole Customary Use thing started because of vendor mafia trying to take over every access point. Making everyone who didn’t want their services spread out East and west onto innocent beach front owners supposed land.</blockquote>I thought customary use didn&#039;t blow up until the county&#039;s beach nourishment efforts forced the hand beach front owners. Vendor conflict and proliferation has made it worse.

[QUOTE="Matt J, post: 925118, member: 4760"]They created a lobbying group to prevent the county from really regulating them, it's very similar to the South Walton Business Association. Apparently it's perfectly normal for someone to create an association that oversees the members so that government doesn't have to.[/QUOTE]
Maybe that's how it started but I think it has morphed into something more. Probably also a way for a few established companies to edge out the little guys.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Matt J">They created a lobbying group to prevent the county from really regulating them, it&#039;s very similar to the South Walton Business Association. Apparently it&#039;s perfectly normal for someone to create an association that oversees the members so that government doesn&#039;t have to.</blockquote>Maybe that&#039;s how it started but I think it has morphed into something more. Probably also a way for a few established companies to edge out the little guys.

beachbarnacle

Beach Lover

At one access they still insist wet sand is for pass through only. If you set your chair at waters edge, Angry Shrek comes to intimidate you. Just one day I would like to buy every damn chair at walmart and cover the waters edge with them at 5 am.

Bob Wells

[QUOTE="beachbarnacle, post: 926891, member: 23193"]At one access they still insist wet sand is for pass through only. If you set your chair at waters edge, Angry Shrek comes to intimidate you. Just one day I would like to buy every damn chair at walmart and cover the waters edge with them at 5 am.[/QUOTE]
Let me know I got 3 or 4 chairs you could use. Want them back though:)

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="beachbarnacle">At one access they still insist wet sand is for pass through only. If you set your chair at waters edge, Angry Shrek comes to intimidate you. Just one day I would like to buy every damn chair at walmart and cover the waters edge with them at 5 am.</blockquote>Let me know I got 3 or 4 chairs you could use. Want them back though🙂

Dawn

[QUOTE="beachbarnacle, post: 926891, member: 23193"]At one access they still insist wet sand is for pass through only. If you set your chair at waters edge, Angry Shrek comes to intimidate you. Just one day I would like to buy every damn chair at walmart and cover the waters edge with them at 5 am.[/QUOTE]
Which access?

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="beachbarnacle">At one access they still insist wet sand is for pass through only. If you set your chair at waters edge, Angry Shrek comes to intimidate you. Just one day I would like to buy every damn chair at walmart and cover the waters edge with them at 5 am.</blockquote>Which access?

[QUOTE="beachbarnacle, post: 926891, member: 23193"]At one access they still insist wet sand is for pass through only. If you set your chair at waters edge, Angry Shrek comes to intimidate you. Just one day I would like to buy every damn chair at walmart and cover the waters edge with them at 5 am.[/QUOTE]
Beach Mafia Rules!!!!! Forget about it!!!!

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="beachbarnacle">At one access they still insist wet sand is for pass through only. If you set your chair at waters edge, Angry Shrek comes to intimidate you. Just one day I would like to buy every damn chair at walmart and cover the waters edge with them at 5 am.</blockquote>Beach Mafia Rules!!!!! Forget about it!!!!

Bobby Farley

Beach Crab

Where the hell can you set your chair up and not get asked to move

PoppaJ

SoWal Insider

Yea are daughter was in the water and was told she can’t set there this is totally BS

[QUOTE="Bobby Farley, post: 934105, member: 40339"]
Yea are daughter was in the water and was told she can’t set there this is totally BS
[/QUOTE]
Agree

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Bobby Farley">Yea are daughter was in the water and was told she can’t set there this is totally BS</blockquote>Agree

[QUOTE="Bobby Farley, post: 934103, member: 40339"]
Where the hell can you set your chair up and not get asked to move
[/QUOTE]

Anywhere, when someone asks you to move ignore them. If they persist call the sheriff and report them for harassment.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Bobby Farley">Where the hell can you set your chair up and not get asked to move</blockquote><br />
Anywhere, when someone asks you to move ignore them. If they persist call the sheriff and report them for harassment.

Anyone hearing Walton thinking of canceling the last two years trail program? If so what is new game plan for the Vendor Mafia?

Beach vendor county’s management

Grayton BeachCam

Dune Allen BeachCam

Seagrove Beach SkyCam

Inlet BeachCam

Miramar BeachCam Majestic Sun

Santa Rosa BeachCam

Walton County Fair

Queens of the Tiles: Mahjong at Ovide

Live Music @ Fish Out of Water

Cars of 30A At Alys Beach: Event Highlights & Photo Gallery

Sixth annual Run Watersound At Watersound Town Center October 24, 2026

Support Our Parks: The 2026 Friends of Camp Helen Pumpkin Patch Is Open

Annual Events and Festivals in South Walton

International Coastal Cleanup Day Was A Success In South Walton

Merchants Of Alys Beach Announce New Dining & Shopping Options

No beachcams yet

More cams

Include enough context for a reply on the first pass: who you are, what this is about, and anything time-sensitive we should know.

Write a clear note and we will route it fast

SoWal Contact Form

What helps the SoWal team reply on the first pass

Use these links when your request already has a clear destination.

Prefer a direct route before you write?

Use this when you are not sure where your request belongs and need the SoWal team to route it.

Questions, corrections, and quick help

Share newsworthy updates, corrections, community tips, or photography that can improve SoWal coverage.

Story tips, local leads, and photos

Reach the team for business visibility, partnership planning, or other commercial opportunities.

Listings, sponsorships, and business requests

Use this path for media coordination, press follow-ups, or requests that need a communications contact.

Press outreach and interview requests

Tell us what you need and how to reach you.

Send your note here and the SoWal team will route it appropriately.

Choose the quickest route for your message

Forum account areas

Log in to view member profile, alerts, messages, watched content, bookmarks, preferences, and staff tools.

Member-only forum areas use your SoWal forum account.

Use your forum username or email to post, reply, follow threads, and manage your account.

Log in to the forum

Log in to the SoWal forum

Find people and visit their public forum profiles.

Members

Enter the six-digit code sent to {email}.

Check your email

Join the conversation

Welcome to SoWal

Sign in to SoWal

Signature preview

Ads support our local stories, BeachCams, and community guides. If you use an ad blocker, allow SoWal, then check again.

Help keep SoWal local

Your feedback helps us make SoWal better.

How was this story?

Get local stories, events, and South Walton highlights in your inbox.

Stay close to the coast

Choose whether SoWal may use optional cookies. Necessary cookies keep the site working.

Your privacy, your choice

Site navigation

Submenu

Bite-sized stories, curated itineraries, and community events delivered to your inbox on the regular.

Beach vendor county’s management

Latest conversations

Write a reply

Cars of 30A At Alys Beach: Event Highlights & Photo Gallery

Sixth annual Run Watersound At Watersound Town Center October 24, 2026

Support Our Parks: The 2026 Friends of Camp Helen Pumpkin Patch Is Open

Annual Events and Festivals in South Walton