Items on the beach overnight

What ever happened to bringing a beach towel,sunscreen and a drink? We go to the beach to play in the water not set up a small apartment! When we get out, we can sit down on the towels and enjoy the beach, no need for all of that other stuff.

Keep talking like that and they'll take away your Sam's card and right to own an SUV w/ a rooftop carrier and trailer! ;-)

People just seem to need stuff, stuff, and more stuff! This weekend I looked at the rumbling dark clouds, then around at my fellow beach goers and determined I was the only person who could actually leave the beach w/ all my belongings if a storm hit.

I looked at the rumbling dark clouds, then around at my fellow beach goers and determined I was the only person who could actually leave the beach w/ all my belongings if a storm hit.

Afternoon storms will appear without notice, and I've seen many umbrellas go flying into Western Lake and the dunes, without any owner appearing to be present.

Haven't been to Grayton in two years because of other trips but plan to come back next June. It sounds less and less inviting and perhaps next year will be our last trip.
I'm confused about the beach. Is it to be admired from a distance only? Should the accessible beaches be kept for photo opportunities? I remember reading about the tents and understand that the turtle people want things off the beach at night. We can do that. We thought it was great back then to be able to leave your stuff on the beach without anyone bothering it, but if there are issues with that - we stopped that.
We love coming to a beach. Living in the Ohio Valley, there are few spots that draw you to the outside the way the beach area does. We love our beach trips for R&R.
We'll probably not fool with a tent anymore but bring an umbrella - we want to be able to stay out there as much as possible. The water is so wonderful to look at and quite frankly the water at Grayton has been a challenge - pretty to look at....sea weed/algae, whatever, was the challenge, then jellyfish, then DEADLY rip currents, now sharks...
I can't remember, but I guess Captain Sam(?) has the beach rental service. Maybe we will do that to support the local economy. Is that alright with everyone if we rent those all week and they stay in their place from morning until afternoon?
I am going to put on my calendar to remind me to rent 'our' spot after Christmas for June. See ya...

This sort of touches on an issue that we faced last year. We had always stayed at Henderson Park Inn where beach service people pick up the umbrellas at night. When we decided to try Blue Mountain, I contacted a beach umbrella service. They delivered the chairs and umbrellas but left them the entire week. This year, I plan to take them in each evening rather than leaving them out. It is a little frustrating to be a visitor and not know exactly how to handle these kinds of things. However, I would think common sense might dictate NOT having 4 tents linked together, at the water's edge, trying to "save a space" like kids in school. We come in September to try to avoid much of this kind of thing but can only imagine from the pictures on the beach cam at Blue Mtn. what kind of craziness goes on every day.

Man, all the talk about the crowded beaches makes me wonder if we were actually at the same stretch of beach the week of the fourth. I counted 11 umbrellas the third of July. Just a hint, somewhere between Santa Rosa and Rosemary. I was pleasantly surprised actually.

Normally, we do not go down during the summer months, and have always found the chair dudes willing to leave the chairs and umbrellas in place all night. We are careful to let the umbrella down and tie it. Ms seaside loves to sit on the beach until sunset (If I bring her some adult refreshments!).

When we were down in April, the chair dudes kicked us off the chairs at 5 PM sharp (If not before) and then would not set them up until at least nine the next morning.

Is this all a part of this program to keep the beach free of litter? We have been exposed to the dreaded tent meetings with 30 or 40 cookie monsters hanging around and the tents left up for days on end, but it seems a little unfair to those of us that "behave".

We go in at lunch and leave all of our "stuff" on the beach, come back in an hour or two and it is still there (or at least it has been).

What's happening here is, I suppose, the effect of growth. Not fun for us, but then the only way to stop it is to limit the number of people on the beach at any given time and make a rule to take out what you bring in. Sounds like a great way to ruin a good thing.


I have no answers, but there has to be a better way.

Normally, we do not go down during the summer months, and have always found the chair dudes willing to leave the chairs and umbrellas in place all night. We are careful to let the umbrella down and tie it. Ms seaside loves to sit on the beach until sunset (If I bring her some adult refreshments!).

When we were down in April, the chair dudes kicked us off the chairs at 5 PM sharp (If not before) and then would not set them up until at least nine the next morning.

Is this all a part of this program to keep the beach free of litter? We have been exposed to the dreaded tent meetings with 30 or 40 cookie monsters hanging around and the tents left up for days on end, but it seems a little unfair to those of us that "behave".

We go in at lunch and leave all of our "stuff" on the beach, come back in an hour or two and it is still there (or at least it has been).

What's happening here is, I suppose, the effect of growth. Not fun for us, but then the only way to stop it is to limit the number of people on the beach at any given time and make a rule to take out what you bring in. Sounds like a great way to ruin a good thing.


I have no answers, but there has to be a better way.

This makes me chuckle because my husband--who was happily napping--was kicked off his chair at 5 pm promptly. Not that he minded by woken up for cocktail hour, though. ;-)

When you rent a beach chair set-up, you rent it for a business day, ie, 9 am-5 pm, even if you've requested service for a week. They tear down at the end of the day to comply with beach rules. Inconvenient for sunset watching, yes, but you can't expect the chair people to hang around the beach until sunset waiting to take a few chairs down after. They are the ones who are ultimately responsible for clearing the beach of their property, not you.

On a side note, even if there weren't laws, they'd probably tear down anyway. The dew that sets in during the evening is fierce. The fabrics would be ruined in no time flat by mildew. It really is necessary to put things away, if only for that reason.

Man, all the talk about the crowded beaches makes me wonder if we were actually at the same stretch of beach the week of the fourth. I counted 11 umbrellas the third of July. Just a hint, somewhere between Santa Rosa and Rosemary. I was pleasantly surprised actually.

The beach in front of our condo at that time wasn't crowded either. But if you went down by Whales Tale in front of Majestic Sun, it was packed.

this evening:



stuff does not belong to these guys

Since coming here from 1964 we always have brought our toys home at night. common sence.

but 4 tents linked....they really needed to get 4 condos linked

thats over the top. and what if that was cyrstal beach...HA owner would have been out there with shotguns!!

John R that IS alot of crap left on the beach....................but I can't help to notice how beautiful the water looks sorry, I'm counting down the days till we arrive

I like the 'house divided' touch of Auburn and Alabama crap hanging from the frame...along with that fake frilly thatch stuff and oversized fishing lures

I like the 'house divided' touch of Auburn and Alabama crap hanging from the frame...along with that fake frilly thatch stuff and oversized fishing lures

don't forget the coolers the size of sofas.

TIME!!! Enuff is enuff already. Some one needs to trash that sheeet! Like a giant wind or wave in the middle of the night...just gone.

As a "chair dude" I have a lot of thoughts on this subject, but I'll just hit the high points. There has been an ordinance in effect since '03 which says nothing may be left on the beach overnight. Obvious to everyone, this has not been enforced in the past and the word is they will start to enforce it in a few weeks or less.

The driving force behind this enforcement is the Turtle Watch group. They say the turtles bump into gear/crap left on the beach and get confused, turn around to the water failing to find the dunes and lay eggs.

Most of our "contracted beaches" are cleared each and every day. Single family homes who have delivered rental equipment are left out for the length of the rental, though I do not do these type rentals. The public access and beaches are tricky. We are supposed to clear these beaches as well but currently do not. Reason being is that if we did then all the water edge spots would still be filled by tents and other assorted "disposable" plastic goodies, thereby losing adequate beach space for our county permitted and tourist rented gear. So, we leave it out.

If the TDC and Turtle Watch want those beaches cleared each and every night, then it is fine by me. It will increase rentals, rates, and decrease much tent and cheaper chair garbage which is left each and every week. The problem I see, as others have pointed out, is the county's ability to properly enforce this.

If they haven't been able to enforce it for the past 4 years how will they suddenly be able to do it now? If ONE single tent is allowed to stay then the next day there will be a dozen more. It has to be an all or none type deal.

Clearing the beach for any given week is great, but the TDC and concerned parties better be willing to patrol, tag, and remove gear each and every Sunday/Monday morning when the new arrivals hit the beach. Failure to do so will only penalize county permitted companies such as mine who are willing to abide by the rules only to allow the public at large to get away with it because their name and phone number aren't silkscreened on their tents.

In short, I'm not worried that I'll have to pick my gear up each day. I'm worried the county will not be able to hold the public at large to the same standards due to a lack in manpower or willingness to commit the effort actually required to do what they are proposing. I don't think they have a good solid grasp on how much work this is going to take. On the other hand, it's a great opportunity to provide a job or twenty if handled the right way.

John R that IS alot of crap left on the beach....................but I can't help to notice how beautiful the water looks:wub: sorry, I'm counting down the days till we arrive

It is so pretty! The stuff left over night looks awful.:shock:

If it weren't toxic, it looks like a great start to a bonfire to me. Disgusting, trashy, thoughtless people. :angry: IMHO, all tents should be banned.

So that's where you been! Your a chair dude. Thanks for doin' the right thang for the turtles, TNJed! Maybe others will follow your cue.

Jed, I feel for you and I see it as an ongoing battle for you guys. It would be nice if you were authorized to hire an extra guy just to help enforce the area you service. But that would open a whole other can of worms for you. My guess is it will come down to personal relationships between you and someone in the county who you can give a call to on a periodic basis to come and clear your area. In between times you and your coworkers and everyone else you can enlist will need to get the word out. Once again the rental agencies will be a big ally for you and can help educate and market for you.

John R - thanks for posting the pics. The largest setup in the pic - those folks drink a lot of beer. They also have a powerful boom box blasting country music so that all of Grayton Beach must suffer. Such a pity when the sound of waves and children playing are not able to be heard on the breeze.

Mermaid, TNJed, I hear what you are saying. I think that part of my simple minded confusion comes from what Jed said about private homes versus condo sites. Many times we have been at a private home and the chairs and umbrellas were left out over night. At the condos, they were (Or are ) not being left out.

I, for one, would love to see tents banned from the beach. Not a lot anyone can do about the boom boxes and too much beer other than try to communicate to these folks (LOL) that they are doing socially unacceptable acts.

The pics tell the story. Some people just don't get it.

Anyway, we'll be back in a few weeks (After the rug rats go back to school) and we promise to be good boys and girls.

The largest setup in the pic - those folks drink a lot of beer. They also have a powerful boom box blasting country music so that all of Grayton Beach must suffer. Such a pity when the sound of waves and children playing are not able to be heard on the breeze.

When I heard their music, it was very loud, and more like pop-rock, but either way, if the Sheriff had been notified, they could have been issued a citation. I actually heard their music from Western Lake, and it grew louder as I approached Dead Crab Creek (the outflow).

When I heard their music, it was very loud, and more like pop-rock, but either way, if the Sheriff had been notified, they could have been issued a citation. I actually heard their music from Western Lake, and it grew louder as I approached Dead Crab Creek (the outflow).

not sure if it's the same crew or not, but there was some really loud music coming from one of the rental houses that front the creek.

I vote the TDC hires some folks to clean the beaches of ANY debris left overnight. It would reduce the clutter, leave the sheriff's office & beach patrol free to do their jobs, solve the enforcement problem, and keep debris from being airborne in a storm.

The collected items can either be resold or donated to an appropriate charity, depending on the item. I'm sure many a disaster victim would love a tent and a cooler and kiddie toys could be used at shelters.

Those pictures are amazing. All it needed was a old couch and a junkyard dog to complete the picture. People are lazy, that is the bottom line, they do not want to have to haul all of that stuff down everyday. Lazy, Lazy, Lazy.

In regards to having the beach cleaned up every night or morning. What about people who have gotten in trouble with the law. They could do community service by cleaning up the beach.

I vote the TDC hires some folks to clean the beaches of ANY debris left overnight. It would reduce the clutter, leave the sheriff's office & beach patrol free to do their jobs, solve the enforcement problem, and keep debris from being airborne in a storm.

The collected items can either be resold or donated to an appropriate charity, depending on the item. I'm sure many a disaster victim would love a tent and a cooler and kiddie toys could be used at shelters.

I think the TDC is removing the items once the Sherrif's Department or Code Enforcement tags it. It's my understanding that the TDC does not have the legal authority to enforce the laws so that is why beach patrol and code enforcement has to tag them.

Those pictures are amazing. All it needed was a old couch and a junkyard dog to complete the picture. People are lazy, that is the bottom line, they do not want to have to haul all of that stuff down everyday. Lazy, Lazy, Lazy.

In regards to having the beach cleaned up every night or morning. What about people who have gotten in trouble with the law. They could do community service by cleaning up the beach.

I'm not sure that I want prisoners, or people in trouble with the law, getting involved with removing items from the beach. I can see more trouble starting from the chair or tent owner getting heated with someone who doesn't need to get into more trouble.


Regarding laziness. I agree that some of it is attributed to laziness, but I think it is more due to people's unwillingness to change and their comfort. I've seen some people drive their trucks onto the beach to collect only their cooler and people, then leave all of the chairs, tents, crab nets, casting nets, waterguns, etc all in a big pile under the tent frame. These people actually have an easy means to pack it up and remove and replace it daily, but don't do it. Maybe you are right about them being lazy, but I believe there is something else happening in their minds. If these particular people are lazy, I would chunck them into the pile of "Extremely Lazy," not your average couch potato.