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

sunspotbaby

SoWal Insider

Wow, that's impressive. I think they opened up most of the road  today or yesterday , only a small stretch to Pensacola left to do. That's a great motorcycle ride!:clap:

Wow, that&#039;s impressive. I think they opened up most of the road  today or yesterday , only a small stretch to Pensacola left to do. That&#039;s a great motorcycle ride!:clap:

SHELLY

Problem with the beach restoration is that the sand is infused with lots [U]and lots [/U]of broken shells.  Pre-restoration, the beach sand was soft with no shells; now it's like walking on shards of broken glass, so footwear is required.  Ditto for going into the surf.  The bottom used to be pure, soft sand--now when you enter the water, there's a line of broken shells that will tear your feet to ribbons if you're not careful.  

After Opal, the beach was left to restore itself and it came back beautifully--but after Ivan and Dennis, they decided they couldn't wait for nature to take its course and the result is definately inferior to the nth degree.

.

Problem with the beach restoration is that the sand is infused with lots and lots of broken shells. Pre-restoration, the beach sand was soft with no shells; now it&#039;s like walking on shards of broken glass, so footwear is required. Ditto for going into the surf. The bottom used to be pure, soft sand--now when you enter the water, there&#039;s a line of broken shells that will tear your feet to ribbons if you&#039;re not careful. 
 
After Opal, the beach was left to restore itself and it came back beautifully--but after Ivan and Dennis, they decided they couldn&#039;t wait for nature to take its course and the result is definately inferior to the nth degree. 
 
.

Beach Fanatic

Good point Shelly. I was there this past weekend and unfortunatley, if they took another picture, it isn't like this anymore. 
So many people digging for all those shells you mentioned. Signs up stating that there is dune restoration in progress and right next to it were two ladies digging into the dune for shells. They had excavated a spot nearly ten feet wide and several feet back into the dune. Digging out the oats too. Water washing up right behind them taking out the sand, the oats, everything.
Some people just have no conscience at all.:cry:

Good point Shelly. I was there this past weekend and unfortunatley, if they took another picture, it isn&#039;t like this anymore. 
So many people digging for all those shells you mentioned. Signs up stating that there is dune restoration in progress and right next to it were two ladies digging into the dune for shells. They had excavated a spot nearly ten feet wide and several feet back into the dune. Digging out the oats too. Water washing up right behind them taking out the sand, the oats, everything. 
Some people just have no conscience at all.:cry:

Matt J

SWGB

I'm just curious how many times folks will rebuild a barrier island before realizing that nature doesn't want it rebuilt. :idontno:

I&#039;m just curious how many times folks will rebuild a barrier island before realizing that nature doesn&#039;t want it rebuilt. :idontno:

[quote="sowalgayboi, post: 407567"]I'm just curious how many times folks will rebuild a barrier island before realizing that nature doesn't want it rebuilt. :idontno:[/QUOTE]

...until the tax money runs out.


.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="sowalgayboi">I&#039;m just curious how many times folks will rebuild a barrier island before realizing that nature doesn&#039;t want it rebuilt. :idontno:</blockquote> 
...until the tax money runs out. 
 
 
.

TreeFrog

There's a reason they call them barrier islands.

Much as I'm concerned about owning near the beach in SoWal, I wouldn't dream of owning at Navarre Beach.  Not for aesthetic reasons, because it will undoubtedly be eventually blown or washed away.

The oldtimers had it right, IMHO.  Build a cheap concrete block house, furnish it with leftover junk.  Withstands most storms, but if it gets destroyed, not a big deal. 

As always, apoligies to owners of Navarre or Pensacola Beach property.

There&#039;s a reason they call them barrier islands. 
 
Much as I&#039;m concerned about owning near the beach in SoWal, I wouldn&#039;t dream of owning at Navarre Beach. Not for aesthetic reasons, because it will undoubtedly be eventually blown or washed away. 
 
The oldtimers had it right, IMHO. Build a cheap concrete block house, furnish it with leftover junk. Withstands most storms, but if it gets destroyed, not a big deal. 
 
As always, apoligies to owners of Navarre or Pensacola Beach property.

DuneLaker

Yea.  My great-grandfather had a place down that way.  It was blown away in the great 1906 hurricane.  He moved a bit inland after that.  My grandparents old concrete block house is still standing here.

SoWal Expert

Mr. DD's family has two cinder block houses on Okaloosa Island. They've sustained some pretty major damage over the years, but they just gut 'em and put in new dry wall, etc. 
 
My uncle had a place at Holly Beach, LA. His theory was the same as TreeFrog. He furnished it entirely with stuff from the Salvation Army. Rita took it all, including the house.

Mr. DD&#039;s family has two cinder block houses on Okaloosa Island. They&#039;ve sustained some pretty major damage over the years, but they just gut &#039;em and put in new dry wall, etc. 
 
My uncle had a place at Holly Beach, LA. His theory was the same as TreeFrog. He furnished it entirely with stuff from the Salvation Army. Rita took it all, including the house.

Kurt

Admin

Someone has yet to fix this one in Dune Allen.
 
 
[IMG]http://sowal.com/080429-duneallen-001.jpg[/IMG]

Someone has yet to fix this one in Dune Allen. 
 
 
<img src="http://sowal.com/080429-duneallen-001.jpg" alt="" />

scooterbug44

[quote="TreeFrog, post: 407597"]There's a reason they call them barrier islands.

Much as I'm concerned about owning near the beach in SoWal, I wouldn't dream of owning at Navarre Beach.  Not for aesthetic reasons, because it will undoubtedly be eventually blown or washed away.

The oldtimers had it right, IMHO.  Build a cheap concrete block house, furnish it with leftover junk.  Withstands most storms, but if it gets destroyed, not a big deal. 

As always, apoligies to owners of Navarre or Pensacola Beach property.[/quote]

I looked at the picture and saw a sea oat covered hurricane speed bump. If it won't slow an SUV, what makes them think Mother Nature will even break stride?

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="TreeFrog">There&#039;s a reason they call them barrier islands. 
 
Much as I&#039;m concerned about owning near the beach in SoWal, I wouldn&#039;t dream of owning at Navarre Beach. Not for aesthetic reasons, because it will undoubtedly be eventually blown or washed away. 
 
The oldtimers had it right, IMHO. Build a cheap concrete block house, furnish it with leftover junk. Withstands most storms, but if it gets destroyed, not a big deal. 
 
As always, apoligies to owners of Navarre or Pensacola Beach property.</blockquote> 
I looked at the picture and saw a sea oat covered hurricane speed bump. If it won&#039;t slow an SUV, what makes them think Mother Nature will even break stride?

Yep. Even cinder block built in the wrong place won't hold up. And a seawall won't hold up to this. (picture of Hurricane Ivan approaching SoWal) 
 
[ATTACH]8820[/ATTACH]

Yep. Even cinder block built in the wrong place won&#039;t hold up. And a seawall won&#039;t hold up to this. (picture of Hurricane Ivan approaching SoWal) 
 
<a href="https://sowal.com/forum/attachments/8820/">View attachment 8820</a>

Someone finally fixed up the one a couple houses down from that green one Kurt. Now the roof is attached to the wall again......for now.
These homes all torn up sitting on the beach have to give the tourists the creeps.
You can still go to the East end of Navarre Beach and see homes in pretty bad shape. Just a few months ago I recall one that still had a sand dune flowing right into the building.

Someone finally fixed up the one a couple houses down from that green one Kurt. Now the roof is attached to the wall again......for now. 
These homes all torn up sitting on the beach have to give the tourists the creeps. 
You can still go to the East end of Navarre Beach and see homes in pretty bad shape. Just a few months ago I recall one that still had a sand dune flowing right into the building.

Found this photo and thought the amount of sea oats planted was remarkable. 
 
[IMG]http://k53.pbase.com/g6/33/566833/2/85484630.KrFCwAT9.jpg[/IMG]
 
more - [URL]http://www.pbase.com/kennywilder/before_after_beach_restoration[/URL]
 
[URL]http://www.pbase.com/kennywilder/startrestoration[/URL]
 
[URL]http://www.navarrebeachlife.com[/URL]

Found this photo and thought the amount of sea oats planted was remarkable. 
 
<img src="http://k53.pbase.com/g6/33/566833/2/85484630.KrFCwAT9.jpg" alt="" /> 
 
more - <a href="http://www.pbase.com/kennywilder/before_after_beach_restoration" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="noopener">http://www.pbase.com/kennywilder/before_after_beach_restoration</a> 
 
<a href="http://www.pbase.com/kennywilder/startrestoration" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="noopener">http://www.pbase.com/kennywilder/startrestoration</a> 
 
<a href="http://www.navarrebeachlife.com" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="noopener">http://www.navarrebeachlife.com</a>

Navarre Beach restoration

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.

Navarre Beach restoration

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