Vacation plans and beach access

Rosemary and Alys are private resorts and have no obligation to provide public access to the beach from within their boundaries. Note that I am not talking about the beach, just access points. I don't think Alys or Rosemary have a problem with people patronizing their shops and then using the access in a reasonable manner. I am sure there have been episodes of folks driving in from cheapie accomodations and parking in Rosemary and freeloading, and that isn't right!

I never said they did but where's the county accesses here? Just curious how can one use the public beach if there'no access to it? How exactly are these people freeloading? After this thread I won't be there at all if my Tennessee/Seacrest money ain't good enough. How does one use an access in an 'unreasonable' manner? Why would someone drive in from cheapy accomodaations to be shunned and looked down upon?

You can always spot those folks.... Cousin Eddie sticks out like a sore thumb at Alys Beach doesn't he? Hope he doesn't try and empty the crapper into the pretty street drains....

The kids are all jacked-up on Mountain Dew and loot the candy at Fonville:shock:

Then they stand on the access, mullets blowing in the Gulf breeze, and yell "Sheeeeit look at that big a$$ house next to that other big a$$ house!"

Stereotyping is what's 'not right'. I think it's nice that people who may not be as priveleged as us would get excited about seeing a big mansion on the beach. What's wrong with that anybody pleeease?

Exactly Ms Kristi. Comments such as those are unjustified and downright predjudicial. I would hope all owners in those neighborhoods don't have the same snobbish attitude.

Chia Pet Thanks for ch-ch-ch-chimin' in. ;-)

Here is a link to the County public access points maintained by the TDC.

http://www.protectwaltoncountybeaches.com/accesses.asp

I never said they did but where's the county accesses here? Just curious how can one use the public beach if there'no access to it? How exactly are these people freeloading? After this thread I won't be there at all if my Tennessee/Seacrest money ain't good enough. How does one use an access in an 'unreasonable' manner? Why would someone drive in from cheapy accomodaations to be shunned and looked down upon?







Stereotyping is what's 'not right'. I think it's nice that people who may not be as priveleged as us would get excited about seeing a big mansion on the beach. What's wrong with that anybody pleeease?

Good grief you people really need to lighten up. We were kidding. Guess you have never seen National Lampoon's Vacation.

Exactly Ms Kristi. Comments such as those are unjustified and downright predjudicial. I would hope all owners in those neighborhoods don't have the same snobbish attitude.

I hope Cousin Eddie never empties his RV waste tank in front of your house.:roll:

..... I believe we are done with South Walton. The frustration of rehashing last summers incident makes me realize we just need to move on and vacation some where else. We really love our pre 2007 memories of South Walton but as a tourist its not worth the effort to have to ask county officials for clarification on where we can lay a towel other than in the surf. We hear there are family friendly beaches elsewhere where deputies don't remove children from sand castles.

That pretty much says it all about the current situation and the affect it will have on the local economy. Bear in mind that a satisfied customer will tell 30 people, a dissatisfied one will continue to tell people until they reach 300!

Seriously, so glad Rosemary et al are publicizing their efforts to keep out the "riff-raff" so I know where NOT to go and spend my $$! FTLOG unpucker and you'll enjoy the beach/your vacation a lot more!

Kristi-There is a public access on Winston Lane which defines the eastern border of Rosemary. Seacrest must have a public access, but I don't know where it is. What I mean by inappropriate use is people who do not pay a nickel to a private development but expect to use the amenities at no expense.

Just because they don't pay for lodging there doesn't mean they don't spend money in the stores, restaurants, etc. or that their tax dollars and purchases elsewhere don't also support the community. For example, it isn't the Rosemary or Alys Beach Police or Fire Department responding to emergencies!

You can always spot those folks.... Cousin Eddie sticks out like a sore thumb at Alys Beach doesn't he? Hope he doesn't try and empty the crapper into the pretty street drains....

The kids are all jacked-up on Mountain Dew and loot the candy at Fonville:shock:

Then they stand on the access, mullets blowing in the Gulf breeze, and yell "Sheeeeit look at that big a$$ house next to that other big a$$ house!"

HEY!!! I resemble those remarks...

Love me some Vacation movies!

Did you hear about the guy last week who was going to steal gas out of an RV and put the hose in the wrong tank? The RV owner didn't even press charges because he said he had never laughed so hard in his life.

Awright, folks. Quit stereotyping and stereotyping the stereotypers. Back to illegal beaching...

Just because they don't pay for lodging there doesn't mean they don't spend money in the stores, restaurants, etc. or that their tax dollars and purchases elsewhere don't also support the community. For example, it isn't the Rosemary or Alys Beach Police or Fire Department responding to emergencies!

Like I said, I don't think the problem is people buying a drink or lunch at Rosemary then going down to the beach. I think what was happening was that entire families staying in the Seacrest Beach development north of 30-A but abutting Rosemary would load up the car and park someplace in Rosemary and then unload for a day of fun on the beach there, using Rosemary's facilities. They did this because the deeded access for Seacrest is so packed with humanity in the busy season. Sorry, freeloading off of Rosemary isn't the right thing to do. And lest you think I live there, nope, I live in Seacrest and ride my bike to the Winston Road access when I go to the beach.

Kristi-There is a public access on Winston Lane which defines the eastern border of Rosemary. Seacrest must have a public access, but I don't know where it is. What I mean by inappropriate use is people who do not pay a nickel to a private development but expect to use the amenities at no expense.

I never knew that and have passed Winston Lane hundreds of times. Wonder where the public access sign is there? I don't believe it's even visible from 30-A there. :shock: I have only eaten there many times in the past and never used their beach access. I do appreciate your sharing the location of the public access there. Hubba and I have had young girls ask us how to get to the beach down in that area when we were ridng bikes through there. We didn't know where to tell them except 2 miles back in Seacrest? They had been scared by some big dogs loose at the front of a gated community they had just tried to access the beach thru? They looked like nice young girls, just scared and frustrated because they couldn't get to the beach. It's just ridunkulous! Wonder what guests at The new Seacrest Inn do? I mean how do all them get to the beach? Come to think of it why do I really care? They are my rental competition. I guess because it would be nice if someone asks us again.

Seacrest public access is clearly visible from 30-A. It is about 2 miles west of Winston Lane past Alys community about a mile, still, Seacrest, not the subdivision with the big pool, the actual township. It's like the big devleopers renamed the beaches in that area. 'Alys Beach' is in Seacrest, FTLOG!!! Wonder if there is a public access between Winston Lane and Seacrest Drive? Maybe each 'actual' (township on the nat'l map beach) just has one public access. That would explain why there is not one in Alys, right? Maybe there is. I don't know.
Thanks for the link to the map, Beach SiO2. The map sent me an error message but I'll try again. Thanks.

I never knew that and have passed Winston Lane hundreds of times. Wonder where the public access sign is there? I don't believe it's even visible from 30-A there. :shock: I have only eaten there many times in the past and never used their beach access. I do appreciate your sharing the location of the public access there. Hubba and I have had young girls ask us how to get to the beach down in that area when we were ridng bikes through there. We didn't know where to tell them except 2 miles back in Seacrest? Wonder if there is a public access between Winston Lane and Seacrest Drive? Maybe each 'actual' (township on the nat'l map beach) just has one public access. That would explain why there is not one in Alys, right? Maybe there is. I don't know.
Thanks for the link to the map, Beach SiO2. The map sent me an error message but I'll try again. Thanks.

It's at the access not up at 30 A.

The map worked for me but the short answer is there is no county maintained access from Seacrest Drive and Winston Lane due to all the land along 30-A in that area being privately-owned. The other accesses in Inlet Beach, are the main Inlet Beach Regional Access, an access at the end of Wall St., Winston Lane, and Phillips Inlet. There are also two other accesses in Seacrest

Here is a link to the County public access points maintained by the TDC.

http://www.protectwaltoncountybeaches.com/accesses.asp

I'm confused about #12 on that list. Unless I'm misunderstanding official court documents, the Sugar Cliffs Beach Access across from Cassine was "privatized" a couple of months ago. It had been public since it was built years ago, but the owners of the property adjacent to the access found a loophole in Walton County recording documents challenged the County and Cassine Village; from what I'm understanding, they won and the access is no longer public. A letter was sent to Cassine owners by the association advising them of that fact that told they were no longer allowed to use the walkover. I guess the next step will be that the public can no longer use the beach in front of that walkover either. The nearest walkover now is One Seagrove. The document can be found at http://clerkofcourts.co.walton.fl.u...px?Request=navResult&IID=20942263&RecordID=11 I'm hoping what I'm understanding is wrong, and that your list is still accurate. The Sugar Cliffs Access was a popular walkover for Cassine Village. I hate the fact that a private homeowner can seize a public access.

I'm confused about #12 on that list. Unless I'm misunderstanding official court documents, the Sugar Cliffs Beach Access across from Cassine was "privatized" a couple of months ago. It had been public since it was built years ago, but the owners of the property adjacent to the access found a loophole in Walton County recording documents challenged the County and Cassine Village; from what I'm understanding, they won and the access is no longer public. A letter was sent to Cassine owners by the association advising them of that fact that told they were no longer allowed to use the walkover. I guess the next step will be that the public can no longer use the beach in front of that walkover either. The nearest walkover now is One Seagrove. The document can be found at http://clerkofcourts.co.walton.fl.u...px?Request=navResult&IID=20942263&RecordID=11 I'm hoping what I'm understanding is wrong, and that your list is still accurate. The Sugar Cliffs Access was a popular walkover for Cassine Village. I hate the fact that a private homeowner can seize a public access.

I think you are correct on that one too. I looked at the date on their map and it is from January so I bet it will be updated. I agree that is bad news.

It's at the access not up at 30 A.

The map worked for me but the short answer is there is no county maintained access from Seacrest Drive and Winston Lane due to all the land along 30-A in that area being privately-owned. The other accesses in Inlet Beach, are the main Inlet Beach Regional Access, an access at the end of Wall St., Winston Lane, and Phillips Inlet. There are also two other accesses in Seacrest

The beaches belong to everybody still.
Seems like there might be a little sign directing one to the public access off the main thoroughfare, no?

I'm confused about #12 on that list. Unless I'm misunderstanding official court documents, the Sugar Cliffs Beach Access across from Cassine was "privatized" a couple of months ago. It had been public since it was built years ago, but the owners of the property adjacent to the access found a loophole in Walton County recording documents challenged the County and Cassine Village; from what I'm understanding, they won and the access is no longer public. A letter was sent to Cassine owners by the association advising them of that fact that told they were no longer allowed to use the walkover. I guess the next step will be that the public can no longer use the beach in front of that walkover either. The nearest walkover now is One Seagrove. The document can be found at http://clerkofcourts.co.walton.fl.u...px?Request=navResult&IID=20942263&RecordID=11 I'm hoping what I'm understanding is wrong, and that your list is still accurate. The Sugar Cliffs Access was a popular walkover for Cassine Village. I hate the fact that a private homeowner can seize a public access.

WTF? The privatize movement has actually succeeded in seizing a right of way that has been traditionally used by the public? And it happened quietly?

If all the beaches are privatized, we might as well repeal the four story restriction so that all of us can be gulf front. To heck with the guys behind us. Who wants charming beach communities when you can have head shops and condo towers that provide beach access? :angry:

WTF? The privatize movement has actually succeeded in seizing a right of way that has been traditionally used by the public? And it happened quietly?

If all the beaches are privatized, we might as well repeal the four story restriction so that all of us can be gulf front. To heck with the guys behind us. Who wants charming beach communities when you can have head shops and condo towers that provide beach access? :angry:

It had something to do with a loophole the homeowners discovered and used to their advantage; somehow the access didn't get properly recorded by the county when it was built. The homeowners next to the access challenged the county and Cassine (who helped pay for the access).

It had something to do with a loophole the homeowners discovered and used to their advantage; somehow the access didn't get properly recorded by the county when it was built. The homeowners next to the access challenged the county and Cassine (who helped pay for the access).

Those homeowners are poo-heads! Why is it so freaking hard to share a patch of sand around here?

Where is the public access in Rosemary Beach please?

I've always heard (and I may be incorrect) but Rosemary's biggest concern is parking. They really don't have enough parking for people to come in and stay put all day while enjoying the beach. Without access to short term parking, the restaurants and shops can't survive! So, it's provide beach parking or retail. I vote for retail. There are other places to go to the beach!

A representative of Beaches of South Walton responded to my email. Someone within the group asked me to post the reply so here it is. No one else responded. Below is their response and below that is my response to them. We are looking into going to Seabrook SC on vacation next year. Anyone have any contacts in Seabrook?

I've always heard (and I may be incorrect) but Rosemary's biggest concern is parking. They really don't have enough parking for people to come in and stay put all day while enjoying the beach. Without access to short term parking, the restaurants and shops can't survive! So, it's provide beach parking or retail. I vote for retail. There are other places to go to the beach!

That's because you can't sell parking space land for millions an acre! Don't know who said it, but basically "poor planning on your part doesn't constitute an emergency on mine". ;-)

Or if it's such a problem, you just make parking spaces near the restaurants & retail short term parking only. Pay for any enforcement costs by writing tickets to folks who park there all day.

Good luck, Darwin. Hope you come back someday. We were in Seabrook many years ago and at some periods of the day there was no beach. I do love Charleston!

Beaches of South Walton Response:
I'm not sure if anyone has replied to you yet, but wanted to let you know the status. We are empathetic to those beachgoers who have been asked to move. I have personally been one of those people, I completely understand your feelings of frustration and we are working diligently to direct visitors to regional public beach accesses where there is plenty of room to enjoy the beautiful white sand beaches. Here's the status of your questions:

1) Walton County is in the process of addressing this issue. The county attorney has been conducting extensive amounts of research and will be presenting his findings to the Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 9.
2) Yes, as of right now, the wet sand portion of the beach is public, in addition to the public beaches at Inlet, Santa Clara, Gulfview Heights, Ed Wallin, Dune Allen and Miramar.
3) I do not know the exact width of the easement at the Pelayo Beach Access. Many times if you stay within the access area neighboring beach front owners will not take issue. However to ensure you're safe, I would recommend heading down the street to the west to the Santa Clara Public Beach Access just a short walk or bike ride away.

You may even want to plan a trip here this fall. Fall is a quieter, more sophisticated season in Beaches of South Walton. Cooler temperatures, warm water, shorter lines, discounted rates and the natural fall beauty of the area provide a greater sense of tranquility than is typically experienced during the spring and summer months. In addition the beaches are very quiet this time and it is very relaxing. We also celebrate the migration of the Monarch butterfly and weekends are filled with Autumn Tides events and festivals that celebrate this unforgettable season.
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I think the response you got was quite nice and did a good job of trying to find a happy medium until the issue is resolved for good. Not the "dem, we're running off our livelihood" response we were hoping for, but better than most responses.

I'll certainly be waiting to hear the official word on Oct 9th!

As far as "speeding cars on 30-A terrorizing pedestrians", while I've seen some idiots unaware of pedestrians, I think it's more of an issue of people blithely wandering into traffic. (yes, folks, it's a road - you drove on it to get here remember?) I have been caught unawares many times in Seaside by folks stepping into the road from next to a SUV where you can't see them - worst is when they do so pushing a low stroller in front of them.

I certainly agree that ticketing bad drivers is a far better use of resources than arresting beachgoers for "trespassing."

I agree the "terrorizing pedestrians" was a little strongly worded but that's how my 11 year old described the road so thats what I wrote.