The New Year is here and we’re celebrating with a roundup of new businesses, events and other happenings in Walton County. Whether you’re looking for a new restaurant, a new place to grab a drink with friends or a new place to stay during your next visit there’s something for everyone in Walton County. New Accommodations and Renovations: Camp Creek Inn + New WaterSound Club Amenities In 2023, St. Joe Hospitality will open a 75-room, three-story boutique inn featuring two dining venues as well as an outfitter shop. Also, Camp Creek Inn will have wellness and fitness facilities – a 12,000 square foot Wellness Center, complete with three group exercise rooms, a cardio/strength training area, men’s and women’s steam rooms, saunas, a hot tub and 19-meter adults-only lap pool. Additionally, the new amenities at Camp Creek will include a poolside dining venue, pickle ball courts, tennis courts, a resort-style pool complex and multi-sport fields. Guests of Camp Creek Inn will have access to WaterSound Club amenities during their stay, including the new Camp Creek amenities, WaterSound Beach Club, Shark’s Tooth Golf Course and Camp Creek Golf Course. Website: campcreekinn.com Address: 684 Fazio Drive, Inlet Beach Phone: (850) 231-7601 Gather Kitchen + Bar A new dining venue has come to WaterColor Inn, available only to guests of the inn and members of WaterSound Club. Inspired by Northwest Florida’s laid-back coastal lifestyle and characteristic Southern hospitality, Gather Kitchen + Bar enjoys a poolside setting tucked behind white sand dunes that offer a sense of peace and intimacy. Serving up an elevated bar menu of locally sourced coastal cuisine with international flair, this venue offers both indoor and outdoor dining space to create an experience that is at once both elevated and comfortable. With a collection of local beers and thoughtful cocktails (including Sorbet Cocktails that are made-to-order tableside) Gather Kitchen + Bar is the perfect place to relax and idle away the hours in a pleasant beachside environment. Website: watercolorresort.com Address: 34 Goldenrod Circle, Santa Rosa Beach Phone: (850) 534-5025 Home2 Suites by Hilton Plans call for a four-story hotel featuring 107 guest rooms, with amenities including a pool, fitness center and an outdoor lounge with a fire pit. The location is convenient to Topsail Hill Preserve State Park and the bike and pedestrian paths of the famed Scenic Highway 30A. All Home2 Suites hotels provide guests with free Wi-Fi and complimentary breakfast. Once complete, the planned hotel will be managed by St. Joe Hospitality. Website: hilton.com Address:100 West Hewett Road, Santa Rosa Beach Phone: 1 (800)-HILTONS The Lodge 30A The Lodge 30A, located in Seagrove Beach, will be 30A’s newest boutique hotel when it opens in Spring 2023. The Lodge 30A will be adjacent to the Greenway Station development and abut the 15,000-acre Point Washington State Forest, providing convenient access the state forest’s expansive network of hiking and biking trails as well as to Greenway Station’s collection of restaurants and shops. The three-story hotel will offer amenities such as a fitness center and outdoor pool. The Lodge 30A guests will also have access to St. Joe Hospitality’s portfolio of amenities – the private WaterSound Beach Club, water sport rentals, beach bonfires and access to two private golf courses. Website: thelodge30a.com Address: 4721 East County Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach Phone number: (877) 345-1986 The Pearl Hotel Renovation The Pearl Hotel’s 55 guest rooms received a full refresh, completed in March 2022. The room refresh was overseen by Duncan & Miller Design of Dallas, Texas, the firm that created the original plans for The Pearl Hotel and renovated the Havana Lounge, part of the Pearl’s signature restaurant, Havana Beach Bar & Grill. The room refresh included new flooring and brighter, more modern interior design choices to create a lighter and more tropical atmosphere. A test room was first completed, and guest feedback considered to perfect the final design. Website: thepearlrb.com Address: 63 Main Street, Rosemary Beach Phone: (877) 935-6114 Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort Cascade, the latest residential development and luxury project, will be opening in 2023 within the gates of the legendary Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. Website: cascadesandestin.com Address: 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Miramar Beach Phone number: (850) 267-8000 WaterSound Inn Guest Access to New Amenities Guests staying at the WaterSound Inn will have full “Member for the Day” level of access to WaterSound Club amenities, including the WaterSound Beach Club pools, restaurants, and beach amenities, as well as the WaterSound Club private golf courses, and the new wellness and recreation facilities and dining venues coming to Camp Creek. Website: watersoundinn.com Address: 6652 East County Highway 30A, Suite 120, WaterSound Phone: (888) 418-0536 New Businesses: Canopy Road Café Bananas Foster French Toast, Churro Waffles, Crab Cake Benedict – is your stomach growling yet? Breakfast and lunch options in 30A just got a little bit tastier. Canopy Road Café, a fresh, flavorful and fun tribute to the American diner experience, just launched a new location near the intersection of the east end of 30A and U.S. 98. Canopy Road Café started in Tallahassee and has quickly expanded across the state with locations in Jacksonville, Tampa and now 30A. Website: canopyroadcafe.com Address: 12805 US-98, Inlet Beach Phone: (850) 909-0104 Chef’s 30A Deli Join Chef Justin Sharpe at his newest project in the Gulf Place beach neighborhood. Known for his fantastic creations with The Chef’s Table Catering, Chef Sharpe seeks to bring you fresh ingredients and ideas for breakfast, sandwiches, salads, poke bowls and cold pressed juices. Chef’s 30A Deli will also have dinner specials, beer, wine and 12 flavors of hand-dipped ice cream (along with much more in the future). Website: chefs30adeli.com Address: 118 Spires Lane, Unit A2, Santa Rosa Beach Phone: (850) 660-9470 Chicago Hotdogs and More Chicago Hot Dogs and More is now open and is located inside The Market Shops of Emerald Coast Parkway. Their goal is to bring the taste of Chicago to the Gulf. Chicago Hot Dog’s interior reflects the hip sensibilities of the surrounding area while also paying tribute to Chicago. Website: chicago-dog.com Address: 9375 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Unit 11, Miramar Beach Phone: (850) 842-2081 Embers Bistro Embers is a DeFuniak Springs based bistro producing handmade pizza, breads, weekly specials and tasty desserts using traditional techniques in the kitchen and artfully crafted cocktails at the bar! Website: embersbistrodfs.com Address: 756 Baldwin Avenue, DeFuniak Springs Phone: (850) 520-4205 Shunk Gulley Liquor and Wine Shunk Gulley Liquor & Wine has moved to a new location! Now it’s conveniently located in Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar’s parking lot with easy access to more parking. Our new location features a larger footprint, a bigger selection and an expansive patio that has some exciting things in store! Website: shunkgulleyliquor.com Address: 1875 South County Highway 393, Santa Rosa Beach Phone number: (850) 622-2752 Sweet Henrietta’s Bakery – Grand opening Be on the lookout for our new additional bakery location at WaterSound Origins Town Center! Our bakery at 170 Serenoa Road is still servicing our wonderful customers. Website: sweethenriettas.com Phone number: (850) 420-4566 New Regional Beach Accesses: Scenic Gulf Drive Regional Beach Access The new Scenic Gulf Drive Regional Beach Access is officially open to the public! The new public beach access offers free access to 400-feet of sugar-white sand. There are 20 vehicle parking spaces, nine golf cart parking spaces, bike parking, a large deck plaza, an ADA accessible boardwalk/dune walkover, restroom facilities and a picnic pavilion. Address: 907 Scenic Gulf Drive, Miramar Beach Press Release: visitsouthwalton.com New Things to do: Cocktail and Charcuterie Master Class Offered at The Courtyard at Pescado The Courtyard at Pescado in Rosemary Beach is now offering a master class on cocktails and charcuterie boards. This is a great activity for a bridal party, bachelor/bachelorette party or any adventure-seeking group. While learning and creating, guests will enjoy the cheeses, charcuterie, and of course, the cocktails. The Courtyard promises a fun, interactive experience and guests will leave with recipes and designs for recreating these delectables at home. Their highly trained bartender will guide you with a step-by-step process for making two of your favorite Pescado Signature Craft Cocktails and our staff will direct the charcuterie preparation. Finish your master class by sitting back and relaxing with our bartender’s choice of drink. The experience will last 60-90 minutes depending on the number of participants (minimum 6 people). Price is $109 per person + 7% Tax and 22% Service Charge. Booking is available at rooftop30a.com. Website: rooftop30a.com Address: 74 Town Hall Road, Suite 4B, Rosemary Beach Phone number: (850) 213-4600 Paddle for Peace Fundraiser Paddle for Peace Fundraiser is an all-day event April 29 at Grayton Beach, hosted by TK of Adventure 30A and Amanda Abbott. We will start the day off featuring an intentional paddle in the morning as a mental health release, followed up with coffee, pastries, paddle up live music all day from a western lake dock overlooking Grayton Beach, raffles and more! Website: gulftherapy.org Address: 54 Flounder Street, Santa Rosa Beach Phone number: (844) 548-3302 The Shard Shop The Shard Shop in Grayton Beach is excited to offer a new VIP art-making experience. The VIP Class Experience elevates the Shard Shop's classic ShardWorx glass and resin art class. Perfect for beginners and advanced artists alike, this class includes extra studio time, a lower instructor-to-guest ratio, complimentary refreshments and exclusive access to Mary Hong's specialty shards to take your glassterpiece to the next level. Class space is limited to six adult participants, and pricing starts at $130 per person. VIP Classes are offered weekly, Tuesday through Friday, at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Website: shardshop.com Address: 26 Logan Lane, Cottage E, Santa Rosa Beach Phone: (850) 231-0544
