"The Lake That Built a Town" Film Highlights DeFuniak Springs History & Heritage

The Lake That Built a Town is the first film in The DeFuniak Springs Story Series by local Kerri Parker of hwy331.com.

A cinematic preservation initiative documenting the institutions and individuals that shape this Southern town and embody the civic spirit of small-town America. The Lake That Built a Town explores how one body of water shaped the identity of DeFuniak Springs. At the center of the town lies Lake DeFuniak; A rare, nearly perfect circle of water that has long served as the community’s gathering place and cultural heart.

Through intimate interviews and cinematic storytelling, the film traces how the lake influenced settlement, architecture, civic life, and personal memory. What emerges is a portrait of a Southern town built around water, shared experiences and traditions that formed along its shore.

In telling this story, the film reflects a larger truth about small-town America: the places that shape community life and collective memory are where identity takes root and where the story of a town is continually renewed.

HWY 331 is a multimedia storytelling company based in Walton County, Florida. Through its website, newsletter, podcast, and social channels, HWY 331 highlights the people, places, events, and businesses that shape life across the county.

​While millions of visitors come each year for Walton County’s Gulf beaches, the county’s communities  north of the bay hold their own rich culture, history, and local enterprise. HWY 331 was created to shine a light on these stories bringing a greater visibility to businesses, events, and the people who give every part of Walton County its character.​

Watch: The Lake That Built a Town | Exclusive Clip Featuring artist and Grammy-nominated musician Tim Jackson