Representatives from the Walton County Board of County Commissioners and the Walton County Tourism Department gathered Wednesday, Oct. 27 to officially break ground on the county’s newest regional beach access.

The Gulf-front property, which boasts 400-feet of sugar-white sand, is located at 907 Scenic Gulf Drive in Miramar Beach.

“Walton County continues to see tremendous growth given its natural beauty, incredible quality of life, and our welcoming community,” says Jason Cutshaw, co-interim executive director of the Walton County Tourism Department. “When we have an opportunity to expand beach access for our residents and visitors to enjoy, it’s always a priority.”

Since August 2016, Visit South Walton has purchased a total of seven parcels to be used as new regional access points, as well as future parking facilities. The Scenic Gulf Drive properties were purchased in 2017 for $5.7 million.

The new beach access will showcase a coastal cottage design, mirroring the county’s other beach accesses, and will feature 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 with dune walkover.

Construction on the approximately $9 million project, which includes the property purchase, design costs and construction costs, is expected to be completed by June 2022.

Once complete, the Scenic Gulf Drive Regional Beach Access will bring the number of regional beach access points to 10. Work is also underway on two additional regional beach accesses in Seagrove Beach (one across the street from Cafe Thirty A) and the other at the existing Walton Dunes beach access.

Each regional beach access point includes parking, restroom facilities, beach flag condition information, and a lifeguard station.

All regional and neighborhood beach accesses are maintained using bed tax dollars, a 5 percent tax collected on short term rentals. Residents do not pay the bed tax unless they are taking a “staycation” in a local rental property or accommodations.

District 5 County Commissioner Tony Anderson told those in attendance that projects like these are incredibly important to the county’s economy.

“Walton County is a tourism county,” he said. “We are the envy throughout the state of Florida because the job the tourism department has done attracting visitors.

For additional information regarding the groundbreaking or the Scenic Gulf Drive beach access, contact Brian Kellenberger at (850) 267-4578 or Brian@visitsouthwalton.com.

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Photo Courtesy of Walton County: Representatives from the Walton County Board of County Commissioners and community stakeholders officially broke ground on the county’s newest Regional Beach Access located at 907 Scenic Gulf Drive in Miramar Beach. From left: Pictured is Brian Kellenberger, co-interim executive director of the Walton County Tourism Department; District 2 County Commissioner Danny Glidewell; District 5 County Commissioner Tony Anderson; District 1 County Commissioner Boots McCormick; District 3 County Commissioner Mike Barker; James Brannon, POLY Engineering; Elizabeth Sconiers, RBM Construction; and Branch McClendon, RBM Construction.

About South Walton: Located on Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast, South Walton is continually recognized as a premier beach vacation destination that boasts 26 miles of sugar-white sand, turquoise water and 16 unique beachside neighborhoods, each with its own personality and style. South Walton’s artful mix of shops and restaurants perfectly complement the area’s natural attractions and activities, from kayaking and golfing to tennis, swimming and bicycling. Find your perfect beach in South Walton. Learn more at VisitSouthWalton.com or follow Visit South Walton on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram.

WALTON COUNTY BREAKS GROUND ON NEW SCENIC GULF DRIVE REGIONAL BEACH ACCESS