#2 Camp Walton Schoolhouse 1912
by grandmaR
The first schoolhouse for the children at Camp Walton opened its doors in 1912. The original site was on the northeast corner of Shell and Miracle Strip Parkway on land donated by Erwin Buck. Miss Minnie Tippins from Andalusia, Ala., was the first teacher and she had 15 students in attendance.
Grades 1-8 were taught in the one-room school until 1927, when another room was added to the white pine and oak building. The new room became the”high school.” It also was used for town meetings, Friday night socials and church on Sundays.
In 1936, however, the school doors were closed and the building was used as an office for a car company. During World War II, the building was converted into four one-bedroom apartments for rent.
In 1974, the Junior Service League and the Okaloosa County School Board began preserving the historic building and moved it to the present location at107 First Street SE. Two years later, Camp Walton Schoolhouse opened to the public as an educational museum.
Since 1986, the City of Fort Walton Beach has assumed responsibility for operating the building and educational program. Currently, more than 3,000 children visit the schoolhouse annually to learn about historic one-room schoolhouses. Consequently during the school year, the museum is open for groups by reservation only. But you can visit if you are in Fort Walton Beach during the summer.
#18 The Little Chapel in Vandegriff Park
by grandmaR
I took a picture of this from across the street at the Indian Mound, but it was somewhat obstructed from this angle. I later took a picture from opposite Fort Walton Landing.
The park was provided to Fort Walton Beach by the Vandergriff family. The chapel was constructed in the late 1940s and was originally the office of the First Methodist Church. Restoration was sponsored by the Historic Preservation Society of FWB in 1993.
Sonny's Barbecue - no relation to Daddy's!
by Ewingjr98
Sonny's is a good barbecue joint located throughout Florida. We have eaten a few times at the Fort Walton Beach location as an alternative to Daddy's barbecue. Sonny's is not quite the cabin-in-the-woods that you get from Daddy's, but that also means it is a bit nicer, cleaner, and maybe more sterile. This is definately a family atmosphere with plenty of good food options.
Their menu includes barbecued sliced pork, slow-smoked beef, barbecued chicken, pulled beef brisket, and sweet & smokey ribs. They also offer sandwiches (Bar-B-Q Sliced Beef, Bar-B-Q Pulled Pork, Bar-B-Q Pulled Chicken, Sonny's Pulled Beef Brisket, and Smoked Turkey), fried catfish, steak, half chickens, fried shrimp, salads, and more.
Sea Lion Show at the Gulfarium
by grandmaR
We walked past the sea lion performance area on the way to the Dune Lagoon where they were feeding the brown pelicans. The sea lions were sitting on some of the platforms kind of sleeping. (photo 2)
After the dolphin show, we had the Sea Lion show. The girl trainer had one adult and a baby (named Libby - photo 5) up on their little stands, and there was a boy who had an adult on the other side. I thought their most spectacular trick was balancing a ball on the nose while standing on the front flippers with a tail in the air. They also did flips and spins and played basketball, and tossed around a Frisbee. They are funny when they clap and bark.
They weren't doing the MSP (Multi-Species) Show when we were there. In this show Bottlenose Dolphins and a California Sea Lion perform together. We got $1.00 off the admission price because this show wasn't running.
The rehabilitation pools were behind the bleachers for the Sea Lion show, and behind that was the Seal and Sea Lion Rookery, so after the Sea Lion show we went over there but I couldn't really tell which was which.
In the summer the park is open 7 days a week Admissions: 9:00am until 4:00pm. Park closes at 6:00pm, but check with the website or phone number
General Admission Rates
* Adults (ages 12-61): $17.50
* Seniors (age 62 and over) $15.50
* Children (ages 4-11) $10.50
* Ages 3 and under are free when accompanied by a parent paying the regular rate.
Six percent Florida state sales tax will be added to all admissions and fees.
Checking the beach and seeing...
by Beachdave
Checking the beach and seeing the ships in the distance. Here is a sailboat on the gulf. Unfortunately we had a problem with sea weed this year. That is the brown on the beach. We do not have large seashell here, only small ones and they are scattered here and there. You have to look very close to see them.
It is free.
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Looking down off a bridge
staff's
Non-historic fountain... or is it?
View from front entrance
