The Latest On Beach Chair & Umbrella Rentals In South Walton

For the past six years, South Walton public beaches have had a Managed Beach Vendor Program.

Three years ago, the county took over the program from the Tourist Development Council (Visit South Walton). The program has generated a total of just over $1.1 million in revenue for the county over that span.
On Tuesday, county commissioners awarded a two-year contract to Coastal Parasail for just over $1.5 million a year.

Beginning March 1st, 2025 Coastal Parasail will rent beach chairs & umbrellas on South Walton public beaches.

Visit www.waltoncountychairs.com to learn more and book your setup.

The new arrangement has meant doom for many chair rental businesses.

For the last five years, many local companies operated as the South Walton Beach Service Association. However, the county’s bid process prevented the association from placing a bid, due to the new rules and language outlining subcontracting. The association has since dissolved.

The county also accepted proposals to multiple vendors over four different beach zones. But awarding the contract to a single-vendor made the county an extra $425,000.

“I do still support small business, but however, I believe I was elected and took a responsibility and a fiduciary duty to do the best I can for the taxpayers. Walton County and I in good conscience, I can’t leave $400,000 on the table because I think that how to the taxpayers want county to get the best deal for them and that is the best deal. And I hate it, but that’s the way it is,” Walton County Commissioner Danny Glidewell said.

Commissioners voted 4-to-1 to award the contract to Coastal Parasailing. Commissioner Tony Anderson cast the only dissenting vote.

This is Coastal Parasailing’s first time doing business in the chair vendor program.

“I find it to be an insult to the local vendors that have put in the sweat, the time, the money, obeying all the rules that have been set forth on us since we’ve been in business. I’ve been on these beaches since the early eighties and to award it to a company that’s not owned locally; they don’t operate locally it’s an insult to us local vendors that put in the time to do this,” La Dolce Vita, LLC’s Dave Meadows said.

The second-ranked bid came from 30A Blaze. The company offered $1 million up-front with the county also getting an estimated $700,000 for rental proceeds each year. But commissioners took Coastal’s guaranteed annual payment of $1.53 million.

See all South Walton Beach Access Locations.

From Coastal Parasiling website:

• Inlet (Lakeshore, Inlet, Wall Street)
• Walton Dunes
• Seagrove (One Seagrove, Santa Clara, East, Central, West Seagrove, Dogwood/ Thyme)
• Grayton
• Blue Mountain
• Gulfview
• Gulf Place (Ed Walline, Shell Seeker's Cove and Spooky Lane)
• Dune Allen (West Allen, Fort Panic and Dune Allen)
• Miramar