Francisco Adaro came into this world an artist. Born in Buenos Aries, Argentina, he reveled in the ample inspiration provided by the surrounding culture and people. Francisco began drawing and painting as a child and at age 15 decided to sell his work on the street.
When Alice Forrester and partner Mickey Whitaker opened their business, 30A Realty, in June of 1995, they were excited by the prospects. Then, in October, just 4 months later, Hurricane Opal came through and pretty much put a dent in South Walton businesses.
I love this photo and have a big copy of it on my wall. It's our old friend Maunsel White and two of his friends on the docks in Destin back in the sixties sometime.
- Payson Comer Howard
Photo from the family archive of Payson Comer Howard Payson and crew are based in Seagrove Beach, offering vacaiton rentals and services every day all along SoWal Beaches to help you make your own vacation memories at Sunburst Beach Vacations - It's Time To Vacation!
The Walton County Tourist Development Council (TDC) named Jeanne Dailey as its 2014 Van Ness Butler, Jr. Hospitality Award recipient. Dailey first experienced South Walton as a visitor to Grayton Beach in the early ‘80s. Her time spent there enjoying the pristine beaches, expansive dune system, coastal dune lakes and the quiet serenity along 30A, made a lifelong impression.
In 1958 there was only one house resting on the south side of Scenic 30A on Dune Allen Beach - only one. Bo Rentrop and her late husband Billy Rentrop were there, and Bo remembers that single house very well.
John and Laurie Olshefski are quite the pair. They are always on the move and always thinking ahead. They own and operate multiple businesses, including a couple of super stores on both sides of Scenic 30A in Seaside - Shimmering Seas Jewelry & Gifts and The Fitness Fetish.
There's no doubt that Justin Gaffrey is one of South Walton's most successful and appreciated artists. His beautiful work is usually drawn from natural SoWal features and is distinct and instantly recognizable. He's recently entered a new phase of work which is a bit deeper and more personal than his usual popular work of flowers and local landscapes.
Artist Joe Elmore is a big fella. Some would describe him as being “larger than life.” Although he excels in almost every art medium, his huge wood sculptures reflect his skills with the chainsaw. Witness the huge cypress Indian head and California redwood buffalo sculptures that grace the entrance to his gallery, Elmore’s Landing, located on Hwy 331 just north of South Walton High School. The huge piece of redwood used for his big buffalo sculpture washed out of a California state park.
Some folks in the South seem born with thick, red, spicy sauce flowing thickly through their veins. Byron Chism is one of those folks. He grew up in Texas eating and loving barbeque and ended up here in SoWal with sand between his toes. When he arrived in South Walton, little did he know that he would someday be selling his own barbeque seasoning famously known as “Bad Byron's Butt Rub”.
Jeff Talbert loves the outdoors and he loves photography. Being a Resource Management Park Services Specialist for the state of Florida and stationed at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park gives him unique opportunities to combine his interests. Jeff often is in a great position to photograph South Walton wildlife in the park. We've enjoyed his photography for years and are happy to share a bit.
