Home Care In Crystal Beach, FL

There's no need to hop south of the border for powdery white sands or exceptional scuba diving. The town of Mexico Beach, Florida is a hidden gem on the Gulf of Mexico, with small-town charm and untouched sands. But it's not likely to stay hidden for much longer. According to Airbnb data collected in Q1 2022, Mexico Beach has become one of the top-searched domestic travel destinations for summer among U.S. travelers.

Mexico Beach will appeal to fans of sleepy, small towns. Located about a 45-minute drive east of Panama City, the town has a population of just about 1,060 people, according to the 2020 census. On the streets, you'll find mom-and-pop shops instead of the chain stores that line Florida's bigger cities. And as you're driving around, you'll notice there isn't a single traffic light around. So nothing will hold you back from the beach.

And you'll probably want to get to the beach as quickly as possible. The sand at Mexico Beach is a geological rarity, made from only one type of quartz crystal. It's a point of local pride that the sands are powdery soft and remain cool, even in the hottest summer months.

But if you overheat on the sands, be sure to head into the water to cool off. The Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association has been building and maintaining artificial reef systems in the area since 1997. If you choose to go scuba diving or snorkeling around Mexico Beach's reefs, you're likely to spot colorful fish like snapper and mackerel, along with turtles, jellyfish, and starfish.

When you get hungry, be sure to indulge in the area's phenomenal seafood. (Naturally, the town's culinary specialty.) Two of the most popular local joints are Killer Seafood and Mango Marley's, where you'll want to try out the fish tacos.

Mexico Beach is a beloved destination no matter the time of year, but one of its most popular nights is New Year's Eve. The town sits directly on the divide between Eastern and Central time zones. So each year, the town hosts a "New Year's Eve Celebrate Twice" event in partnership with the neighboring Port St. Joe. Celebrations kick off in Port St. Joe, and then, after midnight, attendees board a free shuttle back to Mexico Beach and ring in the new year twice.

Cailey Rizzo is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure, currently based in Brooklyn. You can find her on Twitter, Instagram, or at caileyrizzo.com.

It looks like beachgoers in Destin's Crystal Beach neighborhood may soon have more public space to plant their umbrellas in the sand.

The city of Destin and the Okaloosa County Commission approved this week an inter-local agreement to purchase 336 feet of beachfront property adjacent to Destin's Tarpon Street public beach access on Scenic Highway 98.

The deal, negotiated by the nonprofit Trust for Public Land, calls for the purchase of three separate beachfront parcels for just over $14 million. All three parcels have the same owner and the trust currently has an agreement with an option to purchase in October and close in November.

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The total cost of the project, including property acquisition and demolition of the current structures, as well as designing, permitting and building a new park facility is estimated at $16.75 million.

The cost would be split 50/50 between the city of Destin and Okaloosa County, with the city taking over ownership of the new park and its future maintenance.

"Once we secure the property, then the city and the county will collaborate on a design for the park," said Catherine Card, public information manager with the city of Destin. Card, emphasizing the new park would operate under the same regulations and ordinances as the city's other parks with regards to beach vendors.

The Tarpon Beach park project is similar to a 2020 arrangement that Destin and Okaloosa County made to purchase three properties adjacent to Destin's Shore at Crystal Beach Park, located about a half-mile to the west on Scenic Highway 98.

"This initiative is one of the highest priorities for the city of Destin," said Destin Mayor Gary Jarvis during an April 2021 groundbreaking ceremony for the newly expanded Shore at Crystal Beach Park. "Our tourist tax dollars are being reinvested back into public beaches so that we can deliver on the promise of the Destin brand and meet the expectations of our residents and visitors."

The Crystal Beach neighborhood in east Destin is densely populated, both with full-time residents and with visitors. Card said the acquisition of these three new parcels will be a great help.

"It's really going to help with the pressure we've had on that end of the beach," said Card, noting the city's current 5-foot-wide beach access at Tarpon Street means visitors only have five feet of public space on the beach.

"Now that five feet will be extended to 340 feet," Card said.

DESTIN — A more than $10 million expansion of the Shore at Crystal Beach Park is anticipated to be completed this summer, possibly in June, and offer residents and visitors much more public beach to enjoy in tourist-heavy Destin.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the project is set for 10 a.m. Monday, April 12, at the Gulf-front park at 2964 Scenic Highway 98 at the south end of Hutchinson Street.

When completed, the project is expected to see 184 feet of beach added to the city-owned, 67-foot-wide park, for a new total of 251 feet. The park’s upland area also will be enlarged.

The project represents a partnership between Destin, Okaloosa County and the nonprofit Trust for Public Land.

“In Crystal Beach, there is not much public beach access compared to Okaloosa Island,” county Tourist Development Department Director Jennifer Adams said Friday. “To have more access for families is a win for us all.”

Local officials earlier earmarked about $6.28 million in county bed tax dollars and about $4.37 million from Destin's share of the local option half-cent sales tax to pay for three Crystal Beach parcels that will be used to expand the beach park.

More:Destin Council moves ahead with possible beach land buys

One of the parcels is immediately west of the Shore at Crystal Beach Park, one is immediately east of the park and one is a bit farther east.

The parcel west of the park contains the five-unit, short-term-rental Crystal Port Townhomes development. Both parcels east of the park contain short-term rental houses.

While the city has bought the property west of the park and the one farthest east, its purchase of the parcel immediately east of the park is pending.

After the April 12 groundbreaking ceremony, the town homes west of the park will be demolished and cleared away, Destin spokeswoman Catherine Card said.

That work could take about a week and a half. Demolition and removal of the structures to the east will follow.

Jobe’s Dirt Works of Baker will be paid $137,477 to raze and remove all the buildings.

Also:Destin votes to demolish short-term rental homes for more public beach access

The initiative to provide more public beach in Destin is one of the city’s top priorities, Destin Mayor Gary Jarvis said in a news release.

“Our tourist tax dollars are being reinvested back into public beach so that we can deliver on the promise of the Destin brand and meet the expectations of our residents and visitors,” Jarvis said.

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County Commission Chairwoman Carolyn Ketchel also praised the use of bed tax money to make much of the project possible.

“The bed tax dollars are brought in by outsiders who use our properties, and that money is used to benefit residents and visitors alike,” Ketchel said Friday. “We’ve really heard from the people that they want more beaches available to go swimming and recreate. More and more, our beaches are being taken away (or privatized) by those who have beach property in front of them.”

DESTIN — Details on future parking upgrades and other possible improvements at the city-owned Shore at Crystal Beach Park will be determined during the design process for the expanded park site, city spokeswoman Catherine Card said Friday.

She said the cost of the improvements, how they will be paid for and when they will be completed also will be figured out during the design process, with the project being a collaboration between Destin and Okaloosa County.

“We do not have a timeline at this time” for the design work, Card said in an email.

County spokeswoman April Sarver said Thursday that while the park expansion project is a joint one between the county and city, Destin “is leading the charge.”

The Gulf-front park is at 2966 Scenic Highway 98 at the south end of Hutchinson Street.

In 2020, the city partnered with the county and the nonprofit Trust for Public Land to buy two parcels and expand the park.

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One of the parcels is immediately west of the park and the other stands two lots east of the park. The purchases — which cost a total of $6.7 million and were paid for with county bed tax money and a portion of the city’s share of local option half-cent sales tax dollars — allowed the park to be expanded to a total of 184 linear feet.

As part of the project, a contractor demolished short-term rental housing units on the two new parcels last spring.

The park’s existing restrooms, showers and pavilion, as well as its original nine parking spots, remain open to the public.

Also, “All existing parking (spaces) on the new parcels were preserved and are currently being utilized for the park properties,” Card said. “The additional parking and beach space has provided an immediate relief valve for our visitors and residents.”

She said Destin officials continue to work to acquire a third parcel that stands immediately east of the park and contains a short-term rental house. The addition of that parcel, which is owned by entity in Miami-Dade County, would expand the park to a total of 251 linear feet.

City purchases parcel:Destin looks to acquire last parcel for beach expansion project

The Trust for Public Land had offered to pay $3.9 million for the third parcel. But early last year the property owner terminated a voluntary purchase and sale agreement with the Trust without giving a reason, according to Destin officials.

Card said city staff plans to provide the City Council with an update on the expansion project in March.

DESTIN, Fla. (WKRG) — The City of Destin and Okaloosa County are teaming up to buy 336 feet of gulf-front property known as Tarpon Beach to be used as public access.

A 6-1 vote Monday night at the city council meeting passed the ordinance on first reading to approve a new agreement with County to purchase three lots on Scenic Highway 98. Okaloosa County Commissioners approved the funds for the agreement at Tuesday’s board meeting.

The land up for sale sits between James Lee Beach and the Shore at Crystal Beach. The county said having this centered park location would increase walkability to local attractions.

The properties at 3310,3321,3330 Scenic HWY 98 is priced at $14,050,000, the total park project is $16,750,000. This comes during another beach purchase project still underway, the Shore at Crystal Beach.

In an agreement started in 2020, the city and county agreed to purchase three pieces of property at Crystal Beach to create 250 feet of beach access for $10 million. After the purchase of two of the properties, the center location chose not to sell, increasing the costs for purchase by $5 million.

The County agreed to take 59% of the project costs, the City would take the remaining 41%. The Trust for Public Land is negotiating that deal, which is now turned into a legal matter over the remaining property.

The new interlocal agreement made by Okaloosa County Monday night allocates $10 million in Tourism Development Council tax funds for the purchase of Tarpon Beach and the completion of Shore at Crystal Beach. The money will be spent from the beach renourishment reserve account. In a 10-year loan, the City of Destin would give $1 million back each year to the county until it’s paid off.

In this new agreement, the Tarpon beach property will be split 50/50. The Shore at Crystal Beach project would remain 59/41. The total for both projects is $32,500,000 gaining nearly 600 feet of public access to the white sand beaches.

Destin revenue for beach projects:

The City of Destin will receive an estimated $1.6 million in TDC funding each year from its 12.5% share of County funds. After the new agreement loan payments and beach maintenance costs estimated at $400,000 each year, the City of Destin will use nearly all of the annual funds for the next 10 years on the two beach parks.

While six of the seven councilmembers voted for the project, councilman Kevin Schmidt spoke out against the idea Monday night.

“I don’t think this is the best use of the TDC allocation funds for the tourists and our residents. Cause yes, I get TDC allocation is all about a tourism-based thing, but it still can benefit our residents which at the end of the day for me is my number one customer,” said Schmidt. “What we could use it for, I am not talking about that tonight, but I don t want to lose the ability to be able to use it for something else besides what is being presented tonight.”

Residents at the meeting were split on the purchase agreement. Some offered insight on the three properties being another sale battle with the Trust for Public Land similar to that of Shore at Crystal Beach. Others pushed the importance to buy back Destin beaches for everyone to enjoy and protect.

The final purchase for Tarpon Beach will be made in October and closing in November. The Shore at Crystal Beach project is working through its eminent domain legal case with the third property owner before the park can move forward.

How will the loan work?

The $10 million loan from Okaloosa County beach renourishment reserves will be interest-free depending on upcoming storm seasons. In the agreement, the City of Destin would be responsible to pay interest on the property to the county if at any point the county is needing to take out a loan for severe storm damage.

The full agreement between the City and the County is available to the public.