Water Damage Restoration in Santa Rosa Beach, FL

SANTA ROSA BEACH, FL / ACCESS Newswire / May 30, 2025 / 393 SRB LLC is proud to announce the launch of its official website, www.393SRBLLC.com, marking a significant milestone in the debut of its newly renovated executive office space in the heart of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.

Located just off scenic County Highway 30A, the newly transformed building presents a unique opportunity for professionals and businesses seeking high-end, flexible office solutions in a rapidly growing market. The launch of the site provides an easy, intuitive way for prospective tenants to explore available offices, amenities, and leasing terms, and will allow visitors to reserve their space online.

"This building has been thoughtfully renovated to meet the needs of modern businesses, offering private executive offices, conference space, and flexible options like virtual office plans," said Eric Isham, owner of 393 SRB LLC. "We're excited to bring this level of professionalism and convenience to Santa Rosa Beach."

Key Features of the Property Include:

The launch of 393SRBLLC.com is designed to streamline inquiries, showcase available space, and allow for a seamless onboarding experience for new tenants. Whether you're a remote executive, a growing startup, or a small business owner seeking professional space close to home, 393 SRB LLC is now open for business.

Availability

Executive offices are leasing now, with limited availability. For more information or to schedule a tour, visit www.393SRBLLC.com or contact info@393SRBLLC.com.

Media Contact:

Christi SimsSVP of Brand DevelopmentChristi@OMNICOMMANDER.comOMNICOMMANDER

A Walton County community services officer explains to local resident Sara Day that she has to move closer to the water to be off private property. | Bruce Ritchie/POLITICO

By Bruce Ritchie

05/25/2025 04:00 PM EDT

SANTA ROSA BEACH, Florida — As waves lapped against the shoreline this spring, Walton County resident Sara James Day was discussing the fight over public beach access when a property manager told her she had to move.

“You know you’re on private property,” he told Day.

“No, we’re in the wet sand today,” Day responded. She had walked directly to the shore through a public beach access parking lot.

Day then spent nearly 30 minutes arguing over how close to the water someone must be in Walton County to be on a public beach instead of private property.

But the battle wasn’t new. The fight over one Gulf county”s sugar white sand has moved from the beaches to the courtroom and back to the halls of Florida’s Capitol seven years after lawmakers tried to settle the issue.

Now the Legislature is reversing course, passing a bill to repeal a 2018 law governing the establishment of beach access.

Even if Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the bill, the fight over beach access is unlikely to end in Walton County — or anywhere else in Florida, where growing populations and eroding beaches create arguments over invisible lines in the sand in one of the nation’s most-visited states. And as summer’s heavy beach traffic arrives, tourists and locals alike may be left confused and aggravated in areas that rely on visitor dollars as an economic engine.

Two former state Senate presidents, Don Gaetz (R-Crestview) and Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples), voted against the reversal measure, SB 1622. Both predicted little will change.

“I believe the Hatfields and the McCoys will continue to fight in Walton County,” said Gaetz, who previously represented the area in the state Senate.

Passidomo sponsored the Senate version of the 2018 legislation, HB 631, which she describes as “good policy” designed to help establish legal beach access. She said there will be more lawsuits once the law is repealed.

“I think the county is going to pass an ordinance, then the property owners are going to file a suit,” Paissdomo said. “And they’ll be back where they started.”

Walton County isn’t the only place where people are arguing even about where a visitor can stand. That’s because it’s not clear on the beaches or in state law where the public is or is not allowed.

The Florida Constitution says beaches below the mean high water line are public land. That’s a relatively narrow strip of land on most beaches.

The Florida Supreme Court in 1974 expanded public access to the beach — in theory.

The state’s high court said access exists under the “customary use” doctrine from English common law. The court said access to dry sandy beaches must be based on recreational use that has been “ancient, reasonable, without interruption and free from dispute.”

Beach access advocates frequently argue the ruling established a public right to beach access.

But property rights lawyers claim — without success so far — that Florida’s customary use doctrine is unconstitutional and doesn’t represent established case law.

In 2016, Walton County adopted a beach access ordinance based on customary use. Property owners sued, arguing access should be determined on a case-by-case basis for each individual parcel of property or a small group of lots.

After a federal court upheld the ordinance, current U.S. Ambassador to Israel and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee was among the property owners clamoring for action. They said rude beachgoers were using their property to hold parties late into the night.

Passidomo sponsored the legislation in 2018 that rescinded Walton County’s ordinance and required local governments to seek judicial review on any property where customary use access is declared.

While she claims the bill was meant to protect beach access, critics argued the Legislature was siding with rich property owners at the public’s expense.

Then-Gov. Rick Scott, who was running for the U.S. Senate, faced a backlash after signing the bill. He blamed the Legislature for creating “considerable confusion” and issued an executive order he said would keep beaches open.

Some beach advocates said the opposite has happened, just as they predicted.

In the Florida Panhandle, Walton County was tied up in a legal morass as they sought judicial review of more for public access on nearly 1,200 beachfront parcels and spent about $8 million in legal fees.

County Attorney Clay Adkinson said the county notices required by the 2018 law triggered opposition from many beachfront owners who in the past wouldn’t have challenged public access.

And beachfront owners have pushed to block public access in other areas since the law passed.

In Pinellas County, the tiny beachfront town of Redington Beach adopted an access ordinance in 2018 just prior to the new state law taking effect. Beachfront owners sued but lost in state courts.

They then sued and won in federal court but that was overturned when the town challenged the ruling before the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. The town won at the district level again in 2024, but the landowners are appealing again.

In Franklin County, property owners on Alligator Point erected signs after 2020 saying their stretch of beach was private. By 2024, the signs had been damaged or removed.

In 2022, the towns of Palm Beach and Ocean Ridge had put up no trespassing signs in response to the law, according to the Palm Beach County chapter of the Surfrider Foundation.

The signs in Ocean Ridge “clearly intimidated beach goers who were on a public beach access pathway to the ocean,” the Surfrider chapter said on its website.

In Walton County last week, visitors to Santa Rosa Beach were greeted by signs warning against trespassing on private property even though they were walking through a public access that is about 30 feet wide.

Day seemed prepared when a community services officer arrived after the owner’s complaint. Her chair was much closer to the water than to any of the three-story homes.

She pointed out lines on the sand that reflected the high tide line further away from the water than where she was sitting.

“I’m not going to debate what’s wet sand,” officer J. Guard told Day, insisting she move about 18 inches closer to the water in response to the property owner’s complaint.

Jakki Davis of Memphis, Tennessee, asked the officer what to do if a child in their group repeatedly wandered over the line.

“We’ve been coming here 26 years — this is sad,” she told POLITICO. “We didn’t know you could own the beachfront.”

At a meeting that afternoon in DeFuniak Springs, County Attorney Adkinson, when asked by a county commissioner what will happen if the 2018 law is repealed, answered that “nothing changes” on their local beaches.

Adkinson explained that the county has entered into settlements with landowners that won’t change as a result of the Legislature’s reversal. He said the legislation will have a “profound effect” on other cities and counties considering beach access ordinances, but not Walton County.

But he also said the bill is a “huge assist” that could resolve the beach disputes in the future. The bill establishes that public access is allowed in areas where beaches are widened with new sand.

“This for us is not the first step in reestablishing and restoring public use rights across more of our beaches,” he said. “We’ve already taken those first steps.”

But other speakers said Walton County could be doing more now to protect tourists and vacationers even after the 2018 law is repealed.

“How are we going to prevent the chaos from coming back?” Commissioner Brad Drake asked. “People [are] saying I can set my towel here? ‘No you can’t.’”

Dave Rauschkolb, a surfer who owns a beachfront restaurant in Walton County, called the problem “almost unmanageable” and said the county must stop homeowners from intimidating visitors.

“They say, ‘You can’t sit here, you can’t sit there,’” Rauschkold said. “Well, those [beach visitors] folks are not going to come back. They’re like, ‘We’re not coming to this beach any more.’”

Day told the commission that she was told by an officer, “If you’re not in the tide you’re not in the public space.”

Adkinson interjected that he didn’t agree with the officer’s interpretation of where the public beach exists.

“This isn’t the first time I’ve heard this,” the county attorney said. “And every time it’s been addressed as, ‘We’re sorry that’s not what they’ve been instructed to do.’”

Other commissioners said signs are needed to tell beachgoers clearly where they can be and where they can’t be.

“In the past we had like 20 feet from the wet sand that was public,” Walton County Commissioner Donna Johns said. “Why that’s gone is beyond me.”

Supporters and critics alike of the 2018 legislation say repealing it now will restore the status quo on beaches statewide that existed then, but not necessarily the peace.

“These are already existing public rights,” said Katie Bauman, Florida policy director for the Surfrider Foundation. “The local ordinances were protecting that existing right.”

“I would say it makes it a little easier for the local governments to try to establish customary use,” said J. David Breemer, a senior attorney in California with the Pacific Legal Foundation. “But it certainly doesn’t give them a blank check or easy path to do that.”

His property rights law firm is backing property owners in Redington Beach and supported the 2018 law.

State Sen. Jay Trumbull, sponsor of the Senate legislation this year, said most messages he gets from residents of his district are about beach access. He recalled walking and fishing unimpeded along Walton County’s beaches as a boy. But his children cannot do that now.

“What we are trying to accomplish is give people the opportunity to utilize Florida’s most significant resource, our beaches, and allow those to be for everyone and not a select few,” Trumbull said.

Emergency responders arrived immediately and confirmed that at least one person was injured. Medical personnel provided on-site care and transported the injured party to a nearby hospital for further evaluation. The nature and extent of the injuries have not yet been disclosed.

Despite the crash, the roadway remained clear, allowing normal traffic flow through the area. Authorities were able to manage the situation efficiently, minimizing any potential delays or disruptions to drivers.

Our thoughts are with those affected by this accident.

Traffic Safety in Scenic Walton County

County Road 30A, known for its winding scenic stretches and tourist traffic, presents unique driving challenges. Intersections like Golden Rod Circle can be especially risky when visibility is low or when traffic volumes surge during holiday weekends.

Drivers are reminded to remain alert, reduce speed near intersections, and be cautious of pedestrians and cyclists in coastal and residential zones. Safety depends not only on infrastructure but also on individual driver responsibility.

At Local Accident Reports, we offer the guidance, resources, and support you need to move forward with confidence. Reach out today to take your first step toward recovery after a serious crash.

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Note: These posts are created solely for the use of Local Accident Reports. We have not verified the information in these posts as the information is gathered from secondary sources. If you have personal knowledge that the information contained in these posts is inaccurate, please contact Local Accident Reports immediately so we can make the necessary corrections or remove the story.

Disclaimer: We are providing this information to the general public as a resource to use in the event you or a family member are injured in a similar incident. Every effort is put forth to honor the victims of accidents, and hope the information presented helps others avoid the same type of accidents in the future. The photos depicted in these posts are not representative of the actual accident scene. Please contact Local Accident Reports at (888) 657-1460 to be connected with an attorney in your area who will answer any legal questions you may have.

The Florida Panhandle is a treasure trove of cheery seaside towns that are perfect for your next beach vacation. From Destin to the famous 30A communities, there’s an ideal destination for your next trip—whether you’re planning a reunion with the girlfriends or romantic getaway for two. One of the area’s best family-friendly spots is Okaloosa Island. Located on the 24-mile Santa Rosa Island, just across the bridge from bustling Destin, Okaloosa Island is a three-mile stretch of beach that also contains the oceanfront community of Fort Walton Beach. With white sand and emerald water, there’s honestly not much else required for an excellent beach vacation, but the destination overdelivers with a long list of attractions, great restaurants, and beautiful stays. Here are the 12 best things to do on Okaloosa Island, Florida.

Things To Do On Okaloosa Island

You can spend your entire trip at this dining and entertainment hub and never have a reason to leave. Located directly on the Gulf, the Boardwalk not only includes four restaurants where you can get anything from fresh seafood to great burgers or tacos, plus shops and beachfront accommodations, but it’s also home to a county park and public beach access point. Swing by on Wednesdays during the summer for weekly fireworks shows starting at 9 pm.

theboardwalkoi.com; 1450 Miracle Strip Parkway, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548

Another of Okaloosa Island’s most iconic destinations, The Island Pier (formerly known as the Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier) stretches 1,262 feet into the Gulf and is one of the best places in the area to take in a magnificent sunrise or sunset. If you’re just looking for a stroll, be on the lookout for dolphins or sea turtles in the water below and herons or pelicans flying overhead. Anglers can purchase a daily fishing pass (that includes a license) at the tackle shop and try their luck at catching large tarpon, king mackerel, cobia, and more.

theislandpier.com; 1030 Miracle Strip PKWY SE Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548; 850-244-1023

There’s lots to learn and see inside this museum and science center that offers more than 45 touchable, workable exhibits that teach kids about various natural phenomena and basic scientific principles. Exhibits range in subject matter from dinosaur fossils to reptiles to boating.

ecscience.org; 31 SW Memorial Parkway, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548; 850-664-1261

With three miles of Gulf-front beach and minimal crowds, Okaloosa Island isn’t the type of beach destination where you’ll feel like your chairs and umbrella are sitting right on top of another family. (Though, it does pay to stake your claim earlier in the day if you want a prime spot without anything or anyone in your way of the water.) Choose from 10 different public beach access points spread across the island. Several have public restrooms, parking, shaded picnic tables, and showers to make your experience even easier.

destinfwb.com/explore/beaches

Since 1955, this attraction has been drawing guests of all ages to learn about and have up-close encounters with all kinds of marine life. A general admission ticket gives access to all exhibits, shows, and training demonstrations, while separate “encounter” tickets give guests the opportunity to do everything from snorkel with stingrays to swim with penguins. The all-new Dolphin Oasis habitat provides even more exciting dolphin shows than ever before.

gulfarium.com; 1010 Miracle Strip Parkway SE Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548; 850-243-9046

Where To Eat on Okaloosa Island, Florida

It’s not uncommon to see a line out the door at this seafood joint and its next-door market. What started as local-favorite inland spot in Fort Walton expanded to include a location closer to the water, and now it’s a popular spot for yearly beachgoers in addition to its loyal locals. Order fresh or fried fish, plus Southern sides like fried okra, grits, and hushpuppies at prices that are hard to match anywhere on the beach. The steamer and seafood market next door offers steamed dinners (grouper, snow crab, Red Royal shrimp, mussels) with sausage, corn, potato, and butter, as well as sandwiches.

stewbys.com; 235 Santa Rosa Blvd., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547; 850-586-7001

It’s hard to miss the iconic shipping containers and reclaimed, recycled, and salvaged building materials that make up this one-of-a-kind restaurant and bar perched on the edge of the bay. Head to a window to order shareable appetizers like smoked tuna dip and coconut fried fish bites, plus island-inspired fare ranging from Jerk Surf ‘N’ Turf Bowls to Mahi Mahi Tacos with pineapple slaw and Cajun aioli. Then, hit up the bar for tropical drinks like seasonal berry mojitos and spicy palomas, then choose a picnic table, dig your feet in the sand, and enjoy.

thegulf.com; 1284 Marler Ave., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548; 850-387-1300

Located on the Boardwalk, AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar has been a hot spot for visitors since it opened in 1984. Stop in for an extensive menu of seafood favorites, including fried baskets, charbroiled oysters, and an award-winning gumbo. Come early for happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., or choose a night when there’s live music on the expansive outdoor deck.

ajsoystershanty.com; 108 Santa Rosa Boulevard, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548; 850-226-8108

Another must-visit Boardwalk stop is The Crab Trap, a massive restaurant that sits up high on the sugar beaches, offering an unbeatable view of the water. Seafood arrives daily straight from the harbor, so you know your meal—whether grouper, snapper, shrimp, or wahoo—is as fresh as can be when it arrives at your table. Of course, you can’t eat at the Crab Trap without ordering some crab. Choose from a variety of wild Alaskan crab legs or domestic crab claws.

crabtrapflorida.com; 1450 Miracle Strip Parkway, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548; 850-301-0959

If you’re looking to start your day with a hearty meal, Asiago’s Skillet is your spot. Open daily starting at 6 a.m., this beloved morning destination offers every breakfast food under the sun—and then some. There’s a huge array of skillets and omelets (including special ones filled with bay shrimp and crabmeat), plus fluffy buttermilk pancakes, French toast, burritos, biscuit sandwiches, Benedicts, and more. Pro tip: Ask your server to “Shipwreck” your potatoes and they’ll come covered with bacon, sauteed onions, cheese, and gravy.

asiagoskillet.com; 110 Amberjack Dr., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548; 850-586-7998

Where To Stay On Okaloosa Island, Florida

Appropriately named The Island, this full-service resort has had a long history as a favorite spot for tourists, starting as a Ramada Inn back in 1966. In 2018, the property underwent a massive transformation to become The Island Resort, where you get the same access to sugar-white sand beaches and crystal-clear emerald water but this time with modern rooms, five food and beverage options (including the Emerald Coast’s only swim-up bar at the Grotto Pool), and daily resort events like live music and movies by the Cabana Pool.

theislandfl.com; 1500 Miracle Strip Parkway Southeast, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548; 800-874-8962

One of the island’s newest accommodations, Beal House is part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton, so you know to expect modern, well-designed rooms; excellent service; and amenities like a gym, pool, and dining. Onsite restaurant The Remedy specializes in coastal fresh cuisine with a dash of Cajun flair. The coastal cool dining room opens up onto the beach, putting you right on island time. Menu items range from anytime favorites like burgers or a daily catch sandwich to morning specials like beignets or a FloriBama Benedict with grilled shrimp, mushroom crawfish sauce, and loaded cheesy potato cakes.

hilton.com/en/hotels/fwbbhup-beal-house-fort-walton-beach; 380 Santa Rosa Blvd, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548; 850-243-9444

On a weekend trip to Panama City Beach, a beach town in Florida's panhandle, I heard a recurring comment from the locals.

"Have you made it over to 30A yet?" said my Lyft driver. "You've got to — it's the up-and-coming spot around here."

While I was purchasing tickets for the Shell Island Ferry, the cashier said, "Do you have plans to go over to 30A?" When I said no, she insisted I return to the area for a trip because it's just so beautiful.

I live in a different Florida beach town that often gets inundated with spring breakers and summer beachgoers, so I couldn't decide whether Panama City Beach locals were trying to run tourists out of town or they really meant what they said about 30A.

Eager to find out, I planned a trip to Florida's 30A area — a 24-mile stretch of beach between Destin and Panama City Beach that's been called "the Hamptons of the South."

Turns out, those locals were right. I think 30A is one of the best gems in Florida, and I liked it even more than Panama City Beach.

Panama City Beach is great for tourists, but 30A has a more luxury feel.

Panama City Beach reminds me of the beach towns I grew up visiting in the Northeast: lots of souvenir shops, a pier for walking and fishing, and more tourist attractions than one could squeeze in during a vacation.

There's lots of good food in PCB, including a crepe shop adored by reviewers on Yelp, but I'd say the general vibe of the area can best be described as "touristy beach town."

The landscape changes entirely when you drive just 15 or 20 minutes to 30A. High-rise hotel chains become private rental cottages, and souvenir shops give way to luxury shopping venues.

The overall vibe switches from a busy vacation spot to a place where you'd do beachfront yoga and sip freshly pressed juice before spending your day on a quiet, white-sand beach.

The beaches along 30A felt pristine.

The beaches alongside 30A communities such as Rosemary Beach and Seaside are home to white sand and transparent blue water. They took my breath away.

To get onto most beaches in 30A, you need a wristband or beach tag — visitors can get these from whichever rental property they're occupying.

I think the beaches benefit from the lack of large nearby hotels and public access. With limited visitors, there's less of a strain on 30A's beaches, resulting in a beautiful setting that feels more intimate.

It's also the best spot in the area to watch the sunset.

There are some spectacular sunsets along the Gulf of Mexico, and 30A is a great place to see them.

On my trip, I especially loved watching the sunset from Bud and Alley's, a Seaside restaurant with sweeping coastal views. Another evening, I watched the sun set from the beach and was equally blown away by the beauty around me.

It's easy to hop from town to town and explore 30A.

During my stay in 30A, I chose a rental property between Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach.

Fortunately, the area is very bikeable, with ample spacious sidewalks and bike lanes throughout. Lots of condos or hotels here come with bicycles, plus there are many rental companies in the area.

Often, I took a beach cruiser from my condo over to Rosemary Beach for coffee or a meal, or I'd bike down 30A and stop to explore each town.

Since I also had a rental car, I drove to some of the spots farther away from me, such as Seaside and Santa Rosa Beach. Parking felt easy to find, and the area was simple to navigate by car with my phone's GPS system.

I loved Seaside, which had the vibe of an upscale beach town.

My favorite spot in 30A was Seaside, a beach community where the movie "The Truman Show" was filmed.

It had beautiful beach houses, a small boardwalk area with shops and restaurants, as well as a collection of food trucks, and an outdoor amphitheater for concerts.

It felt relaxed and not too pretentious, but more upscale than Florida beach towns such as Fort Lauderdale, Cocoa Beach, or Panama City Beach.

I loved exploring the area, and it's the spot along 30A where I saw the most families with children.

Visiting 30A's Alys Beach felt like stepping into the Mediterranean.

If Seaside is a family-friendly-but-upscale beach town, Alys Beach is on the opposite end of the luxury vacation spectrum.

This small community is filled with white-washed, stone vacation homes and Mediterranean-inspired architecture — it felt like a big resort.

In fact, there's nothing comparable to Alys Beach in Florida that I've seen. Because of its stunning homes and high-end feel, Alys Beach feels like one of the areas least accessible to the public in 30A.

I didn't spend much time here, especially because I saw so many residential streets with signs prohibiting the public from walking through or taking photos.

If you're interested in vacationing in a more private area of 30A, though, Alys Beach is worth taking a look at.

Visit Rosemary Beach if you want to feel like you're in a cute European town.

Rosemary Beach has made its rounds on TikTok, going viral for its similarities to a little European town.

Its downtown area is lined with cobblestone streets full of shops and al-fresco eateries, and it has a hotel complete with spires that reminded me of something I'd see in the Swiss Alps.

I passed many street carts selling wares such as scarves and fresh flowers, and homes with European-style architecture. The area also has beautiful private beaches, which can be accessed only with a key card.

There are plenty of unique, smaller beach communities to explore along 30A, too.

Seaside, Alys Beach, and Rosemary Beach are perhaps the most famous spots along 30A, but I was impressed with the lesser-known areas I visited, too, such as Santa Rosa Beach.

You truly could make an entire day out of exploring the tiny towns and communities that make up this beautiful part of Florida.

It's home to lots of nature, including state parks and coastal dune lakes.

In addition to beaches, shopping, and dining, 30A has lots of beautiful, natural landscapes to show off.

I stopped by Eden Gardens during my visit — a 163-acre state park home to sweeping gardens, a bayou, plenty of walking trails, and centuries-old oak trees.

The area also has a collection of coastal dune lakes, a rare saltwater and freshwater phenomenon that only exists in a few spots around the globe.