Area Information

Cape San Blas

Voted #1 Beach in America!!
Looking for a truly beautiful beach without the crowds?  Well…welcome to Cape San Blas!  The luscious white sandy beaches of Cape San Blas with their emerald water were ranked the #1 Beach in America in 2002.  Come find out why!

An Old Florida Experience
This narrow strip of sugar-white sand dunes lush with natural coastal vegetation and wildlife is a favorite for visitors wanting to get away from it all. Home to St. Joseph’s Peninsula State Park, most of Cape San Blas is a wildlife preserve offering a Natural Florida that is second to none.

With beach-front homes located on the Gulf of Mexico and bay-front homes located on St. Joe Bay, there is something for everyone.  Cape San Blas is a hot spot for vacationers so rental properties have tremendous income potential with some beach front homes grossing upwards of $100,000 per year.

Don’t worry, there are no mega tall condo developments here blocking your view.  Instead, you will find single-family vacation homes and low-level condos and townhouses surrounded by the best of what coastal Old Florida has to offer.  You won’t find big hotels or offensive commercialized areas either.  However, you can find everything you need at either of the “one stop shops” (Cape Trading Post or Scallop Cove).

Cape San Blas is nestled about 10 miles outside of Port St. Joe on a Peninsula that forms the pristine St. Joseph Bay. There are several public parks and some of the activities visitors enjoy include:  snorkeling and scalloping in the St. Joe Bay, kayaking, fishing, biking, camping, bird watching, and relaxing on one of the world’s most beautiful beaches.  Don’t forget to bring Fido!….pets are welcome on Cape San Blas beaches!

Indian Pass

This waterfront community is located south coast of Gulf County, Florida, about 8 miles south of Port St. Joe.  This wonderful area is a haven for sports fisherman and water enthusiasts, and for dining featuring locally caught oysters.  Indian Pass is thought of as one of the last places to experience “Old Florida” living.  A ferry provides access to a wildlife sanctuary on St Vincent Island located just on the other side of the Pass.  The beaches of Indian Pass, with their towering sand dunes, are some of the most secluded beaches you will find anywhere in Florida.  A visit to Indian Pass is an experience you won’t forget!

Indian Pass Raw Bar – a Legendary Local Landmark
A trip to Indian Pass is not complete without dining at the Indian Pass Raw Bar.  Simply called the “Raw Bar” by locals, you will find delicious fresh local oysters as well as a variety of other seafood favorites.  People are so trusting in this area that you serve your own drinks and tell the cashier how many to charge you for at the end of your mouth-watering meal!

 

 

Port St. Joe

Port St. Joe is a delightful  town located on St. Joseph Bay that offers tons of recreational activities with a true home town spirit.  You will find many locally owned restaurants offering  fantastic from fresh seafood to wood fired pizzas and even authentic Mexican cuisine. The bay is renowned for scallop harvesting as well as amazing inshore fishing.  Looking for a round of golf?  Guests are welcome anytime at the St. Joe Country Club.

Shopping
Numerous retail shops greet you as you stroll down Reid Avenue. There’s a good selection of sporting goods, clothing, furniture, boutique and other types of stores available. If you’re looking for even more shopping and activities, Panama City and its big city amenities are less than 45 minutes away, including Panama City Beach’s Pier Park and the Panama City Mall.

Education
With only around  3,000 permanent residents, Port St. Joe easily has a home town feel. Port St. Joe prides itself in its elementary, middle and high schools being “A” rated schools.

Remembering the Past
The town of Port St. Joe is rich with history. Delegates convened in Port St Joe in 1839 and drafted Florida’s first Constitution.

For the better part of the 1950’s-1990’s the town was centered on jobs at the local paper mill. The major economic development focus has now shifted to recreation and tourism.

Embracing the Future
Sacred Heart Hospital on the Gulf opened its doors in 2010 and has provided a boost to not only the local economy but also the quality of life.

The town is home to Port St. Joe Marina, a first class facility accommodating vessels up to 80′ in length.

St. Joseph Bay and Port St. Joe offers one of the few deep water ports in the State of Florida, and a new Port of Port St. Joe facility is currently under development and the future is bright.

The recently opened Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport in Panama City now offers convenient, affordable commercial and private air transportation to the Port St. Joe area.

Popular Local Events
You’re destined to have fun and one of the many local festivities include a number of annual events. One of the most popular is the Scallop Festival, held in late summer each year and provide everything from arts & crafts to great music. Christmas on the Coast and the Independence on the Coast (July 4th) are also popular events for tourists and locals alike.

Other weekend activities include fishing tournaments, music in the park events, sporting events, and parades.

Thanks to the mild climate along the Gulf of Mexico’s northern coastline, sports for all ages can be enjoyed year round.

Community
With over 30 places of worship, Church life is a very important part of this family-oriented community making Port St. Joe an ideal home town, great vacation destination, or winter retreat for all.

There’s always plenty to enjoy in this quiet coastal community, and plenty of good people to share it with.

Mexico Beach

Mexico Beach, commonly referred to as “Mayberry on the water” by locals, was founded in the 1950’s and still remains true to it’s roots of being a friendly beach town where families have been making memories for multiple generations.

Peacefully secluded just 22 miles to the east of Panama City, the small town’s 1,000 full time residents and guests alike can find “big-city” amenities close by.  When you take the scenic drive along Highway 98, no high rises are found

and nothing blocks your view of the sugar sand beaches or emerald green water.  Don’t expect to see four lane freeways or traffic lights either!

Dining & Nightlife
No boring chain restaurants here!   Instead, you will find a broad selection of locally owned restaurants offering some of the Gulf Coasts best seafood.  Toucan’s Restaurant and Tiki Bar on the beach draws the biggest crowds while many also enjoy Mango Marley’s, Killer Seafood, The Fish House, and other local favorites.  You won’t find a rough & rowdy nightlife scene like Panama City Beach, but you can usually find some great live music and one of the local watering holes.

Shopping
Shopping opportunities abound in Mexico Beach whether you are looking for clothing, fishing gear, nautical home décor, or custom jewelry.   Your perfect souvenir awaits!

Fishing
You can’t find better fishing than what is available in Mexico Beach.  The city provides a popular 823′ pier and a brand new public boat launching facility, both free for all to enjoy.  Don’t have a boat? No problem!  Select from one of the local charter boats and go catch that big one you have been dreaming about.  Mexico Beach’s waters are inhabited by red snapper, grouper, king mackerel, wahoo, cobia, mahi mahi, and trigger fish, just to name a few.

 

 

St. Joe Beach & Beacon Hill

This relatively unknown, sparsely populated and secluded three mile stretch of beautiful white sand beaches has seen very little commercial development.  You will find incredible sunsets, buckets of seashells, great fishing, and pet friendly beaches.

Location
Many first timers don’t realize that St. Joe Beach and Beacon Hill are not a part of Mexico Beach. Beacon Hill is actually the start of Gulf County and of the Eastern time zone.   Traveling east on Hwy 98, the Lookout Lounge greets  you as you pass through Mexico Beach into Gulf County at Beacon Hill.  As you travel further east you will see the Beacon Hill Lighthouse that helped guide ships info Port St Joe. That is how Beacon Hill actually got its name!  Near the beacon is Veteran’s Memorial Park overlooking the beach with a basketball court, walking track, a playground for the kids, covered pavilions and grills.

Windmark Beach

Beachfront Florida Resort Community
Nestled between St. Joe Beach and Port St. Joe, Windmark Beach is a master planned beachfront community unlike anything else in this area of the Panhandle. This project is being developed by The St. Joe Company (NYSE:JOE), and world class architects & builders were brought together to make the vision of this community come to fruition.

Over 2,000 Acres of Coastal Living
Created on 2,020 acres of forests, wetlands, and ancient dunes, this is most certainly a place where the best days of your life will play out with nature’s splendor as a backdrop.  The community inspires healthy living, encouraging homeowners to get out and enjoy the scenery, the natural surroundings, the bay, the beach, the BeachWalk, the Village Center and of course, life itself.

Beachwalk, Village Center, Beach Club
At the heart of WindMark Beach is the BeachWalk, offering walkers, runners and riders a senic path to enjoy. Designed to offer a mixture of urban excitement and coastal tranquility, Village Center is planned to include places to shop, dine, meet, and exercise. The WindMark Beach Club features a large zero entry pool and beautiful shoreline for everyone.

Architectural Style
Throughout WindMark Beach, the architecture reflects a simple, time-honored connection to the region and its history. Common areas will be seaside chic, with wide windows for incredible views of the bay. And nearly every structure will be built with a metal roof, an architectural element that’s been in use in the region for over a century.

Slow Steady Growth
Windmark Beach is a work in progress and the community is growing!  Phase II of Windmark opened lot in 2007 and owners are building at a slow, but steady pace.  Don’t miss out on the opportunity to own a piece of this upscale paradise!