FLASHBACK Okaloosa

Legend of the Lady's Walk at Pirate's Cove, Santa Rosa Sound, Florida

As you listen, this episode was recorded in the spooky month of October, but this episode is timeless in that it tells of a local ghost story that I have heard many times and in many different versions – The Legend of the Lady’s Walk.

Those of you who live on the Santa Rosa Sound in Mary Esther or in Fort Walton Beach are probably very familiar with this story and may have even been frightened as a child by the prospects of its truth.

I will give you three versions. Each version was told in a 1983 article from the Playground Daily News, written by Brian Massey. He quotes each version verbatim.

The Vale of Paradise, the Chicago Connection, and the Valparaiso Inn

Today on Flashback, I want to you to imagine this town, our County with only two or three hotels or inns. Dirt roads abound. A commercial airport has not yet been created. The railroad in the County is still relatively new and the only way to get to Okaloosa County by land is by rail. No bridges have been built and places like Destin are minor blips on a map, let alone the consciousness of would-be vacationers. In fact, vacationing in Okaloosa County isn’t even a thing.   Mail was delivered by boat and yes people would come by boat if not by rail.

This is a story about the early days of tourism in our County centered around a vacation rental dating back to the 1920s that is no longer with us today. The Valparaiso Inn

FLASHBACK: The Mary and Esther in Mary Esther, Florida - and a Charles Lindbergh story

The early settlers of Mary Esther were cattlemen, preachers and hard-working folks who created this quiet bedroom community in Northwest Florida's Panhandle between Pensacola and Destin-Fort Walton Beach. We explore the early history of the City of Mary Esther and a short story of how Charles Lindbergh came to visit Mary Esther, Florida.

FLASHBACK (Okaloosa): Black Sunday 20 years later and the creation of Beach Safety

Okaloosa Beach Safety and other area lifeguard programs were created out of the tragedies on June 8, 2003, also known as Black Sunday. Listen to how Okaloosa County and Destin evolved into having a robust, professional lifeguarding program that continues to save lives every year through water safety education, contacts and rescues.

FLASHBACK (Okaloosa): Northwest Florida Fairgrounds

Listen as we talk with Charles Rigdon, son of CH "Bull" Rigdon. Bull, for many people, was the face of the fairgrounds for many years. His son Charles recounts the history of the fairgrounds.

FLASHBACK: The Destin East Pass and the Jetties

For many of us, it is hard to imagine the contour of our beaches without the signature look of the Destin East Pass and the rock jetties protruding into the Gulf of Mexico.

They are a signature look of Destin and signal both exit and entry into the East Pass. A doorway to what many believe is the best fishing in the country. So many rocks, such a massive endeavor, and all man-made.

FLASHBACK (Okaloosa): Finding treasure in the swamps of old Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Today’s story comes to you from the 1950s,  from a gentleman named Jimmy G Warr Sr. who was a boy living in Fort Walton at the time. He and his friends – the three amigos – had discovered what I have dreamed about for years living in beautiful Okaloosa County and it landed their story in every newspaper across the country.

FLASHBACK: Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, VPS, Valparaiso and Eglin

Destin-Fort Walton Beach has had many names. We take you through the origin story of  VPS and how early developers in Valparaiso, Eglin Air Force Base and a partnership with Okaloosa County have influenced what it is today and how it will continue to be successful in the future.

FLASHBACK (Okaloosa): Who was Arbennie Pritchett?

The Arbennie Pritchett Water Reclamation Facility treats 7-10 million gallons of water every day. The facility was built in 2005 and was named after a man who spent his life serving the County, Bennie as he was known, was a wastewater operator for the County.

FLASHBACK (Okaloosa): The Community of Dorcas, the mystery of the belled buzzard and more

Take a drive around Okaloosa County and you are sure to come across the names of small towns or should I say communities that don’t have much prominence on a map and without some simple signage you probably wouldn’t know they even existed.

This episode is about one of these communities, Dorcas

Just outside of the city limits of Crestview heading east on U.S. Highway 90 past the Shoal River and past the Emerald Coast Zoo, you’ll hit the intersection of County Road 393 in another not so well-known community of Deerland. Turn north and you are well on your way to the Community of Dorcas. You’ll pass the Shoal River once again and you’ll see a white sandy beach area on one of the banks, an area I’m told that locals use to or may still, gather for relaxation and socializing.

The Dorcas Baptist Church has the most signage and there’s a reason the community kind of centers around the church area. The name itself, Dorcas, has origins in the Bible mentioned in both the New Testament books of Acts and Peter as a woman known for her good works and acts of mercy.

To learn more about this community I went to a Dorcas local, who just so happens to be the Executive Director of the Baker Block museum.