Big red brick house on 30-A

I really like that house, too. Gorgeous lot, also.

There is a huge two-story red brick house on a very large shaded lot on the south side of 30-A ............overlooking a lake, I think. We've visited here several times over the years and always wonder about that house every time we drive by. Just curious if someone knows about it. It looks old.....is it historic?

I believe you are referring to "The Davis House" on Redfish lake. Many people living here longer than I knows the history, but It has been here for a few years and was previously surrounded by additional land.

It use to be owned by Dr. Davies. I may have the spelling wrong. He was an eccentric surgeon out of Alabama. That was his vacation home and he owned lots of property around the house. His son took over years ago and sold much of the land.

I remember one story where he was flying down here and fell asleep at the wheel and was awakened by the air force! They were not real happy.

If you want to go way back, let me tell you that the pool was built several years before the house. The pool was just a swimming pool in the woods, and then for a few years it was an abandoned swimming pool in the woods. I know cuz I was one of those local rascals that use to cruise out there on a warm Saturday night, drink a six-pack, laying on the hood of an old pick-up, and howl at the moon.

If you want to go way back, let me tell you that the pool was built several years before the house. The pool was just a swimming pool in the woods, and then for a few years it was an abandoned swimming pool in the woods. I know cuz I was one of those local rascals that use to cruise out there on a warm Saturday night, drink a six-pack, laying on the hood of an old pick-up, and howl at the moon.

And if what my brother told me is true, the pool was put in by Miss Lois Maxon, who renovated the Wesley house at Eden. He worked for her as a teenager and probably howled at the moon too.

I'd like to know if that's true, as I am too lazy to do a title search.

And if what my brother told me is true, the pool was put in by Miss Lois Maxon, who renovated the Wesley house at Eden. He worked for her as a teenager and probably howled at the moon too.

I'd like to know if that's true, as I am too lazy to do a title search.

All of that is true. I swam in that pool several times when it was all alone in the woods in the 60's as my grandmother was Miss Maxon's housekeeper at Eden; then I worked for Miss Maxon after she gave Eden to the state and moved to Pensacola. She told me a lot about her adventures in south Walton during the time I spent with her. Dr. Davies acquired the property afterward and built the house on 30A in front of the pool; and his mother lived in the carriage house on the property for a time in the mid-to late 70's. She had a big doberman named Henry -- sweet dog once he got to know you. Dr. Davies' son Gabe and his wife (Suzette, I think) and their kids lived in the house for a time in the late 90's, then moved away. It's a real nice house, and a beautiful property.

I stayed with Dr. Davies mother and the dobie when I was a teenager ( late 1970,s), something spooked her when Clayton was out of town and my parents sent me over there to stay the night with her. She was such a delightful woman! She drove all over the place in a Cutlass with her dog.

I've always thought that house/lot was awesome. Probably my favorite on 30-A.

Love reading these posts. I know of the home that ya'll are speaking of and enjoy reading the different aspects of it. Someone needs to write a book!!!

Yep.

Love reading these posts. I know of the home that ya'll are speaking of and enjoy reading the different aspects of it. Someone needs to write a book!!!

The book is right here on SoWal if you just read enough threads.

The book is right here on SoWal if you just read enough threads.

He's right. There are some really great old threads, one was called something like "favorite restaraunts" was took everyone back to good old bars and restaraunts of old.

I'm not sure how to search for relevant threads, but I did go back to page 18 under "Dining and Food" and the thread "A time To Remember" was really a standout.

I was wondering if anyone knew what happened to this house, as of July 2022 it is abandoned but still has running water. I have some screenshots from a video I filmed while exploring it. I have posted the photos on google images under the name” 30a abandoned red brick house”. If you know anything about this house please let me know, and I will be returning to the house around December to take some real photos and they will also be on google images.

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I was wondering if anyone knew what happened to this house, as of July 2022 it is abandoned but still has running water. I have some screenshots from a video I filmed while exploring it. I have posted the photos on google images under the name” 30a abandoned red brick house”. If you know anything about this house please let me know, and I will be returning to the house around December to take some real photos and they will also be on google images.

I do know one thing about it. It is private property. I'm guessing that's why you didn't register under your real name?

I was wondering if anyone knew what happened to this house, as of July 2022 it is abandoned but still has running water. I have some screenshots from a video I filmed while exploring it. I have posted the photos on google images under the name” 30a abandoned red brick house”. If you know anything about this house please let me know, and I will be returning to the house around December to take some real photos and they will also be on google images.

bob1 is right. Maybe you should research the address on Walton County Property Appraiser
And try asking permission from the owner before entering.

The current owner is a few bricks short of a house. I'd delete these photos and exit gracefully. It is a posted property and you just posted photos of your illegal activities.

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There are clear no trespassing signs on the front of that house. You're breaking the law and are dumb enough to post the evidence here. The Sheriff should have fun with this one.

Wow! Can’t fix stupid.

I was wondering if anyone knew what happened to this house, as of July 2022 it is abandoned but still has running water. I have some screenshots from a video I filmed while exploring it. I have posted the photos on google images under the name” 30a abandoned red brick house”. If you know anything about this house please let me know, and I will be returning to the house around December to take some real photos and they will also be on google images.

Hello. I just found your post after joing this forum last night. July 9 2024.
I know your post is rather old but I have a little info on the Davie's house.
I was a carpenter in the late 70s and worked on that house from beginning to end. It was built be a Ft Walton Beach contractor named Wayne Watts. His brother, Edwin Watts, you may have heard of, "Edwin Watts Golf"
Dr. J Clayton Davie, a neurosurgeon from Birmingham, built it as a summer home. He would fly down every Friday from Birmingham in his private plane to land at Destin airstrip. Then he would drive his jeep to the construction site to bring all us workers cash for payday. He would also bring sub sandwiches, beer and was accompanied by a very attractive red head; supposedly his assistant.
Before landing in Destin, he would buzz the construction site in his plane; tilting his wings left and right. About an hour later he'd come driving up.
You may have read the story where he flew into restricted air space of US Air Force. He was asleep at the controls and had to be awakened by a couple of fighter jets. The stories were true. He told us all about it, and how much it cost to fix the trouble he got in.
Friday were great while building the house. It was payda, and always envelopes of cash. The house was built as a cost plus job. Nothing was spared. If he wanted it, he got it.
An interesting note. The beam holding up the upper deck overlooking the pool, was a beam from the old original Destin Bridge. The one crossing the pass on US 98 from Ft Walton Beach. He bought the beam, and four of us put it up using an old farm tractor with a bucket, and a rusty chain. We made a very unstable ramp to drive tractor up in order to get beam high enough to set. Two men on ladders guided the VERY heavy steel beam into place. I was one of those brave but stupid men. 19 years old.
I have lots more stories about the house, and Dr Davie. BTW he passed away in early January of 2023.

Sadly, the house was demolished last year and a fence was put up. The land is vacant now. Not sure what the current owners have in mind for the property.

Sadly, the house was demolished last year and a fence was put up. The land is vacant now. Not sure what the current owners have in mind for the property.

Dr. Davie did lower back surgery on my younger brother in 1974. He was (is) a Marine and was wounded in Viet Nam in 1969 and Dr. Davie had to navigate around sharpnel that could not be removed due to proximity to nerves in his back. He told me the story of Davie's nap in restricted air space.

Sadly, the house was demolished last year and a fence was put up. The land is vacant now. Not sure what the current owners have in mind for the property.

Unfortunately it was bought by crazy, it'll likely be the South Walton Horsepower Pavilion.

Sadly, the house was demolished last year and a fence was put up. The land is vacant now. Not sure what the current owners have in mind for the property.

That's real sad indeed. So much beautiful woodwork was done in that house. The crown mounding was made of seven seperate components, all milled on-site. I wonder how such a wonderful home in a perfect location could come into such ill repair.