Historic SoWal trivia

Speaking of running off into stuff, there have been more than a few folks unfamiliar with the area that mistook 395 north into Point Washington - and straight on into Tucker Bayou - for 331 North. My aunt and uncle Ollie Sue and Albert Butler lived near the end of 395, would hear a car go by waaaaay too fast, say "there goes another one," call the Sheriff's Office and go down and help fish the soggy occupants out of their car.

If you are going 65 - 70 mph, the "Pavement Ends" sign just north of the Methodist Church might give you time to utter an expletive before you hit the water. But, since 331 has been four-laned, the fancy boat launch at the north end of 395 was built and Ollie Sue and Albert have passed away, I haven't heard of another amphibious landing.

Have we discussed "FROGS" filmed at Eden in 1971-1972 yet?
They show it every October as part of the Halloween film festival outdoors at Eden. Don't go for the plot; go for the scenery. Local builder Robert Sanders is the little boy toward the end with the big frog. The scenery also includes a young, virile Sam Elliott. Joan Van Ark for you menfolk.
I hear there is a secret mystery guest this year. Not sure if it is confirmed or if it is a secret anymore. Just say it's not Joan Van Ark, and the female population of Point Washington may spike on film day.

Awesome Garrett. I will pick up a copy @ Sundog before the end of the week.

Have we discussed "FROGS" filmed at Eden in 1971-1972 yet?
They show it every October as part of the Halloween film festival outdoors at Eden. Don't go for the plot; go for the scenery. Local builder Robert Sanders is the little boy toward the end with the big frog. The scenery also includes a young, virile Sam Elliott. Joan Van Ark for you menfolk.
I hear there is a secret mystery guest this year. Not sure if it is confirmed or if it is a secret anymore. Just say it's not Joan Van Ark, and the female population of Point Washington may spike on film day.

Tada...check this out from Sam Elliott's IMDB page:

You jogged my memory about that road spur that dead-ended about where Fish Out of Water is now. We had the same situation at Eastern Lake. A spur that stopped right into the dunes. I don't think anybody bothered to put a road close sign, so hurried tourists and local drinking folk occasionally found themselves hub deep in sugar white in the middle of nowhere.

The way these spurs dead-ended makes me think that somebody, with a whole lot more wisdom than me, realized it was a far, far better idea to move the road inland at those places, rather than some misguided earlier plan, and truly saved the great beauty of those magnificent lakes. Job well done.

Here is a great high rez photo (1969) of that "detour" they did at Eastern Lake.

Have we discussed "FROGS" filmed at Eden in 1971-1972 yet?
They show it every October as part of the Halloween film festival outdoors at Eden. Don't go for the plot; go for the scenery. Local builder Robert Sanders is the little boy toward the end with the big frog. The scenery also includes a young, virile Sam Elliott. Joan Van Ark for you menfolk.
I hear there is a secret mystery guest this year. Not sure if it is confirmed or if it is a secret anymore. Just say it's not Joan Van Ark, and the female population of Point Washington may spike on film day.

Robert Sanders - IMDb

I didn't know he did other films.

Robert Sanders - IMDb

I didn't know he did other films.

I didn't either. Hmmmm...I remember he walked to Eden every day after school (at Bay Elementary) and pestered them into giving him a part. It was about 5 seconds long, but it was a part.
Pretty sure he was not in Love Story 1967, though.

I know a Robert Sanders AC contractor around here, but I don’t think he was ever in any other movies. Are we getting confused?

Here is a great high rez photo (1969) of that "detour" they did at Eastern Lake.View attachment 72761

I dont know whose decision it was to make that detour in 30A, but I am truly thankful. We all should be. That detour saved those lakes.

You can look on Google Maps, satellite view and see where there are several "once" coastal dune lakes that have been "sealed" by what is now Front Beach Road. There is one right behind Dusty's Oyster Bar in PCB.

I would also venture to guess that the lake/pond just west of Ponciana and just west of Edgewater Condos in Miramar Beach was once a coastal dune lake.

Can anyone confirm this? Garrett, have you ever seen anything in your archives, OR do you know where there might be aerial photos?

I know a Robert Sanders AC contractor around here, but I don’t think he was ever in any other movies. Are we getting confused?

I think IMDb is confused. I will ask him (or David or Young) next time I see one of them.

Here is a great high rez photo (1969) of that "detour" they did at Eastern Lake.View attachment 72761

Very cool!