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Planning and Construction has taken years, but Walton County cut the ribbon on June 15th for The Grayton Beach Community Center, a new building, tram stop, and boardwalks in “downtown” Grayton Beach just west of the Red Bar.
Read more about the Grayton Beach Community Center on the SoWal Forum Post & Discussion.
See the SoWal Guide to all South Walton Beach, Bay & Lake Accesses.
But hold on, there’s more to the story. The new building with info center and restrooms will be included in a designation as a new Regional Beach Access, known as “Bets “Beachmama” Haynes Regional Beach Access“ honoring our friend and community activist Betty Haynes. Read more about Bets below.
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From Walton County Tourism:
The County’s 11th RBA features 1,600 square feet of beachfront amenities including restrooms, a 360-degree observation deck, rinse showers, a boardwalk and access to the Beach Tram. It also houses a local information station highlighting the founding and history of the Grayton Beach community.
The facility is named in honor of Bets “Beachmama” Haynes, a Grayton Beach resident credited with leading the grassroots campaign that convinced the state of Florida to purchase nearly 900 acres of coastal land in 1985, preserving what is now Grayton Beach State Park from high-density development.
This project was built and will be maintained using the Tourist Development Tax, or bed tax, a 5-percent tax collected on short-term rentals of six months or less in south Walton County. Residents do not pay a bed tax unless they are taking a “staycation” in local accommodations.
For more information and project updates, please visit www.waltoncountyfltourism.com/projects or call Beach Operations at (850) 267-4578.
About Bets Haynes:
Bets was a long-time resident of Grayton Beach who passed away in 2005. Her and husband Gap were known to all in SoWal, as are their four daughters, who all grew up in Grayton Beach and perhaps were all known at one time or another, possibly still, as “Grayton Girl”, or collectively as “Grayton Girls”.
Read more about Bets and her effort to preserve and protect Grayton Beach, ultimately prodding the State Of Florida to add 900 pristine acres to Grayton Beach State Park.
