Beach Archive

Each New Year’s Day, people flock to Navarre Beach to brave the (sometimes) cold temps and jump into the Gulf or Sound to usher in the new year. For the past few years, there have been a couple of ‘plunges’ on Navarre Beach.

The numbers for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 (Oct. 1, 2022, to Sept. 30, 2023) are in and according to Santa Rosa County Tourist Development director Julie White, it was a big year.

Tax collections came in at a little over $6.6 million this year. A 4.4% increase year over year. During FY2021-22, the total tax collections was $6.3 million.

When you hear the word ‘beach,’ what do you think of?

You might imagine sand and water or marine life or lifeguards. It might even conjure the thought of taking a vacation. No matter how you envision it, the beach is associated, by and large, with ‘relaxation.’

Gulf Islands National Seashore has closed the Fort Pickens area to all visitors effective as of 11 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 14, in preparation for incoming weather.

“Overwhelming.”

That’s how Beach Safety Division Chief Austin Turnbull describes the 2023 lifeguard season on Navarre Beach. From March 11 to Oct. 29, this year’s season, nearly 1.6 million people (1,591,259) visited Navarre Beach, which only stretches for four miles of Santa Rosa Island. This year, there were 32 Navarre Beach Lifeguards on staff.

“This world is but a canvas to our imagination.” – Henry David Thoreau

Not everyone can look at a broken piece of glass and say, ‘I can make something out of this.’ For Theresa Wolf, it has become a passion.

In January of this year, Navarre Press reported the owners of Alvin’s Island, a beach retail chain, were looking at the possibility of building and opening one of the stores on Navarre Beach near the Regency Condominiums (8525 Gulf Blvd.).

Despite the lack of a Navarre Pass, Navarre Beach has a significant boating culture. One part of the boating scene along Navarre’s coast is the Navarre Beach Yacht Club. Founded in 1991, Navarre Beach Yacht Club has been a group of, by and for boaters and boating enthusiasts throughout the years. According to their website, the Navarre Beach Yacht Club’s purpose is to “provide a venue for fun and enjoyment of the members allowing captains to share their boating enthusiasm with people of like-minded attitudes… and latitudes.”

More than 500 registered runners and walkers participated in this year’s Run for the Reef Oct. 14, making it the largest turnout yet in the event’s 15-year history. The race consisted of a 5K, 10K and children’s 1-mile fun run. All proceeds from this event go towards the Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary, which consists of multiple artificial reefs.