Cheers to 50 years! This year, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is celebrating its 50th Anniversary.
2023 is a milestone year for the 2,400-acre resort, one of South Walton’s leading luxury destinations. For five decades running, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort has been delighting generations of guests. And to commemorate the occasion, they are holding a year-long celebration.
From special surprises for visitors to social media throwbacks, this walk down memory lane is sure to bring a smile to guests’ faces. Enjoy beach photo ops, signature refreshments, commemorative merchandise and festivities galore. And don’t forget the service, smiles, amenities and activities available year-round!
Today, Sandestin is right at the heart of everything Walton County has to offer. In the not-so-distant past, it felt more like a tropical oasis or a beachy outpost on the edge of civilization. So how did Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort become the world-renowned resort it is today?
To find out, we have to turn back the clock to the early days of Walton County.
Many moons ago, the original owners bought the land for agriculture and animal husbandry. But during World War II, the military requisitioned a big chunk of the seaside property to study “Buzz Bomb” missiles captured from the Germans. They also tested and fired the first American military rockets from secret bunkers on the resort’s gulf side, which can still be seen today – if you know where to find them.
In the 1950s, the property was sold to Winthrop Rockefeller, who had grand plans to transform the area into a coastal community. But when he was elected Governor of Arkansas, the project lost steam. Soon after, Walt Disney started eyeing the land for Disney World, his fledgling Florida theme park idea. Though he settled on an area a little further south, the land was still a hot commodity.
In the 1970s, the operators of the Indianapolis Speedway tried to buy the land for their “Seaside Racetrack” idea, but developers looking to build a resort community snagged it instead. They fused “San” from Santa Rosa Beach to the east and “Destin” from the neighboring beach to the west, and Sandestin was born. Fifty years later, it’s still thriving. But how did the resort itself change over the years?
In 1974, the newly minted Sandestin opened its first golf course: The Links. The course was accompanied by new residential neighborhoods and a beloved hotel, Bayside at Sandestin. By the early ’80s, developers added the marina, Baytowne Golf Course and a beachside high-rise. Not long after, The Beach Boys rocked out on the sand, with 12,000 lucky fans grooving along.
But the progress didn’t stop there. The 1990s saw rapid growth as new restaurants opened and leisure activities blossomed. From the famous Marina Bar and Grill to the state-of-the-art Tennis Club and Burnt Pine Golf Course, residents and visitors had entertainment and dining options galore. The Burnt Pine community opened its gates soon after, and the team brainstormed new development after new development. That’s when The Village of Baytowne Wharf was born, bringing lively restaurants, seaside shopping and community events to the area.
Sandestin now boasts more than 70 distinct neighborhoods across 2,400 acres between Choctawhatchee Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Connected by miles of walking trails and bike paths weaving through clusters of live oaks, the combination of natural beauty and luxury amenities has transformed the resort into a world-class destination. And with four award-winning golf courses on the property, open-air leisure is always close at hand.
From beachside to bayside, there are thousands of lodging options scattered throughout the resort, all with their own unique flair. Year after year, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort welcomes countless families to enjoy the resort and create memories that will last a lifetime. Are you ready to celebrate?