30A tour: inlet beach

There’s a gorgeous sameness about the beaches of the Emerald Coast—just one mile after another of soft quartz sand running alongside an aquamarine shoreline that appears aglow, lit from within. The communities that populate this realm, however, are a different matter altogether. All they have in common is their distinctiveness from one another.

What was once a coastal retreat for soldiers of World War II, is now the starting point to Scenic Highway 30A: Inlet Beach. Also known as “Veteran’s Beach”, Inlet is located at the eastern end of 30A that neighbors Rosemary and Panama City Beach. Nearly a hundred years ago, the McCaskill Investment Company of Defuniak Springs took ownership of Inlet and was once a popular vacation spot for young veterans after the war. The Bureau of Land Department allowed them priority to apply for land through a lottery system for $50. Thus, so many veterans developed there that it was given the nickname “Veteran’s Beach” or “Soldier’s Beach.” The longevity of Inlet Beach makes it one of the longest standing communities of South Walton and 30A. 

The south side of Inlet features approximately 13 acres of unobstructed beach accesses for public use with lifeguards on duty throughout the summer months. The sleepy beach community is seemingly tucked away from the rest of the world, making it perfect for the laidback vacationers looking for a quiet getaway, yet still in close proximity to local attractions. Lake Powell and Camp Helen State Park are hidden gems east of town that has long-standing durability from decades of natural disasters and real estate development. Lake Powell’s deep blue water is the final coastal dune lake of 30A that pours into the ocean and acts as a divider to Bay County.

Stay tuned for future additions of our community tour along 30A, where we’ll highlight a different community in feature articles.