Driving through Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Fort Walton Beach is a city in southern Okaloosa County, Florida, United States. As of 2010, the population estimate for Fort Walton Beach was 19,507 recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau. It is the principal city of the Fort Walton Beach−Crestview−Destin Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Fort Walton Beach is a year-round fishing and beach resort community. Its busiest time of the year is the summer, causing a boost to the local economy because of seasonal human migration.
The community's name was officially changed from Fort Walton to Fort Walton Beach on June 15, 1953, by agreement with the state legislature in Tallahassee, and incorporated a portion of Santa Rosa Island formerly known as Tower Beach. Tower Beach, named for a tall observation tower at the site which was later destroyed by a hurricane, had been an amusement area operated from 1928 by the Island Amusement Company by future-Fort Walton Beach mayor Thomas E. Brooks, with a board walk, casino, restaurant, dance pavilion, "40 modernly equipped beach cottages", and concession stands which was largely destroyed by fire on Saturday, March 7, 1942. Wartime supply restrictions prevented a reconstruction. This 875-acre parcel of Santa Rosa Island with three miles of Gulf frontage was conveyed to Okaloosa County on July 8, 1950 in an informal ceremony at the county courthouse in Crestview, Florida. The county paid the federal government $4,000 to complete the transaction, the result of the efforts of Congressman Bob Sikes. The portion of Santa Rosa Island transferred is now known as Okaloosa Island. The remaining Tower Beach summer cottages were removed after the 1955 tourist season as the new Okaloosa Island Authority redeveloped the site with a new hotel and casino. The government was changed to a city manager form.
A special census conducted in 1956 listed 9,456 residents, which grew to 11,249 by 1960.
The last of three county-owned buildings on Okaloosa Island was torn down on May 31, 1995. The buildings had originally housed the Okaloosa Island Authority and more recently the Okaloosa County Council on Aging. The 1.3 acre tract on the north side of Santa Rosa Boulevard was sold.

[@gatorsmld7480]

Lived here from 71-89. Amazing place to grow up. Thanks for this.

[@coffeeson7]

One does not drive "through" Fort Walton Bach by simply riding along route 98. If you want the real deal, take a trip up up Beal Parkway, then right onto Racetrack Road and then right again onto Eglin Parkway. Then you can keep on heading down route 98 to your hearts content.
Might even see me out there. xD

[@bobbyjeanmurphy3246]

Used to live here still miss it.

[@lee_drifting]

lol my moms car on the right @4:50

[@ellenfox5113]

I used to live in Fort Walton back in the 80's NOTHING looks familiar. I used to work at Delchamps, went to the Tech school too

[@ellenfox5113]

I only remember the main road hwy 98. Probably if I went now I would be Completely lost
I also used to work at the Sears in the Santa Rosa Mall

[@ellenfox5113]

@@memyselfandi5760 I do believe teh address I had once live at was 921 Denton Blvd

[@JosephNormandGrinnell]

I do something similar, but mine are mostly about Michigan because that is where I live now.

[@rickb.284]

I spent 6 years in Ft Walton from 81-87..don't recognize a thing...

[@BennyLlama39]

The only stuff I recognized was the Publix and the Super 8.

[@zander_is.dogwater6802]

My mom works down there

[@vnd3rwrldvxbez948]

I live here RugRatz 4life

[@richardharris6058]

Meh 😕 Gulf sucks. No good surf and totally polluted

[@crashoutfor4way]

that’s a lie

[@Msapril453]

That's a big lie!! Surf is great

[@eryntodd]

Where do you visit them?? The gross ass Atlantic side?