The History of Fort Walton Beach - One of Florida's Biggest Small Places

Thank you for bringing back good memories of Ft. Walton Beach. I was born in West Palm Beach, Fla. in 1946. After a short stay in Macon, Georgia we moved to Ft. Walton Beach in 1950. My dad was a civil service electronic engineer designing radars for the Air Force at Eglin Field. He later was in charge of overseeing all of the radar installations in Florida. I was glad to see the Roberts Rx Drugstore. We use to get fountain drinks there for 5 cents. Mr. Roberts also owned the Seagull Inn just over the bridge on the island....some really good seafood. We use to go deep sea fishing with Mr. Roberts he had a beautiful cabin cruiser. Seeing the Tringas Theater brought back vivid memories of spending 20 cents to see a movie and 5 cents for a big candy bar. I attended Ft. Walton Elementary, W.C. Pryor Jr. High and Choctawhatchee High School....leaving for Texas after my junior year. My dad retired in 1963 and we moved closer to my sister....bummer. I had to leave behind a bunch of friends, beautiful beaches and water. One downtown landmark that may be gone by now is Jimmy's News Stand next to the Tringas Theater?? I was glad to see Mrs. Lazarus founded the Temple Mound Museum. We were close friends to the Lazarus family. Spent time digging up Indian pottery with the family and collecting coins with their son Martin. I assume part or all of their collection of artifacts started the museum. Their family room had many display cases of Mr. Lazarus's partial and restored pieces. I have been back once since 1963 (1989) and could not believe how Santa Rosa Island and Destin had changed....today probably even more so. The Gulfarium was the bomb in the day. It was not far from there the beaches were segregated. Glad those days are no more. I really miss Ft. Walton Beach hopefully before I die my wife and I can swing by on our way up the east coast. Thanks again for your documentary it was excellent. Fred Fleming Houston, Texas

Lots of good memories there.

Yep..my husband's hometown..been in same house since built in 1975🥰🥰

Great video!

Awesome video

I am Florida's toughest swimmer I've been the area my whole life

For the rich and wealthy they'll thrive! Okaloosa natives and locals have been kicked out of our habitat!

I never knew who liza Jackson was You should be able to learn who ms Jackson was when visiting her park

your sound needs work high pitch at 36 min

When did they begin to call it, Fort Walton 'Beach'?

Cracks me up- very proud of having and “establishing “ schools, hotels. Etc” all stolen

This video will make it seem like a good place to live but really it’s boring kinda sucks lived here my whole life and seen how to town came from being fun to now all about money theirs nothing to do here at all and wonder why crime is getting out of control

Who was collecting a bed rax back then

The native tourists lol 😂

I bet they left after a cpl of hurricanes. Wasn't worth the loss of life to them. My opinion only. Plausible.

I lost my virginity to Marcia, my STEP sister, while on vacation there in 1974. We told our parents we were sick and had the whole hotel to ourselves. and before anyone says, gross you lost your virginity to your sister... She's not related to me. Only by marriage. We are actually married now. So our marriage lasted longer than most our haters. Stay groovy.

muahahahahahahahaha