PROGRESS POINT: City leaders, community reflect on landmark moments in Destin history

With many monumental events in the history of Destin, picking one milestone is a tall task, but that is exactly what The Log asked Destin’s brass and community power-players to do. Here is what they had to say.

Councilman Jim Bagby

The two-term councilman had two moments that stuck out in his mind. The first was the city’s 1984 incorporation, which he says “established Destin as a physical place.” Secondly, he points to the opening of the Mid-Bay Bridge in 1993, which helped to spur development in the area.

“Even in 1999, there was nothing out in Crystal Beach, no Destin Commons, Paradise (Shoppes at Paradise Isle) was just getting started,” he said. “You look now, how there is wall to wall stuff… the whole eastern half of Destin has been developed since the bridge.”

Craig Barker

The former Mayor says that the formation of East Pass is by far the single-most important event in the history of Destin.

"History well-documents that Destin's original pass used to connect to the Gulf of Mexico near the back of what is now the Old Pass Lagoon (near the current location of Sandpiper Cove condominiums)," Barker wrote in an email to The Log.  He said the tidal current velocity in the original pass was far too extreme to allow mooring of vessels, so Destin's original fishermen were relegated to mooring their boats inside of Choctawhatchee Bay.

"In response to a severe flooding episode in the mid 1920s the Melvin and Destin families used hand shovels to dig a two feet wide drainage ditch across Okaloosa Island — thereby relieving water pressure in the Bay that had amassed as a consequence of the flood," he wrote. The Destin Harbor is one of our community's most-treasured assets and that single event is single-handedly responsible for its existence — making this the most significant event in the history of Destin."

Craig Barrett

The NBI Properties CEO and broker has many things that standout in his mind, such as riding down Holiday Isle with his grandmother, who he says was the only mail carrier in Destin for 30-plus years, or the Destin Pass being dug out in 1926.

But when he whittled it down and decided on one event, the most memorable milestone ended up being a development.

“Probably one of the biggest, if not the biggest, was the development of Sandestin Beach Resort by Peter Bos,” Barrett wrote in an email to The Log. “I think that was the gateway to putting Destin on the map so people would know about our beaches and the fishing this area has. I am still hearing it even now when people come here and say, ‘we had no idea how beautiful your beaches are.’ ”

Peter Bos

For the Legendary Inc. CEO and long-time developer, the most important event for Destin was the process of “winterization,” meaning the evolution from a fair weather summer resort to a year-round destination.

Bos says that evolution was highlighted by, “land held by a few large land owners and not chopped up in the 1920 and ’30s land booms in Florida — this allowed for large communities to be build adjacent to the Gulf, allowing golf courses which are fall, spring and winter attractions” to be built. Bos also noted that Destin started with the beach and fishing, but has since added shopping and dining attractions for people to enjoy when the weather is too cold, or if it’s raining.

Councilman Larry Hines

For the freshman councilman and candidate for Okaloosa County Commissioner, there were multiple events that stuck out in his mind. He specifically noted Hurricane Opal in 1995 and the BP oil spill.

“Hurricane Opal was one of the most powerful hurricanes to hit Destin; it caused significant damage to our beaches, property on the beach and in the harbor,” Hines wrote. “We bounced back fairly quickly from the damage to property, however, our beaches are still very narrow and our berms and dunes inadequate to provide the needed protection should another hurricane strike our region.”

Hines said the storm showed the area the importance of healthy beaches, and why there is a need to complete the planned beach restorations.

Tim Krueger

The senior vice president of investments at The Krueger Group and Global Wealth Management pointed his finger to the opening of Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast in 2003. While it’s not in Destin, the facility provides much needed services to the Destin area.

Krueger said in the late 90’s, the Wall Street Journal ran a story naming Destin as one of the top four ‘new’ retirement spots in the country, saying “This isn’t your father’s Florida.” According to Krueger, the article referenced the lack of medical facilities as the only significant negative to the area.

Mel Ponder

The former city councilman and founder of Business Edge,says the overall unity that has been established, built, and grown in the churches of this city is an incredibly important milestone — and one that has yielded great results.

Noting the church’s response after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Ponder wrote “the City of Destin became a refuge to many that had to leave their homes and families there.  And, when called upon by the city for help, the Church of Destin rose up and met the challenge gladly.”

Sam Seevers

Destin’s mayor chose construction of the Marler Bridge as her milestone in Destin.

“In the 1800s, Destin’s sole livelihood was reliant upon the seine net fishing industry; when the Destin Bridge was built in 1936, the fishermen decided to convert their seine net boats into “for hire” charter-fishing boats,” Seevers wrote. “Their forethought resulted in the growing number of visitors to the area. Thus, the tourism industry was born and began to flourish into something great for the city. This decision re-shaped the very future of Destin, with its exceptional reputation for attracting people from all over, for years to come.”

Councilwoman Sandy Trammell

Like most long-time Destin residents, councilwoman Sandy Trammell says there have been many milestones in Destin’s history. But when it comes to No. 1, Trammell knew it had to be “the start of something big.”

“That milestone is the creation of East Pass which began our first industry — fishing,” Trammell wrote. “When our forefathers dug the ditch with shovels (or so the story goes) I don't think they envisioned the tourist mecca Destin has become.”

Councilman Larry Williges

For the longtime councilman the most significant event that came to mind in Destin’s history was incorporation.

“It’s almost like the birth of a child if you think about it,” Williges told The Log. “We were an entity then, but our residents didn’t have much say into their own future through the government. They elected county officials, but they didn’t have them at their disposal like we do today …”