First National Bank parcel sold to local businessman

The 2.34-acre parcel of land at the corner of U.S. Highway 98 and Henderson Beach Road has been purchased by a Destin businessman.

Records from the Okaloosa County Property Appraiser's website show the property, which was the former First National Bank, was purchased by Forty-Four Investments LLC in November for $2,295,000. Ryan Jumonville is listed as the company's manager.

Jumonville, who is the CEO of United Networks of America Inc., is no stranger to the Destin development scene. In years past, Jumonville has purchased the Uptown Corners in Fort Walton Beach, the City Market Shopping Center in Destin and is part of the team behind the City Market Bayside project.

The bank parcel was sold to Jumonville's company by World Choice Investments LLC, a Pigeon Forge, Tenn., based company which has ties to Dolly Parton's various business interests.

It was believed that a Parton-themed attraction was headed to Destin after World Choice Investments scooped up a grouping of four parcels near Wal-Mart and Fudpucker's along Commons Drive. Representatives from the company said Destin was one of many locations being explored.

The remaining three parcels currently display "under contract" signs through local Realtor John Paul Somers, who also brokered the deal on the bank parcel.

Somers could not be reached for comment before press time.