As the largest private landowner in Florida, St. Joe Company officials decided a few years ago that it was time to repurpose some of that land rather than just plant trees on it. Traditionally a pulp and paper company, St. Joe is now in the land development business, with some people questioning the wisdom of that decision.
With development of three residential/resort communities underway, two in the Beaches of South Walton and one in Port St. Joe, the St. Joe Company worked to bring about construction of the country’s newest international airport in Panama City beach. Located in the center of 75,000 acres of St. Joe land, the new airport will eventually be surrounded by both commercial and residential development.
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport
Local tourism officials and business leaders are hoping the opening of the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport in Panama City Beach will encourage more visitors and bring more business to the region. Operating with direct flights to six U. S. cities via Southwest Airlines and Delta, and with a 10,000-foot runway and customs and immigration capabilities, the new airport has a potential for international flights.
St. Joe Company, who donated the land for the airport, is in the process of moving their corporate headquarters from Jacksonville, Florida, where it has been since the company’s inception in the 1930’s to the new large-scale development they are calling VentureCrossings Enterprise Centre adjacent to the airport. The Company is consolidating offices from Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Port St. Joe and the Beaches of South Walton into the new location.
WaterSound and WaterColor Florida
The Town of WaterSound and the WaterColor Inn and Resort, both located in the Beaches of South Walton County, are upscale beach resorts with complimenting amenities and residents and guests of either may use the facilities at both. Whereas WaterSound offers a residential community with private beach access, WaterColor Florida offers luxury resort accommodations in a new urbanism setting.
WaterSound Amenities
- Private membership/resort guest beach club
- Fitness center
- Camp Creek Golf Club (18-hole par 72)
- Origins Golf Course (6-hole regulation or 10-hole, par 3 executive course)
- Hiking and biking trails
- Gulf Coast Beach access
WaterColor Florida Amenities
- Luxury day spa
- Fitness center
- Tennis Center
- Kayaking adventure Tours
- Fish Out of Water Restaurant
- Gulf Coast Beach access
WindMark Beach in Port St. Joe
WindMark Beach is one of St. Joe Company’s newest gulf coast residential developments. Encompassing over 2000 acres of dunes, wetlands and forests, WindMark Beach will be anchored by 14 miles of walkways and beachfront boardwalks. Other amenities include:
- Private beach club
- Complimentary use of kayaks and bicycles
- State-of-the-art fitness center
- Village Center common area
- Great Southern School of Fish Restaurant
- St. James Bay beach access
St. Joe’s gamble comes at a time when gulf coast regional growth is expected to increase. Whether or not the gamble pays off remains to be seen. For more information about St. Joe Company or the company’s Northwest Florida developments, see the St. Joe Company.
Pamela Watson - I first hit the road at the tender age of three weeks when my career-Army dad packed up my mom and me and moved us from Indiana to New ...
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