FORT WALTON BEACH — Unlike those who live in and cherish old and well-known American cities such as Savannah and Charleston, not many local residents seem to be aware of or appreciate Fort Walton Beach’s historical gems, Ted Corcoran says.
But the planned relocation of the historic Gulfview Hotel building in downtown hopefully will generate more interest in the city’s landmarks, said Corcoran, president and CEO of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce. The relocation also could spur efforts to help preserve some of the city’s other remaining historic properties, said Gail Lynn Meyer, museum manager at the city’s Heritage Park and Cultural Center.
Corcoran and Meyer note that 15 to 20 years ago, the city’s now-defunct Historic Sites and Structures Board listed more than 20 local historic sites in a brochure titled “A Historical Walk in Fort Walton Beach.”
Today, a dozen of the sites, including the first City Hall, the Old St. Mary’s Rectory and the Little Chapel in Vandegriff Park, still have identification signs that feature the city’s logo, the name of the site and the words, “Historic Walking Tour.”