Dazzling Destin, Florida comes complete with beautiful beaches, fabulous fishing, great golfing, outstanding shopping venues, world class dining, and an abundance of water sports. Ocean Reef Resorts is proud to be situated in this perfect paradise offering vacation rentals in distinctive private homes as well as luxurious beachfront condominiums. Historically many visitors arrive in Destin from the metro Atlanta area for their fun family vacation. In recent years the rest of the nation and indeed the world are discovering the pristine, sugar-white quartz crystal beach and emerald toned waters of the glorious Gulf of Mexico. It hasn't always been this way because this part of Florida was always considered remote or forgotten compared to the "civilized" developments along the Atlantic shores.

Actually, the History of Destin extends back thousands of years when Native Americans discovered the natural abundance of seafood that could be gathered from the gulf and bay. Arrowheads and artifacts found here from this early time can be seen in Destin Fishing Museum and at the Indian Mound in Ft. Walton Beach. Although the early natives caught much of their harvest in the bay, the gulf location attracted commercial fishermen and later tourists. The near proximity of the 100 fathom curve off shore allowed anglers to have the fastest access to deep sea fishing on the entire Gulf of Mexico. Adventurous anglers still catch Amberjack, Cobia, Grouper, King Mackerel, Mahi Mahi, Pompano, Red Fish, Sea Trout, Snapper, Spanish Mackerel, Scamp, Shark, Tarpon, and Trigger Fish. Trophy fish include classic Swordfish, Blue fan-finned Sailfish, giant Mako Sharks, and cobalt colored Blue Marlin. In addition to the gulf, the Choctawhatchee Bay to the north extends three to five miles across from the mainland.  The bay has a huge natural abundance of fish including Bass, Bluefish, Croaker, Flounder, Sheepshead, Speckled Trout, White Trout, and more. Choctawhatchee Bay also offers a great harvest of delicious Blue Point Crab and creamy tasting Bay Shrimp.

In 1848 Captain Leonard Destin arrived from New England and started fishing these bountiful waters. By 1850 he began fishing for commercial purposes even before the Civil War began. There was no refrigeration or ice in those days so loads of fish were kept alive in underwater pens and transported via schooners to sell in Pensacola. They were gathered on seine boats that had heavily weighted nets used for encircling and herding the fish that were caught. Legendary Captain Billy Marler introduced this fishing operation to adventurous tourists. The enterprising Captain Marler went to work for Captain Destin in 1880 and expanded the fishing fleet to over 100 boats in the course of a few years. He realized the tourist potential of this burgeoning operation and established fishing camps in the 1890s on the bay near Moreno Pointe.  This started with a few rustic cottages on the water but gradually expanded as adventurers arrived for fishing in ever increasing numbers. Captain Marler and his wife established the first church in the parlor of their home near present day Calhoun Avenue. Marler also founded the first Destin Post Office, built a fleet of boats, and even became the town's first coffin maker. However, it was his contribution toward fishing that made the area famous. Marler was the first to describe Destin as "the luckiest fishing village in the world." Fishing here became such a popular tourist attraction that by the roaring 1920s, Destin became known as "The Bill Fish Capital of the Gulf of Mexico."

Travel here and accommodations, once you arrived, were not for the faint of heart. It was easier to get to Destin by boat than by automobile at that time since there were few if any bridges, sandy trails prevailed and paved roads were scarce. There was no electricity, air conditioning, heating, or phone service, and houses were lighted by oil lamps or candles. Electricity was finally established here in 1947, two years after the end of World War II. One year later, the first Destin Fishing Rodeo began in 1948 established by a woman's auxiliary to raise money for fishermen and their families. Cash prizes were awarded for the largest fish caught and in a number of different categories. The Destin Harbor Marina has now become home to the largest private charter fishing fleet in the entire Gulf of Mexico. The Fishing Rodeo has grown through the years and now attracts tens of thousands of participants. The fishing attraction became a founding catalyst for tourists who became mesmerized by the magnificent natural beauty of the sugar white quartz crystal beaches and jewel toned waters of the gorgeous gulf.

By the 1960s residential development and high-rise condominiums started to be built on Holiday Isle. The Indian Bayou Country Club was established only to be followed by many additional championship courses. The town became officially incorporated in 1984 and soon afterward Highway 98 got its very first traffic signal at the junction of Gulf Shore Drive. In 1987 Highway 98 was expanded to four lanes as construction began on Emerald Coast Parkway near the beginning of Henderson Beach State Park. The old two lane highway was closed at the park but still parallels the coast on the east side on the way to Miramar Beach and is known as Scenic Gulf Drive. It is hard to believe but in this short period of time everything you see from Henderson Beach all the way until you reach Sandestin did not even exist. The Sandestin Golf Beach & Tennis Resort had been established back in the 1970s but there was little between itself and Destin other than pine trees and shimmering white sand dunes. Private gated residential communities, championship golf courses, restaurants, shopping centers, Destin Commons, Silver Sands, the Mid Bay Bridge and everything else along this route were not there because neither was the highway!

Now Destin has become a major vacation destination for tourists and plays host to literally millions of lucky visitors each year. It has become the "Crown Jewel" of what is known as "The Emerald Coast." Many have decided to make this their primary home and reside in Destin because we have many of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the entire state of Florida. Destin was recently named among The Most Beautiful Places in America as part of a nationwide survey that was conducted by and televised on the Good Morning America news program.  Southern Living Magazine has consistently named Destin as the Best Family Beach Destination and Frommer's Tourist Guide has often named The Emerald Coast on a list among The Most Beautiful Beaches in the World. Ocean Reef Resorts is pleased to have been providing premier vacation rental properties for generations of visitors to The Emerald Coast for over thirty years. We also have professional realtor consultants available at Ocean Reef Real Estate who can help you find a home here, like so many others have. Allow us to share the essence of this beautiful life with you and yours.