The new Grayton Beach Community Center officially opened Monday morning at 44 Hotz Avenue, just south of Chiringo and a short walk west of The Red Bar, bringing new public beach amenities, local history exhibits, and a 360-degree observation deck to the heart of Grayton Beach.

The facility opened as part of the Bets “Beachmama” Haynes Regional Beach Access, honoring the longtime Grayton resident and community advocate whose work helped preserve some of South Walton’s most treasured coastal spaces.

Grayton Beach has always had a way of showing up exactly as itself.

Even under rare rainy skies, residents, county leaders, visitors, and longtime friends of Grayton gathered to celebrate a place, a legacy, and a long-awaited public beachfront facility in one of 30A’s most beloved beach communities.

A New Beachfront Gathering Place in the Heart of Grayton

The new facility adds a thoughtful and much-needed public amenity to Grayton’s historic beach village. The 1,600-square-foot beachfront center includes restrooms, rinse showers, access to the Beach Tram, a boardwalk connection to the beach, and a 360-degree observation deck overlooking Grayton’s dunes, Gulf waters, and surrounding village.

Inside, the local information station highlights Grayton Beach history, sharing stories and visuals that connect the area’s earliest days with the community visitors and locals know today.

The building itself is hard to miss. Its distinctive roofline pays tribute to Grayton Beach history, inspired by a wooden pyramid structure once used during World War II, when a Coast Guard unit was stationed in Grayton Beach to watch for German ships and submarines offshore. That historic reference gives the new center a sense of place that feels especially fitting for Grayton — practical, unusual, and full of story.

Honoring Bets “Beachmama” Haynes

The access is named for Bets “Beachmama” Haynes, a longtime Grayton Beach resident and dedicated community advocate who passed away in 2005.

Beachmama is remembered for helping lead the grassroots effort that encouraged the State of Florida to acquire nearly 900 acres of coastal land in 1985. That effort helped protect what is now part of Grayton Beach State Park from high-density development.

Her work also helped preserve the land between Grayton Beach and Gulf Trace, safeguarding the dunes, shoreline, and natural beauty that continue to define this part of South Walton.

For generations of Grayton locals, Beachmama’s legacy is deeply personal. For today’s visitors, it is visible in the open views, protected coastline, and rare sense of natural space that still surrounds this historic beach village.

A Long-Awaited Addition to Grayton Beach

Planning and construction for the Grayton Beach Community Center and Regional Beach Access took years, making Monday’s dedication a milestone moment for the community.

The new access is Walton County’s 11th Regional Beach Access and was built using Tourist Development Tax funds, also known as the bed tax, which is collected on short-term rentals of six months or less in South Walton.

For guests staying in Grayton Beach and along 30A, the new facility adds convenience without taking away from the character that makes Grayton special. Visitors can use the Grayton Beach Park and Ride at 1505 South County Highway 283 and connect to the site through the free Grayton Express Beach Tram, which runs directly to the Bets “Beachmama” Haynes Regional Beach Access. Walton County lists the Grayton Express as departing every 10 minutes daily from 6 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. Free parking is also available on DeFuniak Street and along 30A.

For Ocean Reef, this new access is especially close to home. Our Grayton Beach office is just up the road at 15 Pine Street, and our team has spent decades helping guests experience this one-of-a-kind beach village. As the company with more Grayton Beach vacation rentals than anyone, we are always excited to see thoughtful improvements that make the area easier to enjoy while preserving the character that makes Grayton so special.

Grayton Being Grayton

A rainy morning in June is not exactly what anyone orders for a beach dedication, but in a way, it made the moment feel even more like Grayton.

People still came. Stories were still shared. The ribbon was still cut. And the Gulf, dunes, historic homes, and winding white walls of the new access all sat together under soft gray skies, reminding everyone that Grayton Beach has never needed perfection to be beautiful.

The new Bets “Beachmama” Haynes Regional Beach Access is more than a restroom stop, tram connection, or observation deck. It is a tribute to the people who protected Grayton’s shoreline, a welcome point for those discovering it, and a new chapter for a beach community that continues to honor its past while making room for the future.

In true Grayton fashion, the day was a little rainy, a little emotional, and unmistakably memorable.

Planning your next 30A getaway? Explore our collection of Grayton Beach vacation rentals and see this new community landmark for yourself.