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Navarre and Navarre Beach

Navarre and Navarre Beach History

   Navarre is an unincorporated town located between Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach. Navarre sits on a peninsula that juts between East Bay and Santa Rosa Sound. Neighboring Navarre Beach is located across the Sound on Santa Rosa Island. The beach is bordered on the south by the Gulf of Mexico, which runs the length of the Florida Panhandle.
   Together, Navarre and Navarre Beach serve as bedroom communities to larger Panhandle cities and to the numerous military bases that are located throughout the region. No matter what their lifestyle or occupation, residents are drawn by the white sands, emerald waters and wide open beaches.
   Navarre was founded by Col. Guy Wyman, a retired Army engineer. In 1925, the Colorado resident and his wife fell in love with the area, which Mrs. Wyman named after a picturesque province in Northern Spain. Navarre remained sparsely populated until the early 1960s, when the Navarre Bridge was built. The bridge opened up Santa Rosa Island and Navarre Beach to new residents and visitors, who continue to flock to the scenic locale.
   Today, this area is the fastest-growing region in Santa Rosa County, and it's also becoming a top tourist destination along the Florida Panhandle.

Activities

   The Navarre area is home to several outdoor wonders, most of which are located on Santa Rosa Island. This 40-mile-long barrier island is surrounded by Santa Rosa Sound to the north and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, offering water activities from fishing and swimming to boating and a myriad of water sports.
   The west end of the island is home to the Gulf Islands National Seashore, eight miles of federally protected, undeveloped shoreline. At the center of the island, Navarre Beach State Park offers camping, bike paths, nature trails, picnic shelters and a marine sanctuary.
   Navarre Beach State Park is also home to the 900-foot Navarre Beach Fishing Pier. Anglers can catch cobia, pompano and mackerel, while nature-lovers can view bottlenose dolphins, rays and sea turtles.
   Navarre Nature Walk Park is located on the Santa Rosa Sound, near the Navarre Beach Bridge. The mile-long waterfront boardwalk features a spring-fed fish pond, playground and picnic areas. Geese, ducks and herons can be spotted on the walk, along with turtles, squirrels and other local wildlife. Perhaps the park's most popular attraction is the Panhandle Butterfly House, which has more than 200 species, including the zebra longwing, which is the state butterfly.
   The Kiln Walk is a new attraction located along Highway 87 in Navarre. The facility features a wood-fueled kiln that's big enough to walk through. Kiln Walk promotes awareness of the arts while allowing visitors to partake in ceramic and clay-related activities.
   There are several golf courses in the area, including The Club at Hidden Creek, Stonebrook Golf Club, Tiger Point East and West, and Tanglewood Golf and Country Club.
   Each year, a taste of New Orleans comes to Navarre Beach in the Mardi Gras Parade and Krewe of Jesters. Other annual events include the Abitaman Triathlon, Fun Fest, Navarre Homes on Parade and Christmas in the Park.

Navarre and Navarre Beach Fast Facts

Schools

   The Navarre area has three elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. Students are served by the Santa Rosa County School District.

Homes

Maps of Navarre and Navarre Beach

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