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From the POA
Rosemary Beach 4th of July Celebration. photo by Jimmy Farr
From the POA Welcome to Rosemary Beach!
It has been 25 years since the founding of Rosemary Beach in 1995. In this season’s issue of the Rosemary Thymes, we are continuing to look back and share memories and stories about the people, events, and decisions that helped form the essence of this special community, and that we plan to continue to enjoy and add to for many more years to come.
THE PIONEERS The early settlers of any community are often revered, and rightly so. These pioneers have long tended to be people who created, or at least could recognize, visions of the future that others could not. Back when the building site that would become the south side of Rosemary Beach was a relatively unremarkable stretch along an admittedly alluring coastline, there were of course the talented designers and developers who were confident their ideas would soon take form.
But these ideas were different than many of those nearby – these visionaries did not want simply to build rows of identical condos in bland, beige horizontal or vertical walls of synthetic stucco. Instead, they envisioned that the individual owners of homes and businesses would each add unique and different buildings, over time, and according to a flexible Master Plan that focused on the resulting civic spaces that would emerge as a stage for an outdoorfocused life. Variety in materials and colors was not only encouraged, but required. Architects had to consider not just the conditions of their client’s lot, but also of their project’s impact on the surrounding lots and public spaces. No doubt as a result, many of the structures in Rosemary Beach are beautiful works of architecture, worthy of admiration in their own right. Our Town Hall and Post Office, for two examples among many, are wonderful icons that anchor our Town Center, and that provide the backdrop for countless visitors’ vacation portraits.
Of course, the real goal of the designers and developers was to create streetscapes, parks and wonderful pedestrian walks that encouraged people to enjoy moving about the town on foot or bicycle, or even just to sit on a porch or park bench to take in a vista or to have a conversation. They knew that this is what would generate lasting value and excitement. As the stories we have to share in this issue will attest, the making of new and life-long friends in the early days of Rosemary Beach was such a galvanizing experience that many people can remember exactly what was said and where they were standing when they said it!
Others can recall the day clearly when they realized that they wanted to become part of the town. It is important to realize that not every community, especially one as relatively young as Rosemary Beach, has the character to inspire this sort of affection and even passion. We are right to treasure this place, and to make the ongoing commitment to honor our town’s plan and architectural regulations, in order to preserve the delightful character of our wonderful streets and parks and to honor the hard work and dedication of those that came before us.
THE TIMELINE Also in this issue, we are excited to offer a timeline that captures many of the significant events that played out between 1995 and today. As with any list, it is certain that we left deserving people and events unmentioned, and trust that no judgement was intended by such omissions.
Taken as a whole, we hope it captures the enduring commitment that the charter owners invested in our first 25 years of town-building. Most of all, we hope you recognize some of the names that were there at the beginning, and that you can look around with excitement and see the legacy that they provided to us. And, when you encounter those that remain here today, perhaps you can ask them to “remember when ...”
LOOKING FORWARD In upcoming issues, we will continue to share more stories about how these early beginnings became the Rosemary Beach we all know and love today. From individual ideas and the drawing boards of planners and architects to the multi-faceted and still-evolving community that so many people have contributed to in so many wonderful ways, we have a lot to celebrate.
As a part of this effort, over the next few months we are gathering stories and images from the past 25 years – please consider sending us a note with any memories you would like to share with the community, to , or feel free to drop something by the POA office in person the next time you are in town.
COMMUNICATION The Rosemary Beach Property Owners Association (POA) strives not only to operate and maintain the community’s common areas in world-class condition, but also to keep our owners and their guests and tenants informed of events, programs and projects that impact the town. As a quarterly publication, we try to focus the Rosemary Thymes’ content on topics of longer-term interest to our owners, merchants, and visitors. As a compliment to that perspective, we also send monthly newsletters to the property owners that include updates on shorter-term issues and topics.
The community’s websites rosemarybeachfl.org, which is maintained by the Rosemary Beach Property Owners Association (POA), and rosemarybeach. com, which is maintained by the Cottage Rental Company (CRC), are updated regularly with notices of interest to owners and visitors. The calendars on both websites are updated continuously and are available to all users. Take a moment to check out these online resources when you have a chance.
TURTLE TIME! Check out the article in this issue about sea turtles and their nesting season, which extends from May 1 to October 31 each year. If you only remember one thing while you are on the beach, it’s to leave things CLEAN, DARK, and FLAT: This should go without saying, but - never
leave trash on our beaches; at night, when mother turtles are most likely to come ashore and hatchlings may be trying to find their way into the gulf, avoid flashlights or unshielded lights from gulf-front homes (other than turtle-safe lighting); and, last but not least, have fun but remember to fill in those holes in the sand when you are done. Not only does CLEAN, DARK, and FLAT make it better for the turtles – it makes it better for all of us, and we thank you for that.
