A Place to Visit: Quaint Historic Homes Beautiful Round Lake DeFuniak Historic Chautauqua Building Over 150 Buildings on National Register Unique Shops and Restaurants

Place to Live: Small Town with a Sense of "Community" Excellent Education System Low Crime Rate Progressive City Government

A Place to Invest: Friendly Business Environment Skilled Labor Supply Transportation Access and Full Utilities Industrial Park Sites

DeFuniak Springs is a beautiful city, located in the Northwest Panhandle of Florida with rolling pasture lands, deep pine forests, serene wetlands and sugar-white sand beaches, that have been ranked number one in the continental United States, all just minutes away.

In the heart of our hometown is the perfectly round Lake DeFuniak, said to be one of only two such lakes in the world.

As were many towns in this area, DeFuniak Springs was built in the late 1800s primarily because of the railroad, land development and timber interests of that time.

In 1881, a surveying party comprised of Colonel W.D. Chipley, Major W.J. VanKirk, and W.T. Wright came to the area seeking a route for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. They planned a town and named it for Frederick DeFuniak, a prominent official of the L & N Railroad.

Among the first of these visitors was Dr. A.H. Gillet of the New York Chautauqua. Dr. Gillet
was seeking a suitable location for the Chautauqua Winter Assembly and felt that DeFuniak Springs would do nicely. The Florida Chautauqua Association was organized in August, 1884, and the first assembly was held from February 10 to March 7, 1885.

From the late 1880s until the early 1920s, DeFuniak Springs was the cultural center of the South-east.

Today, reminders of that golden era are still seen in the Victorian-era architecture around Lake DeFuniak and in the stately Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood.

Throughout Walton County's history, farming has been the chief occupation of the majority of Walton County residents. The area's most important staple crops are corn, soybeans, peanuts, wheat, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, and forage crops.

The principal industrial development of the county is poultry raising and processing. The dairy and beef cattle business is also an established industry. Timber and related products, especially pine, are primary resources. Tourism is an important industry as well.

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Special Events

Chautauqua Assembly
Held at DeFuniak Springs in February of each year, the Chautauqua Assembly recreates the traditions and thrills of the Florida Chautauqua, which ran from 1885 to 1920. Founded as a companion "winter assembly" of the New York Chautauqua, the Florida Chautauqua provides an opportunity for education through classes and workshops, craft activities, lectures by prominent speakers of the day, and a chance for solitude amidst life's busy days. Chautauqua Assembly is a return to these traditions and the soul of the original Florida Chautauqua. For more information, call 892-4300.

Chautauqua Festival
Held every spring in DeFuniak Springs, the Chautauqua Festival includes concerts, children's and adult theater, school programs and Festival Day. A parade, day-long entertainment, arts and crafts, kid's activities and a thrilling fireworks display over Lake DeFuniak are featured on Festival Day. For more information, call 892-9494.

Walton County History Fair

Fourth of July Celebration

Halloween Happenings

Hometown Christmas

Victorian Ball

Tour of Homes

Sights to See in DeFuniak Springs

Circle Drive
Circle Drive, encompassing beautiful Lake DeFuniak, provides a panoramic view of historic homes, from quaint "Dream Cottage" to magnificent "Idlewild." These homes are privately owned, and may be enjoyed only from the street with the help of the Walton County Heritage Association's walking tour brochure, available at the Chamber of Commerce.

The Chautauqua Auditorium
Built in 1909, the original building hosted the Florida Chautauqua programs until the Great Depression when the City of DeFuniak bought the hall and grounds. Today, the city uses the beautiful, old building for many social and community functions. The handsome structure also houses the Walton County Chamber of Commerce.

Walton DeFuniak Public Library
Located at 3 Circle Drive, this charming library is believed to be the oldest public library in Florida still in its original building. An historic and architectural gem, the library contains many rare books which date to the library's beginning in 1887 and a medieval armor collection.

Sunbright
Once the home of Florida Governor Sidney J. Catts, who took office in 1917, this renovated home at the corner of Live OakAve. and Hwy. 331 is now a bed and breakfast.

Chautauqua Winery
Visitors are welcome to tour and see the winemaking process at the winery located at I-10 and Hwy. 331. At no cost, visitors can taste the local "vin," first bottled commercially in 1990.
The facility is equipped for the handicapped. For information, call 892-5887.

Golf and Tennis
The rolling hills of DeFuniak Springs Country Club golf course (892-3812) combine with open fairways, small greens, and sand traps for an interesting day on the links. The nine-hole course is a par 36 over 3,225 yards. An additional nine holes are expected to open in early 1997. The club's dining room satisfies hungry golfers, and other facilities include a pro shop, meeting rooms and a tennis court. Visitors' accommodations are located nearby.
There are four public tennis courts in DeFuniak Springs.

King Lake
King Lake covers approximately 580 acres and is well-stocked with black bass, shellcracker, crappie and bream. Lunker bass are a regular happening as well as hefty bream and shellcracker. The lake has yielded 17-1/4 pound bass in 1987, 16 pound bass in 1993 and 14 pound bass in 1995.

Bream weighing up to 2-1/4 pound and crappie up to 3 pounds have reportedly been caught
with limit of bream caught on many occasions.

If good fishing or just plain old congeniality is in your plan then come see us at Sunset King Lake Campground. We have quiet, large campsites where you can just relax, enjoy good
neighbors and companionship. Catch lunker largemouth black bass or a limit of excellent
bream or shellcracker. or relax in our clubhouse and look out over the lake and swimming pool.

If this is what you are look for. then Sunset King Lake Campground should be your destination. Sunset King Lake Campground is easy to reach via Hwy. 90, Interstate 10 or US 331 North.

Juniper Lake Fish Management Area

Juniper Lake is a 665-acre artificial impoundment created by an earthen dam across Juniper Bay Creek. It was constructed by the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission in 1962 and opened to fishing in 1964. The lake has an average depth of 6 feet with a maximum depth of 16 feet. Approximately 90 percent of the lake is flooded timber; the remainder was cleared during construction. Sportfish present include largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish (shellcracker), warmouth and channel catfish.

Juniper Lake is one of the area's finest fishing lakes and historically has provided excellent catches of panfish and largemouth bass. Past management activities on the lake are supportive of its quality sport fishery and include such programs as follows:

Dewatering (Drawdown) -- In 1984 the water level was lowered 9 feet to rejuvenate the sport fishery, improve habitat and provide aquatic vegetation control. Major dam and water-control structure repairs were also completed during this drawdown.

Triploid Grass Carp -- Stocked to help control undesirable submersed aquatic plants.

Boat Trails -- Additional trails have been cut through standing timber to allow fishermen
access to secluded areas.

Channel Catfish -- Stocked to provide additional fishing opportunities.

Location
Juniper Lake is located in Walton County approximately three miles north of DeFuniak
Springs. The lake is situated east of U.S. 331 and west of S.R. 83.

Facilities
There are two Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission concrete boat ramps on the lake.
One is located near the dam on the east side of the lake. The other ramp is located on Catt
Island on the northeastern shore. Upland recreational facilities provided by Walton County include rest rooms and picnic areas. There are two fish camps on the lake that provides camping hookups, boat and motor rentals, bait and tackle. Other supplies and conveniences are available in nearby DeFuniak Springs.

Fishing success

Largemouth Bass -- Shiners and crawfish are the best natural baits. Plastic worms (purple or other dark colors) and black lizards are the best artificial baits. Yellow sallies and flutter baits are good alternates.

Bluegill and Redear Sunfish -- Crickets and worms are the best natural baits; beetle-spins are the best artificial bait.

Black Crappie -- Live minnows are the best natural bait; silver and feather jigs are very
good artificial baits.

Catfish -- Chicken livers appear to be the best all-around bait.