Alys Beach is an unincorporated planned community in Walton County, Florida, United States directly off of CR 30A, on the Gulf Coast.[2] Alys Beach plan was designed by Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company. The village is approximately 158 acres (0.64 km2).[3][4]
Alys Beach, Florida | |
|---|---|
 Fonville Press at Alys Beach | |
  Alys Beach, Florida | |
| Coordinates: 30°16′59″N 86°01′28″W / 30.2831°N 86.0244°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Walton |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 32461 |
| Area code | 850 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2054880[1] |
| Website | alysbeach |
It was named after Alys Stephens (died 2004), the wife of Elton B. Stephens, who purchased the land in the 1970s and began developing the land in 2004.[4]
All of the houses are required to have a white color.[4]
Location
editAlys Beach is located on the Gulf of Mexico in southeastern Walton County.[5] U.S. Route 98 and County Road 30A are the main roads that run through the community. Via County Road 30A,[6] Rosemary Beach is less than 2 miles (3.2 km) southeast, and Seaside is 7 miles (11 km) west.
Design
editAlys Beach is one of three planned communities on Florida's Gulf coast designed by Andrés Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk. The other two are Seaside and Rosemary Beach. The three are examples of a style of urban planning known as New Urbanism. The design vision of Alys Beach was based on Moorish and Mediterranean villages and architectural styles of Bermuda. The courtyard's design was inspired by homes in Antigua and Guatemala. The Alys Beach community is constructed following the Fortified for Safer Living standards by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety.[7] Alys Beach has been compared to a Greek Island.[6]
History
editAlys Beach modern history began in 1970s, when the Stephens family purchased the 158-acre (64 ha) property at auction. The family had been vacationing in the area for many years, and wanted to provide a permanent retreat for an extended family and their employees.[3] Family patriarch Elton Stephens named estate after his beloved, Alys Robinson Stephens (1910–1996).[1]
Education
editWalton County School District is the local school district.[8] It is zoned to Dune Lakes Elementary School.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Alys Beach". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ Alys Beach, Florida
- ^ a b "About – Alys Beach". alysbeach.com. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ a b c Brandt, Libertina (May 4, 2023). "The Houses Must be White, and the Designs Preapproved. Everybody Wants In". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ Alys Beach World Beach Guide
- ^ a b Jones, Claire (July 9, 2024). "Alys Beach recognized, compared to towns on Greek island". WJHG.com. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ "Architecture – Alys Beach". Retrieved January 23, 2021.
- ^ "Masterplan Town Map" (PDF). Alys Beach. Retrieved May 7, 2023. - Compare to school attendance boundary maps.
- ^ "Controlled Open Enrollment/Dune Lakes Elementary Zone". Walton County School District. Retrieved May 7, 2023.