The SS Tarpon was more than a steamship—it was a lifeline for St. Andrews and Gulf Coast towns. This story explores the Tarpon’s role in commerce, community life, and connection along St. Andrew Bay, from its dependable weekly runs to its tragic loss in 1937 and the lasting impact it left on the people and waterfront it served.

The Cincinnati Land Boom was a 19th-century mail-order scheme that marketed St. Andrews Bay as a health paradise and industrial hub to the frozen Midwest. Though the promised railroad never arrived and the "city" turned out to be a wilderness of micro-lots, the promotion permanently placed St. Andrews on the map. Learn how a failed speculation became the accidental foundation of a thriving independent town.

A nostalgic look back at childhood swim lessons at St. Andrews State Park in Panama City, Florida. This personal story recounts earning a Red Cross Beginner in Swimming certificate, overcoming early fears, and discovering lifelong confidence in the waters of the park’s historic kiddie pool. A heartfelt reflection on growing up at St. Andrews State Park and the memories that shaped a lifetime.

Celebrate 75 years of St. Andrews State Park, the historic coastal treasure at the heart of St. Andrews and Panama City, Florida. This story explores the park’s evolution from Spanish exploration and the turpentine era to WWII coastal defenses, the creation of Shell Island, the founding of Tyndall Air Force Base, and the Navy’s presence on St. Andrews Bay. Discover its five natural ecosystems, recent infrastructure improvements, and enduring role as both a community anchor and Gulf Coast sanctuary.

Explore my latest week at St. Andrews State Park, a place I’ve returned to for nearly 60 years. From sunrise walks and wildlife encounters to scuba divers at the jetties and the Navy’s newest combat ship departing through the pass, this blog captures the beauty, history, and personal meaning of one of Florida’s most iconic parks. Photos include birds, deer, gators, sunsets, shorelines, and everyday moments that make St. Andrews feel like home.

The daughter of a fisherman from White City, Kristi Kirkland followed the pull of her own free spirit to create Gypsy Willow—not just a boutique, but a sanctuary for the "wild cards." Presided over by the spirits of Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Nicks and the scent of burning sage, Kristi has curated a space where "life is art" and where the independent, salty soul of St. Andrews finds its perfect match. Discover how this self-described Aquarius turned a dream into a "treasure trove" for anyone looking to stand out rather than blend in.

Mardi Gras 2026 set a new high-water mark for Historic St. Andrews. From Floriopolis artists painting Mardi Gras artwork across village storefronts to record crowds, live music, generous parades, and a stunning new drone show over St. Andrews Bay, the weekend captured the district at its absolute best. With perfect weather, strong city support, and the community fully showing up—including Ginger, the beloved Salty Dog Mayor leading the Pet Parade—the festival proved that when tradition, creativity, and community align, the salt in St. Andrews really is different.

After the Civil War left St. Andrews in silence and decline, Ware’s Wharf and Mercantile became the catalyst that rebuilt the town’s waterfront and economy. This story explores how the Ware brothers transformed a forgotten bay into a working port, restoring trade, confidence, and permanent settlement. From post-war ruin to steamship-era prosperity, Ware’s Wharf shaped the future of St. Andrews—and its legacy still defines the waterfront today.

The schooner Governor Stone is one of the oldest surviving wooden vessels on the Gulf Coast. Built in 1877, her story spans oyster boats, Prohibition-era rum running, World War II service, hurricanes, and restoration. Now awaiting repair in Historic St. Andrews, Panama City, Florida, the Governor Stone remains a powerful symbol of maritime heritage, resilience, and the enduring spirit of the Gulf Coast.

Discover the original meaning of “salty” in St. Andrews, Florida, through the forgotten history of salt making on St. Andrews Bay. This Story of St. Andrews explores how salt was produced in the 1800s, why it was vital for survival and war, how thousands of workers and massive kettles turned seawater into economic lifeblood, and how the Civil War and Union raids reshaped the town’s future. An engaging, historically grounded look at how salt, smoke, and resilience helped define the character of St. Andrews.

From a former drug store and post office on Beck Avenue to a trusted outdoor shop, SunJammers reflects the character of Historic St. Andrews. This story follows owner Brad Stephens, his local roots, and the steady role SunJammers plays in community life in St. Andrews, Florida.

John Clark’s arrival on St. Andrews Bay in 1827 marked a turning point, as a seasonal coastal camp became a permanent settlement and the roots of today’s historic St. Andrews, Florida took hold.

From Serve-You-Well to The Grocery Kitchen & Taproom traces the history of a 1928 St. Andrews grocery, the Asbell Building on Beck Avenue, and Kay Brackett’s journey back to her hometown to open a gathering place rooted in service, memory, and community.

Under Changing Flags tells the story of how empires, borders, and American expansion shaped the path of St. Andrews, Florida. From Spanish maps and British rule to U.S. treaties and statehood, this story explains how shifting power along the Gulf Coast quietly influenced when St. Andrews took root—and why its bay-driven identity endured.

A reflective Stories of St. Andrews essay connecting modern waterfront life in Historic St. Andrews, Florida with childhood memories from the 1970s. The story explores how everyday moments, family traditions, and local places become history—and why preserving these stories matters for future generations.

Explore the full, continuous history of St. Andrews, Florida — from its early naming by Spanish explorers and the vanished settlements of the 1700s, to John Clark’s 19th-century ambitions, the Ware brothers’ thriving waterfront, Civil War destruction, the Cincinnati Boom, and the transformative dredging of the pass and construction of the jetties. This complete narrative reveals how storms, people, and unshakable local pride shaped the resilient, proudly “Salty” waterfront village known as St. Andrews today.

Learn why the Stories of St. Andrews matter—how centuries of decisions, events, and adaptations shaped a walkable waterfront community where the bay, local businesses, and independence still define daily life, and why understanding that history helps guide the choices that protect what people come here for and choose to stay.

This in-depth historical research traces the full life of the schooner Governor Stone from her construction in 1877 through nearly 150 years of service along the Gulf Coast. Covering her roles as a cargo schooner, oyster buy-boat, Prohibition-era rum runner, World War II training vessel, historic landmark, and community icon, the research documents her deep ties to St. Andrews, Panama City, and Florida maritime history, including repeated sinkings, restorations, and her ongoing recovery after Hurricane Michael.

St. Andrews has a soul all its own—earned, not polished. Grit and beauty live side by side here, along with a quiet honesty you don’t fake. Through my camera, I try to catch the moments that make this place what it is: a tugboat working the bay, a pelican folding into the water, a fisherman throwing a net at dusk. As the sun drops and the bay turns gold, music spills into the street, crowds gather outside local restaurants, and St. Andrews does what it’s always done—shows up, just as it is.