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There's A Lot Going On... Carrabelle

Published by Waterfront Living Magazine
Written by Blair Shiver

Just a stone's throw south of Florida's state capital, nestled in the heart of the Forgotten Coast, is a bustling boaters' paradise teeming with a colorful coastal charm - Carrabelle, Florida. Driving along scenic route Highway 98 in Northwest Florida, it is impossible to miss this unmistakable riverfront community where a fading historic working waterfront is merging with a growing tourist economy and modern residential development. Flanked by the area's signature sugar-sand beaches and rustic barrier islands, Carrabelle offers all the natural amenities and opportunities for recreation of any other vacation destination in northwest Florida. However, it is arguably the recreational fishing capital of the Forgotten Coast. White rubber fishing boots are as acceptable attire as are leather deck shoes. Small simple bait shops intermingle between riverfront condominiums. This is a town in the middle of a slow but steady transformation, and there has never been a better time to come visit. Did we mention the fabulous fishing? This little coastal river town offers some of the finest fishing - both fresh and saltwater - in Florida. Spring and early summer in Carrabelle offer fly fisherman an endless number of opportunities to catch bass, catfish and a variety of pan fish including shellcrackers, bluegills and stumpknockers. An endless list of saltwater fishing opportunities, whether in the surf, in the bay or offshore, also start right in Carrabelle. Oyster bars, creek mouths and coves yield speckled trout, redfish and sharks in the late fall and early winter. Both natural and manmade reefs offshore are home to gag grouper, red grouper, amberjack, cobia, wahoo, dolphin, red snapper, king and Spanish mackerel and pompano. The most traffic with which to contend in this river town is actually on the Carrabelle River. Many sea-faring travelers have found a pleasant break from the water in the town's largest marina, the Moorings at Carrabelle. Voted one of Waterway Guide's Top 10 Marinas in 1999, this full service facility provides for the needs of boaters and their boats. C-Quarters Marina, host of the annual Kingfish Shoot Out, is one of the newest marinas to grace the banks of the Carrabelle River. Nearly a dozen annual weekend-long fishing tournaments, including the Shriners Fishing Tournament in May, the Tallahassee Builders Tournament and the Saltwater Father's Day Classic in June, the Timber Island Yacht Club Youth Fishing Classes and Tournament in July and the Grady White Fishing Tournament in September to name a few, stir this town's residents and visitors to ply the waters for the prize winning fish during the day and, afterwards, party the night away. Meander through the memoirs of this "Mayberry" town… If after a day of fishing, you would like to take in a bit of Carrabelle's past, this little coastal village is steeped in historical relevance. Carrabelle and its barrier island, Dog Island, served as the home of the U.S. Army's WWII Camp Gordon Johnston. Opened in 1942, the sole purpose of this camp was to train soldiers and their support units for amphibious assaults. Over a quarter of a million men graced the banks of the Carrabelle River and Franklin County in the early 1940s, and the Camp Gordon Johnston Museum works to commemorate these men and their service to the country. Located in downtown Carrabelle, the museum has labored to compile an extensive history of the units that trained here. There are also photographic displays of the area and life as it was during the camp's existence. A must see for anyone visiting the area, the museum also houses a collection of artifacts, contributed by veterans, that includes artifacts from overseas battles, uniforms and mess kits from the WWII era. The Camp Gordon Johnston Association hosts an annual reunion that brings these historic war heroes back to their former training ground. The Crooked River Lighthouse is another historic landmark in Carrabelle. For 100 years, the lighthouse was in operation, and it steered many mariners out of harm's way and safely home. Built in 1895 to replace the Dog Island light destroyed during a hurricane in 1873, authorities decided it would be safer to locate the lighthouse on the protected mainland of Carrabelle rather than a barrier island. After four years of standing neglected and in disrepair, a handful of residents formed the Carrabelle Lighthouse Association in 1999 in hopes of preserving, restoring and opening the lighthouse to the public. One more must see on the list of interesting stops through the charming town of Carrabelle is the World's Smallest Police Station. Located on Hwy. 98 smack in the center of town, this local landmark has been featured on the television shows, "Real People," "Ripley's Believe It or Not," and the "Today Show." In its early life in the 1960s, this police phone was located in a call box and bolted to a building on the corner of Tallahassee Street. However, tourists often mistook the phone for public use and made unauthorized long distance phone calls. After several moves to remedy the problem, the illegal calls continued to be a problem, so the dial was actually removed from the phone in the mid 60s. After sustaining several acts of vandalism and even a hurricane, local legend that the phone booth was almost relocated to Tennessee - a tourist once solicited help from a gas station attendant to take the phone booth as a souvenir of his coastal trip. So what is actually going on in Carrabelle? If fishing and historical tours are simply not your bag, there are still plenty of things to see and do in Carrabelle. Lorraine Dowden, executive director at the Carrabelle Area Chamber of Commerce, said the community is working to offer more than just fishing. "When families come here on vacation, the men go out fishing and playing golf. We want to make sure there's something for everyone." Before browsing through the handful of local gift and antique shops offering collectibles, local art and unique gifts, stop in and have a cup of coffee at the Carrabelle Junction on Tallahassee Street. Ron Gemple has been "giving people a taste of what was" in his 50s-style coffee and sandwich shop now for three years. This West Palm Beach native says he moved back to the East Coast from California because Carrabelle now resembles the Florida of his childhood. Did we mention that there is golfing here, too? St. James Bay, located just 6 miles east of Carrabelle, is in keeping of traditional efforts to blend with the natural setting of the area. Robert Walker worked closely with Audubon International to create this perfectly manicured 18-hole championship course. Wetlands and water hazards are present on every hole with bunkering perfectly fashioned to define the layout. St. James Bay creates a challenge for even the most skillful golfer, yet is still a course golfers of all abilities will love. All the charm of this coastal community comes together for two days at the end of April. Carrabelle's Riverfront Festival celebrates the town's maritime heritage. Drawing visitors and vendors from all over the southeast, Dowden promises the 2005 festival will be better than ever before. The "American Caribbean" calypso tunes of musician Sunny Jim will accompany the weekend chock full of fine arts and crafts exhibits, food, fun and festivities. From fantastic fishing and pleasure boating to historic treasures and everything in between, this coastal destination offers a unique charm found only on the Forgotten Coast.

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