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  • The ‘Redneck Riviera’ Is No More, South Walton Now Draws More Celebrities

    The Redneck Riviera is no more and has been destroyed to fit the greedy style of the rich and famous. Instead of driving up to the historic panhandle the once quiet, isolated 26-mile stretch between Destin and Panama City you are going to see a bunch of designer shops and tourists lounging at the beach.

    What A Shame!

    Lots of big name Country Stars such as Dolly, Reba and Luke Bryan used to visit the Panhandle because it screamed Country but now it's all about designer duds, high priced shops and expensive cars. The only thing that is still remotely Country about this place is the pick-up trucks but… those will never go out of style.

    Unfortunately you are not going to hear the beautiful melody of the guitar or be able to look out and enjoy the sun set…

    To Find Out Why It's Been Reconstructed To Fit The Life Style Of The Rich & Famous Please Go To Page (2)…

    This makes me sick… people do not know how to appreciate the beautiful side of Country or how to celebrate it.

    Here Is What Happened:

    Welcome to “Nashville South,” a once quiet, isolated 26-mile stretch of the Panhandle between Destin and Panama City that has transformed into a vacation capital for the South's rich and famous.

    “The celebrities who come here are very off the radar when they are here. They come with their kids, they wear flip-flops, and they relax at the beach,” said Jessica Standley, president of Rosemary Beach Cottage Rental Co. Cottages — if you can call a 4,400 square foot home with six bathrooms that — in the resort community rent for up to $28,000 a week.

    It wasn't always like this. When Dave Rauschkolb opened Bud & Alleys bar and restaurant in 1986, the area was largely undeveloped. Other Floridians in more upscale areas like Miami and Palm Beach derisively called the Panhandle the Redneck Riviera, a banner many in the area wore with pride.

    “We had the advantage of being among the last stretches of Florida beach to be developed, and we learned lessons from Destin, Panama City and other places,” he said.

    The high-end residential development began in the mid-1980s with construction of the quaint beachside village of Seaside, home to Raushkolb's bar. The designed community features multistory pastel beach cottages, bike paths, parks and open-air boutiques. Its serene setting made it the perfect locale for the 1998 Jim Carrey movie “The Truman Show.”

    Other planned resort communities followed, each featuring a unique design style with multimillion-dollar homes and breathtaking ocean views catering to wealthy Southerners.

    While some are calling it paradise others are calling it a way to keep out other people who want to visit because of the high price.

    What Do You Think?

    Tell Us About It!

    This Article Was Adapted From:ABC News



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