Sea Haunts

Sea Haunts is a gated townhome community tucked just south of Scenic 30A in Santa Rosa Beach, a short walk west of Gulf Place Town Center. Its playful name matches its street, Spooky Lane, but the setting is serious beachfront: the front row of townhomes sits on top of the dunes with decks looking straight out over the Gulf of Mexico.

The community was built in the early 1980s and has eight buildings of four townhomes each, around 32 homes in total. Buildings one through four are on the beachfront row, and buildings five through eight sit behind them with beach views. Each building’s units are lettered A through D from east to west. Townhomes are multi-level, typically three bedrooms with additional baths, and several rental listings describe a bonus room and sleeping space for up to ten, which makes them roomier than a typical flat condo. Because each home has several levels, bedrooms are usually separated from the main living area, which gives adults and children more privacy.

Sea Haunts shares its amenities with the neighboring San Remo condominium. Guests can use a heated community pool and hot tub, and a private beach access leads to the sand. The development is gated and non-smoking except in outdoor common areas, and some rental companies set a minimum renter age. All townhomes are individually owned and rented through owners and several local rental companies, so layouts, décor, parking and extras such as beach chair service vary by unit. As on all Walton County beaches, chairs, tents and other gear must be removed from the sand each evening under the county’s Leave Only Footprints rules.

The location puts restaurants and shops within walking distance. Gulf Place Town Center has dining, galleries, boutiques and a public beach access, and Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Club is close by. The Timpoochee Trail runs along 30A for biking, Topsail Hill Preserve State Park lies to the west, and Blue Mountain Beach, Grayton Beach and Seaside are a short drive east. Destin and Miramar Beach, with larger shopping centers and entertainment, are about twenty minutes away.

Sea Haunts suits families and groups who want the space and privacy of a townhome, with multiple floors and several bathrooms, while still staying directly on the beach. Travelers who value a front-row view should look for units in the beachfront buildings, while the rear buildings offer the same amenities with beach views. Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport and Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport are both within about an hour’s drive.