Serving as the seat of Walton County, DeFuniak Springs lies in the heart of Florida’s Panhandle, partway between Tallahassee and Pensacola. It was founded as a resort in the late 19th century by officers of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad and takes its name from the company’s vice president, Frederick De Funiak.
Things to do in DeFuniak Springs
For a dose of local history, head to the Walton County Heritage Museum, which occupies a former Louisville and Nashville Railroad depot that has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It exhibits artefacts and memorabilia that tell the story of the area, including a 1950s delivery bicycle from a local grocery store and cooking utensils from the popular lunch spot, H&M Hotdog.
On the southern edge of the town centre is Lake DeFuniak, one of the only spring-fed lakes in the world that is almost perfectly round. It’s a popular setting for kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding, while it’s also ringed by a walking trail. Surrounding the lake is Chipley Park with its children’s playground and disc golf course and on the northern edge is the whitewashed First Presbyterian Church.
Golfers can enjoy a round on the 18-hole course of Eagle Springs, which was designed by a husband and wife team in the 1930s. It’s renowned for its wide fairways and superb views across the surrounding lakes. In addition to the golf course, there is a swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts for non-golfing family members to enjoy.
Getting around DeFuniak Springs
DeFuniak Springs is just under an hour’s drive from Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, which has flights to destinations across the United States. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting to DeFuniak Springs and exploring the surrounding area.