A Dream Defined

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A R E F L E C T I O N O N T H E F I R S T T E N Y E A R S

In the late 1970s, Jim Stephens along with his wife, Julie, and his father, Elton B. Stephens, came to an auction for 158 acres on the then very secluded Highway 30A on Florida’s Gulf Coast. This was a very special place, and they knew they wanted the property. Since 1949, their family had owned several small cottages at a small beachside crossroad called Seagrove, and a love for the quiet, pristine beaches

and natural beauty had become a very significant part of the family’s life. The idea of investing in a large tract of this magical, untouched place was very exciting. There was no Seaside yet. There was no Rosemary Beach, no Watercolor. This was just pure scrub oak, sand, and crystal blue water. They were not yet sure what that something would be, but they knew that this was the opportunity to, one day, do

something significant in this place. The day was hot. It was September 9th. The auction had begun promptly at 11 o’clock in the morning, and shortly after lunch the property was theirs. The seed of a dream had been planted. Elton B. Stephens was a strong businessman. He had started his company, EBSCO, from the ground up, and now it was going well on all fronts. On this

Sales brochure from auction in late 1970s when Alys Beach property was purchased.

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A Dream DefinedA Reflection on the First Ten Years

day he had invested in the future. But importantly, Elton B. Stephens was also a strong family man. He also invested in his family. Driving home that day, one could rest assured that an important thought was on his mind. “I hope my wife, Alys, likes it.”

In 2004 the dream finally came to life. Alys Beach was born. As we celebrate our 10th year, it is only fitting that we reflect on these past formative years. It is only fitting that we reflect on the dream we so fondly call Alys Beach. So many people have been a part of the dream, and over the coming year, we will be talking to some of those people who have been so closely connected to that dream. In this issue we ask Jim Stephens, Chairman of EBSCO and the developer of Alys Beach, Dixon Brooke, former CEO and current Board of Directors member of EBSCO, Jason Comer, Alys Beach town founder, and Andrés Duany and Galina Tachieva, both of DPZ, the town planners of Alys Beach, to reflect on the dream we have come to know as Alys Beach.

Alys Gazette: Some of you actually grew up coming to 30A long be-fore there was an Alys Beach, or a Seaside, or very much of anything else. What was that like?

Jim Stephens JS

“When I was very young, we used to go down to Laguna Beach for a quick summer vacation. A Mr. C.H. McGee was the rental agent at Laguna, and a few years later he had an opportunity to buy the land that became Seagrove Beach. He laid out Seagrove in what today is called a TND pattern where there was a little grocery store that was like a town center and then houses around it. He started selling lots, and in 1949 my fa-ther bought two beach front lots in Seagrove for $3500 each. I was 10 years old. My father built two concrete houses, and he let people in the company use one, and we used the other for summer vacations. The area was a bit wild at that time. I remember we used to have to keep the garbage in steel racks because there were a lot of wild pigs that would come out and get in the cans. People started to buy up these lots, and before long a small community was born. However, it was still just a handful of people. There was no traffic, and there were mostly dirt roads. We drove jeeps everywhere, even down on the beach. There was no road from Seagrove directly to Grayton Beach. You had to drive out to Highway 98 to get there. In fact, what is now 30A was really just a series of dirt roads and paths, but it was a delightful place to go.

Dixon Brooke DB

My experience was a little different. I grew up spending summers with my grandpar-ents along the bay in Panama City. When we wanted to go to the beach, my grandfa-ther took us to Panama City Beach. But when we really wanted to go into the wild, we would head west toward Phillips Inlet, right around where Camp Helen is now. He was a pompano fisherman so my brother and I would go with him to catch pompano there right off the beach because it was so remote. Rather than go to summer camp, we went to visit my grandparents in Florida. It was wonderful. I started going to Sea-grove in about 1968. Even then it was remote.

Jason Comer JC

I get emotional thinking about it. I was born and raised in Eufaula, Alabama. My Dad was very busy running Avondale Mills, but when we came down here—well, it

was our special time. Coming here growing up was great. It was totally underdevel-oped. There was a house maybe every one or two miles. The house my father built was right on the beach at Inlet Beach. I mean it was right on the beach. It was before there were restrictions. He built it right on the beach on stilts. We had no air condition-ing, no tv, no dishwasher, and it was amazing! There was maybe only one restaurant around so we cooked almost all our own meals. We were always together just swim-ming and playing and exploring. Our aunts and uncles and cousins and grand parents had their place in Seagrove so the trek over there from Inlet Beach was a journey unto itself. My dad would pull onto the side of the road and tell us stories of wild pigs just to spook us. It was a simple time, a magical time. I think those times were formative in my passion for Alys Beach. Creating Alys Beach was large. We were trying to create a place that was all about those highly formative and memorable events in our childhood. And when you approach something with that sort of love in your heart, you give it everything.

Andrés Duany AD

I can’t speak to growing up here, but I can speak to changes I have seen since the late 70s. It has been a kind of thirty-year epic in which a place that was a backwater now has one of the greatest collections of excellent architecture and urbanism in Florida, perhaps even the entire South. The remarkable thing is that it was a process in which everyone—the architects, the developers, the builders, and even the buyers—progres-sively improved their performance. It has been influential nationally—something that no one could have predicted. To simplify, it has been a great and gratifying surprise.

Jim Stephens Jason ComerDixon Brooke

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AG: What have been some of the defining moments at Alys Beach?

JS

I think one of the most defining moments would be that we immediately began to get a good flow of sales right at the start of the race. People almost immediately caught on to the vision. We built Fonville, and then we built the sales center-and built it almost as a house so everyone could get a real glimpse of the architecture. We built sidewalks, we put in roads, we established covenants, and we clearly defined the architectural language. There was no hesitation. The first year and a half before the recession, we really had great momentum. People were receptive, and that moment made us feel good. We knew we had to stick with what we wanted to do. We stayed the course. That was truly a defining moment. I think another moment was starting with the right team, beginning with Jason Comer. He was instrumental in setting the bar. We were going to make everything as good as it could be. Choosing DPZ, as the town planner, and our town architects, Erik and Marianne Vogt, and our first sales manager, Karen Terrell, all proved to be defining moments.

Galina Tachieva GT The first time I saw Seaside was in 1993. I was an intern at DPZ, and the office took its first organized visit to the Panhandle. We chartered a bus, drove all night, and arrived at dawn in time to witness a fairy-tale apparition in the most amazing early light. A collective sigh could be heard as we drove into this magical town enveloped in a pastel-colored mist. There and then I knew I’d correctly chosen my professional destiny. Two years later I participat-ed in the first Rosemary Beach charrette, and changes along 30A were even more noticeable. The Seaside influence was spreading along the coastline. A new standard for compact urban-ism and authentic traditional construction was being set. Today an even higher quality is expected from architects and planners. The multiple projects along the Gulf prove there is a more sophisticated way to view resorts and assess their value and desirability. Location along a great beach is but one of many qualities, and excellent buildings and superb public spaces mean almost as much, if not more. This is especially true about Alys Beach. The biggest change I can report from my many trips to the villages of 30A since 1993, often with potential clients, is that I now almost forget to mention there is a beach.

at life here is what defines us. There are many significant pieces of architecture here that have truly been defining moments in our journey: Caliza, the boulevard design on 30A, and probably the most important, the style of architecture we chose. Choosing the Bermuda/Antigua style of architecture was a defining moment. Andrés Duany had been wanting to do it for years. Once I went to Antigua, Guatemala, I knew I wanted to do it as well. I knew it would work. That decision was a defining moment, because I think a person has to look at Alys Beach to a certain extent and say, whoever devel-oped that knew what they were doing. They had courage to do something great. We had the determination to do something very different and to figure out how to make it work. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. It wasn’t. But making that decision pushed us from the ordinary into the extraordinary.

AD

A defining moment was the commitment to excellence of the developer and the family who had owned it, who not only expected but also was mentally prepared to build excellence. It became apparent there was a much higher performance required of us and of the builders than we expected. We never would have recommended anyone but an architect so talented. It was literally the best job in the world.

DB

Planning. I have seen that to be truly defining to what we have done here. And I agree with Jim, the people that we have connected with have defined our success in so many ways over the past 10 years.

JC

When you’re passionate about an undertaking you’re about to do, and in your mind it is one of the most important things that’s ever happened to you, you want everyone else involved to feel the same way. So you try and surround yourself with people who are just as passionate about the project as you are. I think we have done that. I think those moments of bringing on those people have helped define us. There is no one per-son who did it. It is a million percent collaboration. The man who puts the stucco on a house is as important as the man who drew the plan for the house. That way of looking

Andrés Duany Galina Tachieva

“... We were trying to create a place that was all about those highly formative and memorable events in our childhood. And when you approach something with that sort of love in your heart, you give it everything.”

- Jason Comer

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GT

Alys Beach is a legacy project in every sense. It was a legacy for the Stephens family, who were building on land owned for generations, a legacy for Jason Comer, who was a first time town founder, and a planning legacy for DPZ and the design team. It was a truly inspired project—a lucky combination of ideas about building type (the court-yard) and architectural syntax (Bermuda style with sculptural solid white volumes). Alys Beach was also fortunate to acquire an artistically gifted pair of Town Architects, who from the very beginning have carried the torch of excellence with energy, creativ-ity, and diplomacy in leading a score of talented designers. The Town Architects have set an example of exceptional quality for both the public and private realms, particu-larly with their superb civic infrastructure projects: the Gulf Green, the bridge over Lake Marilyn, the pedestrian paths, and the Caliza Pool, among others.

AG: What were some of your proudest moments with Alys Beach?

JS

I'm very proud of the fact that during those rough times of the recession that we did not sacrifice; we kept true to the dream and the spirit of Alys Beach; we didn’t drastically change to some other approach during those circumstances. Jason and I decided from the beginning that we would not work with square feet here at Alys Beach; we worked with square inches. We were going to make every little thing as good as it could pos-sibly be, and it has been very fulfilling.

DB

From the time the property was acquired, it has evolved during so many different steps along the way. The vision is coming to life. I’m glad that Alys Beach has remained true to quality and remained steady—always leading with new and better ways to do things.

JC

The fundamentals of Alys Beach have been strong the entire time. When we were going through the great recession, Jim had the choice to change the vision. No. We’re sticking with it. Defining moment. Sticking to our guns. We’re going to come out of this thing. Jim was just as confused as the people on Wall Street. We had no idea what was happen-ing, but he decided he was going to stick to it. So many people in this world do so many amazing things, and this is my own little amazing experience that I got to be vitally at the center of involvement with a team of amazing people to create a place like this. This place is fantastic; it's not like an old mill that will fade away. This place will be here years from now, and I hope that even my great-great-great-grandchildren might even come here at some point. And I think that is really special.

AD

Every day and every time one of us visits Alys Beach is a moment of swallowing pride. Personally, I feel like it's Christmas every three months or so when I come to see all the wonderful buildings.

GT

One of my most satisfying moments remains the first pedestrian street taking shape: a tight, linear space of irregular shape framing the trajectory to the beach. This street embodied how this very unusual project would come to life. We had previously never created a thoroughfare so thoroughly lined with contiguous building fronts, and it took every ounce of our collective talent to ensure we arrived at a coherent, well cal-ibrated, and infinitely interesting result. I am reminded of the pivotal moment at the

architectural charrette when we first assembled the different elevations from the many architects to see how the street would look. We realized we needed so much more coordination, more discipline, more restraint. That is when we pulled out the scissors and started trimming the extra height, extravagant elements, and other features that were not contributing to a harmonious whole.

AG: What do you want the legacy of Alys Beach to be?

JS

I have always wanted the legacy of Alys Beach to be a community where families have found a vacation resort home, which they take great pleasure in returning to as frequently as possible, and they don’t really look for any other spot. I want it to endure in such a way that the next generation continues that connection with Alys Beach, and there is great pleasure in perhaps raising their children in the same vacation spot they enjoyed as children. I want it to be an enduring community, which, with as many peo-ple as possible, is seen as a home location when they vacation. I want it to maintain its quality. I believe it will, because in my opinion, if you build well and maintain as we see in Europe, there’s no reason it can’t last 300, 500, 700 years. You don’t have to tear it down every 100 years. If the architecture and design are sound from the beginning, you don’t have to decide 15 years from now that it isn’t in style anymore. I want this to be a truly enduring community.

DB

I want it to pay tribute to the name. I think Alys Stephens would be proud of this place. I think she would think it truly beautiful. I want that feeling to endure. Of course, I want it to always be a tremendous success, but I want the name to always signify quality. I want the name to always stand for doing things the right way.

JC

This project is still a little baby. It really is. There are so many amazing things that are going to happen over the next 5, 10, 15, 20 years. And beyond. It really will take that long for it to get built out. I don’t think people realize how incredi-ble this place is going to become. I think the legacy will be that, right here on 30A, we will be leaving the world one of the most unique and beautiful, little villages you could find. I want that to be our legacy. I also want our legacy to be that we created a place where peo-ple felt free to play and have fun and to develop memories. I can tell you what I

really want the legacy to be. I want it to be like the good old days at Inlet Beach and Seagrove where everybody is free and happy, and nobody is fighting and bickering, and everyone is having watermelon on the Fourth of July and swimming and having fun and falling to sleep at night, exhausted because the day was so great. That is what I want the legacy to be.

AD

The legacy of Alys Beach is going to be technical. It will introduce an architecture that is resistant to hurricanes and an architecture that is both ecological and beauti-ful. It will introduce the pleasures of Latin America to your house. It will, of course, also have trained a great number of voters and perhaps a generation or two of your architects to do wildly wonderful work that they would not ever have had the chance to do previously. Since the buyers come from all over the world, I am certain that, like Seaside and Rosemary Beach previously, they will take the ideas home, and they will have an effect there, too.

GT

Alys Beach had the great advantage of being built on the experience of Seaside and Rosemary Beach. It is the most carefully controlled among the three projects, with the most refined urban and architectural code. The design controls attempt to strike a delicate balance between fortified, masonry dwellings and the natural, fragile beau-ty of the beach to the south and the wetlands to the north. Its ultimate legacy could be its economic success, one that ideally will become ever more vibrant because it acquires many year-round residents. My other hope is that it be remembered for its visual poetry. Arguably the best-looking project along 30A, Alys Beach is undeniably a fanciful sandcastle that has risen out of the white Panhandle dunes, a place where urbanism, architecture, landscape, art, and green infrastructure all converged in a rarified atmosphere of controlled exuberance. In this regard, it participates in Florida’s longest development tradition, that of luring visitors and residents to a fantasy setting based on exotic imagery from far, far away. y

“We knew we had to stick with what we wanted to do. We stayed the course.”- Jim Stephens

“I want it to pay tribute to the name. I think Alys Stephens would be proud of this place. I think she would think it truly beautiful.”

- Dixon Brooke

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L U C I A NT H E

ALYS BEACH'S FIRST TOWN CENTER BUILDING RISES FROM A DREAM

by ERIK VOGT

In 1925, the land that lined the crystal blue waters of the Gulf stood untouched but for the Gulf ’s expiratory breeze and the sun’s enlivening rays. Thickets of lush Gulf foliage grew wild as the boars and the cattle that roamed through—wild and unaware of the refinement to come about in the days ahead. This salty land, seemingly only owned by the flora and fauna that populated it, was given by the federal government, as part of the Homestead Act, to Lucian May, who would become the good steward of this coastal plain.

1940s May Family Photos

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las—the legacy he grew along the shores is one still honored today. Though the vista has changed time and time again, the dreams of family and rela-tionships he passed along to his children and to his children’s children have remained the same. The heart of community was born out of his dream, and Alys Beach was birthed out of the ground he civilized.

And so it seems fitting that Alys Beach's first Town Center building should bear the name of the man who first homesteaded the land upon which it sits. Located on the southwest corner of the Amphitheatre, the Lucian stands four stories tall, with an enclosed parking garage beneath. There are eight resi-dences, divided among one-, two-, and three bedroom suites, all with expan-

sive porches and views to the Amphitheatre and south to the Gulf beyond. The architecture, by Khoury & Vogt Architects, follows in the tradition of Alys Beach, with white stucco walls and piers divided by stained wood porches and balconies. A civic-scaled first floor, with an attached southern terrace, will accommodate retail/commercial activity and establish the stan-dard for Alys Beach's permanent Town Center as it builds out in the years to come.

Lucian May and his family breathed new life into this land we now feel blessed to call home—using and preserving its resources, preparing a home-land, and growing a dream of community and of family. We at Alys Beach strive to be good stewards of this gift that is our land, inspired by the vision and industry of the man who first called this special place home. One can only imagine what Lucian May might think if he were able to see this place, our community, today. But our hope would be that Lucian would smile, knowing that his vision still lived, that the spirit of the place remained unchanged. It is with great pride and anticipation that we present to you, our community, The Lucian.

The Lucian residences will be available for purchase early Spring 2015. y

There was beauty in the potential of the wilderness that Lucian May and his wife undertook. Dreams grew out of the brush: dreams of home, and family, and a community poised to thrive in an area that by nature inspires connectedness as the sun and the sand and the ocean blend their properties in perfect intimacy.

The May family took their commitment to heart, clearing the land, planting orchards, and raising livestock. The Mays were creators upon the land, using their own resources, their own bodies working under the ever-present Flori-da sun. Their luxury was to see unblemished beauty in all directions—only their very own footprints marking the sand—as they cooled their bodies in

the clear waters, dreaming of the future and resting in the things presently ex-quisite. Over the years, they also hosted visiting friends and family, inviting them to also enjoy the unspoiled beaches along the Gulf.

Alongside the Mays was the Stephens family, who visited over generations and made this stretch of Gulf their home away from home. They were some of those lucky few to explore the Lucian May tract in those early years. They sat on breezy porches telling stories of long Jeep rides down sandy, slim roads and run-ins with wild pigs. They lived for the summer days when their car rolled up to the beach house, and they swung open the doors, running barefoot and headlong toward the sand. Since the 1940s, they’ve found un-matchable rest by the water as they’ve connected with family and friends in their own sacred paradise.

When the May tract was put up for sale—intact from the day it was bestowed upon Lucian—in the late 1970s, Elton B. Stephens immediately saw its value and purchased it. The value he saw belonged both to the past—the memo-ries he and his family had over countless summers at the Gulf—and to the future—the possibility that it would bear fruit for his family in generations to come.

And though Lucian May’s land looks much different today than it did 90 years ago—the stretch now striated by rows of beach chairs and umbrel-

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We often talk about the Alys Beach community—our family and our friends, our neighbors, and our visitors. But we cannot forget to also talk about another im-portant part of the community—our dogs (though it doesn’t seem likely they would let us leave them out)! These members of our community, true family members, demand little more of their people than an approving rub on the belly or a playful toss of a ball (or two or three or twenty). These homeowners’ pups bring joy to life—a quirky, bouncy, playful, and devoted joy. And to share that joy with you, we present the first edition of our ongoing series, The Dogs of Alys Beach. y

Stella, Brown, and Bentley of Memphis, Tennessee. Owners Laurie and John Tucker.

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Lolli of Atlanta, Georgia. Owners Bill Musso and Bryan Cooke.

Bentley BrownStella

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Sitting high on the bluff overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, Kendall Horne is in her element. In the calm of a picture-perfect fall day where the Gulf glows a deep blue and Monarch butterflies flutter by on the wind, the Alys Beach landscape designer speaks easily about her place in the development of the town. “This is my passion,” she says. “I’m right where I want to be.” That place is as the only town landscape designer that Alys Beach has ever known, with Horne bringing her influence into every public space in the town, as well as many of the private courtyard gardens. From the Gulf Green to the pines of Cen-tral Park, she has shaped Alys Beach toward an aesthetic of beautiful, functional, and easy-to-maintain plantings that will thrive long into the town’s future.

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Horne is at ease in her blue jeans, flannel shirt, and canvas tennis shoes, with a soft smile that hints at her perennially calm voice. Known for a relaxed and easy way that helps to smooth the sometimes chaotic world of town-building, the gentle tone of her voice somewhat hides her deliberately thoughtful approach to the town’s landscapes. “I take it very seriously,” she says. “I want it to be the best.”

While today she brings such earnestness to her work as a design professional, her life was initially shaped by a more carefree upbringing in rural Mississippi. “I was outside my entire childhood,” she says, as Horne and her family shared many adventures together camping, fishing, and exploring woods and rivers.

During landscape architecture school at Mississippi State University, Horne spent summers working on landscaping crews in harsh, high-altitude desert environments in the mountains of Colorado. Following graduation, she wandered down to nearby Grayton Beach and began to learn the vagaries of the dynamic coastal environment along the Gulf. She quickly realized there was an emerging need for low-maintenance landscaping in a place where sun, wind, and salt air can stretch plants to their limits.

Horne went to work for Randy Harelson, a landscape designer who owned a popular nursery in the area and is a major proponent of the native plant aesthetic along Scenic Highway 30A. She attributes much of her growth as a professional to her time working with Harelson, whom she says always buoyed her confidence with his unwavering faith in her. With an expansive new knowledge of which landscape elements worked in the area and a heightened faith in her own abilities, when Alys Beach called, she was ready.

For Alys Beach, Horne creates her own original designs for many public spaces and courtyards, in addition to overseeing the installation of landscapes created by many other talented designers. In her own designs, she uses what she calls a “formalized native ap-proach,” placing indigenous plants in ordered patterns that fit the town environment. Her designs are backed by extensive research and a careful weighing of choices that lead to the best solution—one that strikes a balance between the sometimes competing demands of beauty and longevity.

An avid traveler, in recent years Horne has visited Egypt, Ireland, Thailand, and Antigua, Guatemala—the inspiration for the courtyards of Alys Beach. Last summer, her travels took her to a remote jungle retreat in Costa Rica for an intensive month-long class in permaculture, a design philosophy that works with and is modeled after natural ecosystems. The contrasting landscapes she’s explored across the planet and the way that many societies utilize the same plants for numerous functions enhance the knowledge she brings into her work.

“Traveling has opened my mind to think of ways to have multiple uses out of a plant de-sign, not just a plant design to look good,” she says. “At Alys I want to go beyond looking good and use edibles, plants that will feed the butterflies and attract other wildlife, but also may be a privacy hedge on top of that.”

A full decade since the birth of Alys Beach, streets are lined by native sand live oaks that will easily mature to shade, and the pedestrian paths are a series of sensory experi-ences that combine plants, water, and hardscapes. Horne has placed her guiding hand upon all of it. Her careful study of local ecology and thoughtful consideration of the best long-term outcomes have led to much praise for the town’s landscapes and public spaces, allowing Horne to reflect upon the results with a deserved pride.

“I want the Alys Beach landscape to be the toughest and best looking coastal town landscape around. And it is well on its way!” y

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At Home With The Bryants

Drs. Jim and Tara Bryant had ridden their bikes up and down Highway 30A in Florida many times, taking their time to get a feel for the unique character of each of the beautiful beach towns along the stretch of coastline. When they decided to build a home of their own by the sea, however, no one place felt exactly right until the day they went to Alys Beach for a ride around. It felt like home.

Then there was the matter of choosing the right homesite. The one they settled on? Number JJ11. To most people, a lot number wouldn’t hold any significance. But for the Bryants, it was too good to be true. Jim explains, “I asked Tara to marry me on December 11, 1999, and we were married March 11, 2000 at 11 a.m. So 11 is kind of an important number for us. We decided it was meant to be.”

They hired architect Gary Justiss, who has been designing homes for Alys Beach from

Photos: Jack Gardner Story: Rosalind Fournier

its earliest days, and got to work. When Gary sat down with them to brainstorm, he came to their home—a building in downtown Birmingham, Ala., they purchased and renovated as an urban living space—to get a feel for how they lived. Seeing their rooftop terrace with its view of the city, he knew for starters that light and vista would be among their priorities.

To maximize those features, the Alys Beach home features a glass-enclosed dining bay downstairs, a main-level living space surrounded by a picturesque courtyard, a patio off the master bedroom that overlooks the pedestrian pathways, and a rooftop terrace that opens up to view of the gulf and the stars at night.

But it’s the courtyard that truly defines the Bryants’ home. In fact, the house is one of the signature home concepts at Alys Beach, designed around taking advantage of an outdoor living space that is an extension of the home, where homeowners can leave the windows open to the light and breeze without sacrificing privacy.

“Our window and door from the main living area out into the courtyard actually accordion out so that it becomes one big space,” Jim explains. “When the weather’s great and you have those doors open with the breeze f lowing through the house, it is awesome.”

A spacious loggia adds another element of interest while providing much-needed shade at times when the sun hits directly above. Tara admits at first, its size gave her pause. “I remember saying, ‘The loggia is so big; why didn’t we make the great room bigger instead?’

But when you open the doors, the loggia becomes an extension of the great room, and it’s just beautiful.”

Meanwhile, the walls surrounding the courtyard serve to enhance the light coming into the Bryants’ home in a way that becomes a design element in its own right. Justiss calls it the kind of light photographers dream of. “With the white courtyard walls, you have a lot of natural light bouncing around to create a very pleasing effect that spills over into the rooms.”

Though construction is complete, many design details are still a work in progress. From the start, they wanted the home to be theirs, not a staged, professionally—designed pro-duction. Tara has a name for it—“the reveal”—when absent homeowners give a designer free reign and essentially walk into their new home to see the results.

“I didn’t want a reveal,” she says. “We want to take our time so that the things we have in our home ref lect memories.” The fountain tucked under the outside stairs that lead to the second f loor, for example—actually three fountains, artfully grouped—grew out of a combination of coincidence and inspiration.

“We had bought them two years earlier, planning to use them in our Birmingham home, and then on a run to the beach one weekend we kind of had an ‘aha’ moment,” she re-members. “We realized these pots should be our fountains.” Jim adds that sitting in the courtyard in the evenings, when the fountains are lit, he enjoys hearing the sound of the gurgling water below.

Inside, the couple enjoys negative space, another reason to take it slowly. Not wanting to add anything that simply takes up space, they’ve taken their time to make sure what’s in the home truly enhances a room. In the courtyard, Jim notes, they plan on finding the perfect chaises as well as an outdoor dining table and chairs to put under the covered loggia.

“But we chose not to have everything at once,” he explains. “We enjoy the search, and it gives a little history for each piece.”

“It’s sort of a story,” Tara agrees. “Part of the journey is to find things for yourself.” y

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A father-daughter relationship is like no other. A dad watching his little girl grow and take chances, guiding her along her journey, is a grand, sometimes scary, but indeed rewarding—adventure. And for Alys Beach home-owner Scott Skrien, adventure came in a new form as his daugh-ter, Wendy, invited him on a trip of a lifetime—an excursion that challenged them and strengthened their relationship in entirely new ways.

Wendy lives in Recife, Brazil, working her first posting as an employee of the U.S. State Department. “Growing up, Wendy was never an outdoor-adventure-type,” says Scott. “She has always been eager to read books and stories of the adventures of others, and though she has traveled quite extensively, she tends to prefer a bed to a sleeping bag.”

But after an incredible trip to the Amazon, Wen-dy began to plan another trip. As she daydreamed and raved about her upcoming trip, dreaming of her next expedition, she took note of her father’s excite-ment and envy. With little convincing on Wendy’s part, it was settled—the two would embark together to trek the challenging Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Trusting his daughter to plan the entire trip, Scott enjoyed seeing Wendy glow with excitement as she prepared to lead them through beautiful Peru.

After a plane ride filled with anticipation, Scott and Wendy touched down in Lima, ready to explore the metropolis of nine million before heading to the trail.

They wandered through colorful Mira Flores, dined on exotic and exquisite Peruvian fare, and ditched tour busses to follow their noses through the bougainvillea-draped streets of the modern city just hours from the contrasting Andes Mountain.

One more plane ride took them from sea-level-Lima to 11,200-foot-Cusco, where they saw the first glimpses of the rich culture—the historic blend between

Spanish and Incan—that they would explore and experience over the next few days. In a few short hours they would find themselves walking the path walked by thousands for hundreds of years before—a path to

the “Old Mountain,” Machu Picchu. The comfort of the city was quickly replaced with the raw beauty and reality of life on the trail. Along

with their guide group, Wendy and Scott trekked stunning and exhausting terrain.

“The first day of hiking, we realized that the brochures didn’t tell the whole story,” says Scott. “Gentle trails and smiling trekkers? Not so much!”But being in the company of each other and being sur-

rounded by beauty—green foliage and vibrant florals, jagged snow-capped mountains bursting out of green beds, a soft blanket of mist carefully laid upon the landscape—the bouts

of near-vertical terrain were just a part of the journey. For four days, the group of comrades traversed the land,

up and down and up again, reaching literally breath-taking heights of almost 14,000 feet above sea level in the process. Coca leaves eased altitude sickness, origami paper napkins and delicious meals provided

levity and sustenance, and ever-jovial guides offered encouragement as Wendy and Scott hiked through the rich

cloud forest of Peru.

Alys Beach homeowner Scott Skrien and his daughter, Wendy

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Finally reaching Machu Picchu on day four, Wendy and Scott soaked in the historic mystery of the place, but both knew there was no mistaking that the joy from this adventure came from the trip itself, not the destination however grand. The journey they made was the adventure, and to Scott’s surprise, the journey was not over. “Thanks to Wendy, there would be icing on the cake.”

Wendy made extra plans for the trip—a surprise for her father. She scheduled a self-guided climb up the moun-tain that watched over Machu Picchu—Wayna Picchu. Though the summit offers jaw-dropping views of the ruins below, those vistas don’t come easily, as the hike is known to be one of the ten most dangerous hikes in the world. Their guide—who has walked the Inca Trail more than 200 times—admitted that it was only twice that he ventured up the near-vertical route to the peak of Wayna Picchu. “Oh boy, what have we gotten ourselves into?” Scott asked himself as he faced the mountain with Wendy. The rest of the group headed down to the base town on the Urabamba River for pizza and beer, while Scott and Wendy breathed a deep breath (as deep as one can draw in the thin mountain air) and walked toward the majestic mountain.

They signed in at the gate, a precaution and a way of keeping track of those brave ones on the trail, and began their hike up the sacred mountain. After having already trekked for four days, the pair wondered if this hazardous hike was the best idea! Nevertheless, they moved up—climbing the steepest of stairs, straining to lift legs high enough to pull themselves to the next stone step, slippery with condensation from the misty clouds of the elevation. At some points their hands clung, white-knuckled, to metal cables jammed into the rock face, their grip keeping them from falling thousands of feet below. The herd of hikers thinned out as many grew weary of the climb, but Scott and Wendy paced themselves—resting on ancient Incan terraces pressed into the mountainside. Once used for farming, these terraces now served as resting points, balconies from which to gaze upon the ruins of a civiliza-tion.

A climb up a ladder and through a cave brought them to the summit where they paused to exalt in the beau-ty and take in the scenery with adrenaline-heightened senses. All the while knowing that the destination had not been the reason for the journey. The laughter, the excitement, the beauty of the trail, the days of trekking to the limits, the exhaustion, the camaraderie in a foreign land—these were the adventure and the journey. The passport stamp out the gates of Machu Picchu was a badge upon their sleeves, signifying a great expedition.

This opportunity for Scott and Wendy is one that they’ll treasure forever. A relationship became deep-ened by the shared experience—by the vibrant colors of Peru, the exotic cuisine, the change in vantage point, the overcoming of fears, and the joy of completing a journey alongside a loved one.

“We did it and loved it, and we now have something we share that would not have been possible had she not reached out and asked me to go. I’ll always love her for that.” y

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FILLING INGREDIENTS:

3 EGGS

2 RED BELL PEPPERS, DICED

2 YELLOW BELL PEPPERS, DICED

1 BUNCH OF PARSLEY, CHOPPED

1 LB CRAWDAD TAILS, SHELLED

¼ OZ TRUFFLE OIL

KOSHER SALT (TO TASTE)

2 TSP BLACK PEPPERCORNS

2 TSP SMOKED PAPRIKA

½ TSP FILÉ POWDER

Established in 2008 by seasoned restaurateurs Ann and George Hartley, George’s at Alys Beach features regional coastal fare infused with global flavors. Chef Gregg Smith crafts all dishes using locally sourced, organic produce and the freshest seafood available, and presents each with a generous helping of love.

PASTRY INGREDIENTS:

½ LB BUTTER (ROOM TEMPERATURE)

½ LB PARMESAN REGGIANO, GRATED

3 12x12 LECOQ PUFF PASTRY SHEETS (THAWED)

STEP 1

COMBINE ALL INGREDIENTS FOR THE FILLING AND SAUTÉ ON MEDIUM HEAT UNTIL TAILS AND PEPPERS ARE COOKED THROUGH. POUR INTO FOOD PROCESSOR, PULSE UNTIL A COARSE, SPREADABLE TEXTURE IS REACHED AND FOLD IN THE BUTTER AND PARMESAN LISTED IN THE PASTRY IN-GREDIENTS.

STEP 2

BRUSH EACH PUFF PASTRY SHEET ON ONE SIDE WITH EGG WHITES. SPREAD THE CRAWDAD PARMESAN MIXTURE EVENLY OVER TWO SHEETS OF PUFF PASTRY AND TOP WITH THE THIRD SHEET. THEN LIGHTLY ROLL WITH A LITTLE FLOUR TO PREVENT STICKING AND LAYERS ARE MERGED INTO ONE PASTRY.

STEP 3

CUT INTO DESIRED SHAPE OR PORTIONS. A 1" BY

1" SQUARE RESULTS IN A GREAT APPETIZER BITE-SIZED PORTION.

STEP 4

ALLOW TO COME TO ROOM TEMPERATURE AND

SUBMERGE IN A FRYER SET TO 325° F FOR 3-4 MINUTES OR UNTIL GOLDEN BROWN OVER ALL THE PASTRY.

STEP 5

ALLOW TO COOL AND ENJOY!

Darek Tidwell: Executive Chef of George’s at Alys BeachPhotos: Blue Door Video

PREP TIME: 20 MINS

COOK TIME: 8 MINS

EQUIPMENT:

ROLLING PINCHEF KNIFEDEEP FRYER/BASKETSSAUTÉ PANROBO COUPE / FOOD PROCESSORPASTRY BRUSH

TRUFFLE HONEY GASTRIQUE INGREDIENTS:

½ LB BLACK FLYING FISH ROE (TOBIKO)

¼ LB WASABI FLYING FISH ROE (TOBIKO)

¼ LB SALMON ROE (IKURI)

16 OZ TRUFFLE HONEY

4 TSP CHAMPAGNE VINEGAR

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Bourbon, Beer, & Butts Friday March 6 // 6:00 – 9:00 PM Join friends on Kelly Green at Alys Beach to kick off a weekend of great food and drink. Bourbon, Beer, & Butts will feature craft beers, fine bourbon, deli-cious barbecue, and soulful tunes by Eric Lindell.

Wine Seminars Saturday March 7 // 1:30 – 3:30 PMLearn the finer points of wine and sample choice selections at the afternoon Wine Seminars at Caliza Pool.

n March 6-8, the walkways of Alys Beach will welcome renowned vintners, wine enthusiasts, and culinary aficionados for the 4th Annual 30A Wine Festival at Alys Beach. The weekend will celebrate the luxuries

of life that are food and drink—the things that days are sweetened by and relationships grown over. Come stroll through the grounds of beautiful Alys Beach, a clean palate upon which the

finest of wines and premier culinary favorites will be presented. From bourbon to beer to Bordeaux, from smoked meats to salt water catches, the elements of this spectacular event are thoughtfully curated to reflect and enhance the special spirit of life on the shores of the Gulf. Enjoy the revelry of good friends and great food and wine—whether by learning the nuances of rich body and flavor from fantastic sommeliers, dancing to soulful tunes alongside friends, or challenging two-time croquet champions on Kelly Green. With all proceeds of the event benefiting the Children's Volunteer Health Network, The 30A Wine Festival epitomizes and commemorates the closeness of this special community and celebrates the art and the joy of living. y

Wine Walkabout and Grand TastingSaturday March 7 // 3:30 – 6:00 PMSip and stroll along the pedestrian pathways of Alys Beach, sampling premier wines from wineries such as Duckhorn Vineyards, Sanglier Cellars, and Blue Rock Vineyards, and indulging in small bites from Seagar’s Prime Steak and Seafood, Sage Restaurant, and more. Stick around for live music and dancing to cap off the evening.

Fruits de Mer & Sancerre featuring CroquetSunday March 8 // 11:30 AM – 3:30 PMDon your finest croquet attire for the 3rd Annual Croquet Tournament on Kelly Green. Vie for the top spot as you nosh on seafood samplings provided by Caliza Restaurant and Café Thirty-A paired with Sancerre varietals.

30AWINEFESTIVAL.COM

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FONVILLE

PRESS

BUILDING

LAWN

PLAYGROUND

GRASSYPLAY

MOUNDS

Fonville Hill Gives Way to Fonville Park

The New Fonville Park

As Alys Beach continues to grow, we are proud to announce that the decision has been made to make available more property around Fonville Press. In doing so, we are creating a special gathering spot adjacent to the western face of Fonville Press, the new Fonville Park.

This beautiful, new gathering green will be a way to connect with family, friends, and neighbors. Re-placing Fonville Hill, the garden will feature a large lawn—perfect for afternoon Frisbee, picnic lunches, or even a wedding celebration. There will be playground equipment for swinging and climbing upon, soft, grassy “play mounds” for little feet to run over, and a playful sea serpent that borders the park.

With excitement in our hearts, we welcome the growth of the Alys Beach community and look forward to the days and evenings spent relaxing and playing in the new Fonville Park. y

R E A D T O L I V E • O P E N 7 DAY S A W E E K F R O M 7 A M – 7 P M • 8 5 0 . 2 1 3 . 5 9 0 6

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Digital Graffiti Residency A Meeting of Creative Minds at Alys Beach

Alys Beach’s groundbreaking event, Digital Graffiti, has led the way in bringing international art and culture to the South Walton community. In a place so driven by good design and influenced by natural beauty, Alys Beach is an inspiration for thinkers, creatives, and artists of all mediums. With this in mind, Alys Beach will, for the third year in a row, invite four digital artists for a meeting of the minds by the sea.

For a seven-day residency, the visiting artists will reside under one roof and work with Digital Graffiti Curator, Brett Phares, to create site-specific work for the 2015 Digital Graf-fiti Festival, choosing their own canvas upon the buildings and living and breathing the Alys Beach life.

The program strives to inspire “new ways to see the in-tersection of art, technology, and architecture,” says Phares.

Amber Bushnell (pictured) of Missoula, Montana, was one of the participating artists in the 2014 residency. Bushnell was one of two artists to receive the award for Best Of Show, and she also shared her talents as the VJ during the festival.

“It was really nice to interact with the other digital artists and ‘talk shop.’ I also had a lot of time to play with ideas for mapping a site-specific piece. I actually was able to explore some new ideas and concepts with my mapping artwork which I introduced during DG2014,” Amber Bushnell explained.

The Digital Graffiti visiting artist residency has allowed for creative minds to collaborate and expand, to feed off the ideas and experiences of others, while also inspiring a community to think creatively and appreciate the beauty all around. Alys Beach looks forward to hosting the visiting resident artists in January of 2015.

DG Residency Program – January 14-21, 2015DG Festival - June 4-6, 2015

digitalgraffiti.com y

O P E N 7 D A Y S A W E E K 9 A M T O 5 P MAcross from the Amphitheatre

on East Sugar Lump Lane.

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C L O SI NG FOR T H E SE A S ON NOV E M BE R 2 9T H .R E OPE N I NG TO T H E PU BL IC M A RC H 5T H , 2 015 .T U E SDAY T H ROUGH SU N DAY 5:3 0 PM - 10 : 0 0 PM

H A PPY HOU R 5:3 0 PM - 6 :3 0 PM

T H E MOST M AGIC A L DI N I NG E X PE R I E NC E ON 3 0A

S I T ! S T A Y ! E A T ! P L A Y !

Breakfast 7: 00AM - 11: 00AMLunch 11: 00AM - 3 : 00PM

HOMEMADE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH SERVED DAILY

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The clean lines of Caliza were accented with thoughtful fashion design as the Alys Shoppe transformed this exquisite milieu into a high fashion runway during South Walton Fashion Week. Alys Shoppe curator and creative director, Megan Trent, and her team stunned homeowners, clients, and friends alike at this special, invitation-only presentation of fall coastal fashions. Admirers sipped champagne as they watched from tables adorned with fresh orchids under the shade of chartreuse umbrellas upon the pool terrace as designs f loated down the stone-lined catwalk. The ambiance—music and décor, drinks and designs—was transcendent.

The event, which was co-hosted by Dallas-based fashion bloggers and sisters, Molly and Sally Ann Bernadette, of A Piece of Toast, brought simple, elegant design to life in one of the most beloved Alys Beach gathering places. Molly and Sally Ann hold a philosophy of personal style that centers on the thought that fashion should be simple and beautiful, versatile and personally meaningful. With this ideal driving design decisions, it is no surprise that the pair, longtime admirers and friends of the Alys Shoppe, was delighted to collaborate with Megan and her team.

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SWFW Runway Show Bloggers of A Piece Of Toast Recap the Weekend

Looks were collaboratively styled, and models were adorned in seasonal perfection—soft, cozy knits and scarves paired with fine, hand-designed silks and f lowing chiffon. Breezy dresses and skirts met dark hues, and warm prints and patterns drifted across the crisp, white tableau. Luxe leather accents and metallic hardware added edge to the beach-chic aesthetic, altogether creating memorable and inspiring looks. Each look served as a vignette, a study in captivating understatement. No one piece was overpowering, as paired elements were able to speak of their craftsmanship and highlight the innate beauty of the pieces. Even the girls, the lovely, barefoot canvases for these looks, were primed with dew-kissed cheeks and sleek, pulled-back hair to highlight their beautiful, natural features. The event was a proud partnership between the Shoppe team and Sally Ann and Molly. It was a meeting of the minds, a mixing of creative talents into a singular vision revolving around simple, elegant, meaningful fashion.

To see Sally Ann and Molly’s full coverage of their weekend at Alys Beach, visitapieceoftoastblog.com. y

A P P A R E L , J E W E L R Y , H O M E A C C E S S O R I E S , A N D G I F T S

A L Y S S H O P P E . C O M

Story: Christine McFadden Photos: Jacquline Ward

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Upcoming Events

Camp Out at Alys

Alys in Winter WonderlandFriday, November 28 (10am - 12p) at the AmphitheatreJoin Santa at the Amphitheatre at Alys Beach for cookie decorating and Holiday cheer. Cookies to decorate will be available for purchase- 3 cookies for $1. We’ll be accept-ing unwrapped children’s toys for donation to a local Angel Tree Program and non-perishable, non-glass items for Food for Thought Outreach Inc.

Movie at the AmphitheatreMonday, December 29 (5:15pm)Bring blankets and low back chairs to enjoy ELF under the stars. Piper's will offer hot drinks and snacks.

Friday, November 21 (3pm) at Central ParkBring an adult, a tent, and a sleeping bag to camp out in Central Park! $85 per site includes: hamburger & hot dog dinner, games, s’mores, movie in Central Park, and pancake breakfast for 4. Additional shirt and meal wrist-bands may be purchased upon request. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is limited. Email events@alysbeach.com for information.

Every Christmas Story Ever ToldSaturday, November 29 (10am) at the AmphitheatreThree actors, in what starts out as a pared-down version of the Dickens classic, stage a mutiny and, in an effort to breathe new life into an old tradition, attempt to tell “Every Christmas Story Ever Told” in the space of 50 minutes. Nothing is spared in this rollicking tour de farce. The story of the stingy and sour Ebenezer Scrooge is there too, but it seems the actors have overlooked “It’s a Wonderful Life,” so Scrooge morphs into Jimmy Stewart combining two of the greatest Christmas stories ever told. Brought to you by the Seaside Repertory Theatre.

Wine Tasting at Fonville PressNovember 4, 11, 18, & 25; December 23 (5pm - 7pm). Featured wines to be showcased along with some light finger foods provided by Fonville Press. Case deals on select wines. $10 per person. 21 and up.

Mail Your Letter to Santa

Thanksgiving Dinner Delivery

November 26 - December 15 outside Fonville PressChildren of all ages! Create your Holiday Wish List for Santa and drop it in his magical mailbox located in front of Fonville Press in Alys Beach by Decemeber 15th. Include your mailing address so Santa and his elves can respond by sending you a letter in return.

Wednesday, November 26Allow Caliza Resturant to make a special delivery for your Thanksgiving Dinner! Place orders by November 20th for complimentary delivery to on-site owners and guests on Wednesday, November 26th. Contact Nancy Paterson at npaterson@alysbeach.com for more information.

Holiday Wine TastingFriday, November 28 (5pm - 7pm) at Fonville PressFeatured wines will be showcased, live music by Chris Alvarado and lite fare will be provided by Fonville Press. $10 per person. 21 and up, please. Case deals on select wines.

FONVILLE WILL OFFER HOT DRINKS AND SNACKS. BRING BLANKETS AND LOW-BACK CHAIRS.

ALYS BEACH is a trademark of EBSCO Industries, Inc. © 2014

elf

FONVILLE PRESSDECEMBER 29 · MOVIE BEGINS AT 5:15 PM

WINTER WONDERLAND

FRIDAY, 11/29 10AM-NOON

AT FONVILLE PRESS

Join Santa for cookie decorating and Holiday cheer! Cookies to decorate will be available for purchase at Fonville Press, 3 cookies for $1. We’ll be accepting unwrapped children’s toys for donation to a local Angel Tree Program.

Email events@alysbeach.com for more information

CAMPOUTALYS BEACH

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2014FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2014

CAMPOUTALYS BEACH

EMAIL EVENTS@ALYSBEACH.COM TO MAKE A RESERVATION

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Upcoming Events

Salute 2014 at Fonville Press

Cinema Under the Stars

Digital Graffiti

Digital Graffiti Residency

3OA Wine Festival

3OA Songwriters Festival

Wednesday, December 31 (11am - 2pm)Salute 2014 at Fonville Press before you ring in the New Year! Join us for lite fare, cocktails, and live music by Kyle LaMonica. For additional information, visit alysbeach.com/events or call 850.213.5906

March 10, 17, 24, & 31 (7:30pm) at the AmphitheatreBring blankets and low back chairs to enjoy a movie under the stars in the Alys Beach Amphitheatre. Piper’s will offer food and beverage. June 4 - 6

For three evenings, Alys Beach opens its doors, courtyards, and pedestrian paths to innovative artists who transform the entire resort town into a living work of art.

January 14 - 21For a seven-day residency, the visiting artists will reside under one roof and work with Digital Graffiti Curator, Brett Phares, to create site-specific work for the 2015 Digital Graffiti Festival, choosing their own canvas upon the buildings and living and breathing the Alys Beach life.

March 6 - 8The 4th Annual 30A Wine Festival returns to the beautiful surroundings of Alys Beach March 6–8, 2015, and is a showcase of premiere wine producers and local culinary favorites. This three-day event features a Friday night gathering, “Bourbon, Beer, & Butts”, Saturday wine tasting seminars, a walkabout, band party at nightfall, and Sunday’s exclusive event, “Fruits de Mer & Sancerre” complete with croquet tournament (appropriate croquet attire encouraged). Visit 30awinefestival.com for more information and to purchase tickets. Proceeds from the event benefit Children’s Volunteer Health Network.

January 16 - 18The perfect mix of cool beach weather and red-hot music is what you will find during the 30A Songwriters Festival. More than 120 artists perform in intimate venues and large amphitheaters allowing you to experience a wide variety of music and beach neighborhoods in South Walton, including Alys Beach’s own Caliza Pool & Restaurant.

Wine Tasting at Fonville PressMarch 10, 17, 24, & 31 (5pm - 7pm)Featured wines to be showcased along with some light finger foods provided by Fonville Press. Case deals on select wines. $10 per person. 21 and up.

Spring Concert SeriesMarch 11, 18, & 25 (6pm - 8pm) at the AmphitheatreJoin us for live music in the Amphitheatre. Piper’s will offer food and beverage.

Sinfonia Goes Pops at Alys BeachSunday, May 24 (7:30pm) at the AmphitheatreEnjoy the orchestral sounds of Sinfonia Gulf Coast under the palm trees in the Alys Beach Amphitheatre. Piper’s will offer food and beverage. Free and open to the public.

2 0 1 4SAL UTE

D E C E M B E R 3 1 1 1 A M - 2 P M

Spring Concerts

WEDNESDAYS IN THE AMPHITHEATRE 6–8 PM

2014 ALYS BEACH

March 19 - The Forrest Williams BandMarch 26 - Roman StreetApril 2 - Blue Ribbon HealersApril 9 - Daphne WillisApril 16 - Heritage

Free and open to the public. Piper’s will have food and drink for purchase.

For more information, visit alysbeach.com/events or facebook.com/alysbeachfl ALYS BEACH is a trademark of EBSCO Industries, Inc. © 2014

Enjoy the orchestral sounds of Sinfonia Gulf Coast

under the palm trees in the Alys Beach Amphitheatre

May 25 Alys Beach Amphitheatre7:30 pm

Free & open to the public

FIreworks to follow

Bring blankets & low back chairs

Piper’s to offer food and beverages

alysbeach.com/events

ALYS BEACH is a trademark of EBSCO Industries, Inc. © 2014

SINFONIA GOES POPS

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L I F E D E F I N E D

C 6 · 1 4 0 N O R T H C H A R L E S S T R E E TAspri Villa, the most spacious home in Alys Beach, provides an enchanting

setting for family, combining shared living spaces with private suites, all surrounding an expansive landscaped courtyard. The dramatic

tower room offers 360-degree views of the community and Gulf of Mexico.

F 3 · 2 2 W H I T B Y C O U R TThis elegant 3,300 square-foot home has 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths,

and an abundance of living spaces. A first-floor landscaped courtyard connects two of the three guest suites. The second floor is home to the living room, dining room, and kitchen, and covered terrace with outdoor fireplace.

E 4 · 4 1 G O V E R N O R S C O U R TThis 5-bedroom, 4.5-bath home captures the Alys Beach lifestyle and is an

easy walk to the beach. First-fl oor living area, kitchen and guest suite all open to the serene and light-fi lled private courtyard. The spacious master bedroom,

with spa-inspired master bath, is conveniently situated on the fi rst level.

A 1 · 1 6 S E V E N W E L L S C O U R TThis beautifully furnished 4-bedroom, 4-bath home offers

stunning sunset views from the 2nd fl oor. The master bedroom, a second master suite, two bedrooms, and a family room, all surround

a private court with lush landscaping and a fountain.

8 5 0 . 2 1 3 . 5 5 0 0

Alys Beach Properties, LLC, Licensed Real Estate Broker participation welcome. Equal Housing Opportunity. This is not an offer or solicitation in CA, NY, NJ or any state where prohibited by law. ALYS BEACH is a trademark of EBSCO Industries, Inc. © 2014

A L Y S B E A C H . C O M

L I F E D E F I N E D

C 6 · 1 4 0 N O R T H C H A R L E S S T R E E TAspri Villa, the most spacious home in Alys Beach, provides an enchanting

setting for family, combining shared living spaces with private suites, all surrounding an expansive landscaped courtyard. The dramatic

tower room offers 360-degree views of the community and Gulf of Mexico.

F 3 · 2 2 W H I T B Y C O U R TThis elegant 3,300 square-foot home has 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths,

and an abundance of living spaces. A first-floor landscaped courtyard connects two of the three guest suites. The second floor is home to the living room, dining room, and kitchen, and covered terrace with outdoor fireplace.

E 4 · 4 1 G O V E R N O R S C O U R TThis 5-bedroom, 4.5-bath home captures the Alys Beach lifestyle and is an

easy walk to the beach. First-fl oor living area, kitchen and guest suite all open to the serene and light-fi lled private courtyard. The spacious master bedroom,

with spa-inspired master bath, is conveniently situated on the fi rst level.

A 1 · 1 6 S E V E N W E L L S C O U R TThis beautifully furnished 4-bedroom, 4-bath home offers

stunning sunset views from the 2nd fl oor. The master bedroom, a second master suite, two bedrooms, and a family room, all surround

a private court with lush landscaping and a fountain.

8 5 0 . 2 1 3 . 5 5 0 0

Alys Beach Properties, LLC, Licensed Real Estate Broker participation welcome. Equal Housing Opportunity. This is not an offer or solicitation in CA, NY, NJ or any state where prohibited by law. ALYS BEACH is a trademark of EBSCO Industries, Inc. © 2014

A L Y S B E A C H . C O M

S O M E R S E T H O M E SSomerset Homes located north of Town Center on Nonesuch near Caliza Pool

provides customers the opportunity to select a new custom home plan and make their personal interior finish selections. The homes feature 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths and 4

bedrooms, 4.5 baths, with bunkroom, and two-car garage.

B 7 ∙ 1 0 0 N O R T H C H A R L E S S T R E E TThis 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath, 2,509 square-foot courtyard home has black slate floor-ing throughout the first floor. Large French doors in the kitchen, living room, and

master bedroom lead you into the courtyard. The second floor has two spacious guest bedrooms that open onto a large loggia overlooking the community.

C 6 ∙ 1 4 0 N O R T H C H A R L E S S T R E E TAspri Villa, the most spacious home in Alys Beach, provides an enchanting setting for family, combining shraed living spaces with private suites, all sur-rounding an expansive landscaped courtyard. The dramatic tower room offers

a 360 degree views of the community and Gulf of Mexico.

A 1 1 ∙ 4 6 N O R T H C H A R L E S S T R E E TThis 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath, 2,584-square-foot courtyard home is located close to

Caliza Pool. The home has an open kitchen/living area and dining room that open onto a private courtyard. The separate master bedroom offers plenty of privacy. A

second floor has two bedrooms with private baths.

F 3 ∙ 2 2 W H I T B Y C O U R TThis elegant 3,300 square foot home has 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, and an abundance

of living spaces. A first-floor landscaped courtyard connects two of the three guest suites. The second floor is home to the living room, dining room, and kitchen, and

covered terrace with outdoor fireplace.

A 1 0 ∙ 5 6 N O R T H C H A R L E S S T R E E TThis 2,561 square-foot 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath courtyard home is located north of

30A. The main living space has floor to ceiling windows that overlook two court-yards. Two large guest suites each equipped with a private bathroom. The second

floor master suite opens onto a rooftop terrace.