< Previous18 www.crestviewchamber.com THINGS TO DO IN CRESTVIEW B lackwater River State Park is a place where you can find yourself lost in the woods or even lost floating on the river making wonderful memories. Blackwater has forest of tall longleaf pines that move through the flood plain and across the marsh. Then you come into the beauty of one of the most pristine rivers with shifting white sands. We have two trails to explore Chain of Lakes 1.5 mile that take you into several ecological plant communities and the Juniper Lake Loop Trail. 5 miles. The trees house the protected Cockaded Woodpecker and the grounds have gopher tortoises to observe. Wildlife run free, you never know what you may see. We have pavilions to rent and enjoy a picnic or white sandy beaches to sun bath. Blackwater State Park offers 30 full-hook up campground with your own private beach access. Bring the family for their first adventure camping and make memories to last a lifetime. So, come relax in this Florida State Park and immerse yourself in The Real Florida. Blackwater River State Park host events like National Public Lands Day, Easter Bunny & Egg Search Hike and First Day Hike of The Year. Park Entrance Fee $4.00 (some areas are the honor system please use cash) Camping Fee $ 20.00 +tax (reservations are through Reserveamerica.com or 1-800-326-3521) Things to do in Crestview Blackwater River State Parkwww.crestviewchamber.com 19 THINGS TO DO IN CRESTVIEW A local dentist is gearing up to host the 8th annual Doc Holiday’s Birthday, History, Heritage and Hospitality Celebration. The event began after Dr. Richard Thomas, owner of Richard Thomas Family Dentistry, purchased a dental chair used by John Henry “Doc” Holliday during his dentistry practice in Las Vegas, New Mexico. The chair dates back to about 1878. Since Thomas, who has a love for history, procured the chair in 2013, he’s become somewhat of a Doc Holiday expert. For him, the celebration is a way to share the bits of history he’s collected with the community. “If we don’t remember our history, we’re bound to make the same mistakes,” Thomas said. Activities at the annual event include a Mustache Contest, Best Western Wear Contest, Doc Holliday’s Classic Car Shoot Out and the Doc Holliday’s Run From The Law 5k. There will also be musical performances by different local artists throughout the day. Past celebrations have boasted guests of honor including Victoria Wilcox, a Georgia author of the year; Charlie Meade, former Dodge City and U.S. Marshall; Lynn and Bud Thomas and Rusty and Robert McKey, relatives of Doc Holliday; and Terry Ike Clanton, a relative of Holliday’s nemesis Ike Clanton. Contributing organizations include the Baker Block Museum and the Walton County Historical Society. The 8th annual Doc Holliday’s Birthday, History, Heritage and Hospitality Celebration will be held at Warrior’s Hall in Crestview next September. Benefits raised last year were donated to the Crestview Historical Preservation Board. Doc holiday 20 www.crestviewchamber.com THINGS TO DO IN CRESTVIEW At David’s Catfish House in Crestview, our mission is simple - Provide delicious, quality food with excellent service in a fun, family atmosphere that creates unbeatable value so that our customers love David’s and come back for more. We are a “Hands On” family company serving farm-raised catfish from Yazoo City, Mississippi, hand-cut certified Black Angus ribeyes, hand-pattied hamburgers, fresh premium chicken tenders and pork chops, and we proudly serve Gulf of Mexico shrimp, oysters, and crab claws purchased from Alabama’s seafood capital, Bayou La Batre. All of our batters, breadings and mixes are made from scratch daily and our famous coleslaw and salads are made from the freshest ingredients available. Our excellent food items prepared to order are very important to us because YOU are important to us. We want every experience that you have with David’s Catfish House to be one that is special and pleasing. Our wonderful staff are ready to serve you in the classic Southern Charming David’s Catfish Tradition. We look forward to seeing you at “our” house very soon! ~The Spurlin Family David’s Catfish Housewww.crestviewchamber.com 21 THINGS TO DO IN CRESTVIEW We are a small batch made from scratch artisan bakery offering handmade, high quality pastries, espresso and lunch items. Above all, we’re committed to providing a neighborhood bakery café in historic downtown Crestview, where the minute you walk in the door you feel Back Home with friends and family for good times of laughter and conversation over a meal or dessert and coffee. Sit back and enjoy, slow down a little and take in the good times . . . Back Home 307 N. Main Street Crestview, FL 32536 info@backhomebakerycafe.com www.backhomebakerycafe.com 850-398-5472 CROISSANTS, DESSERT CAKES, PASTRIES, PIES, SALADS, SANDWICHES, ESPRESSO COFFEE Hours Tuesday-Saturday 7am - 4pm Sunday & Monday Closed 2020 Emerald Coast Home & Boat Show September 26 & 27, 2020 At the Emerald Coast Convention Center For More Info Or To Register For A Booth Space Go To - EmeraldCoastHomeShow.com PHONE: 850-353-2832 wesfell@cox.net Just Another Day in Paradise on The Emerald Coast Wes is an advertising and marketing professional, and a 30-year resident of Destin/Fort Walton Beach, having moved here from Louisville, KY in August 1990, where he was in the jewelry and thoroughbred horse racing business. He is currently promoting the 21st consecutive Emerald Coast Home and Boat Show, to be held at the Emerald Coast Convention Center on September 26 and 27, 2020. This event is now the largest and best business event in NW Florida, attended by over 2000 visitors, and offering exceptional vendor benefits. For more information go to www.EmeraldCoastHomeShow.com. Paradise Promotions22 www.crestviewchamber.com 316 W James Lee Blvd Crestview FL, 32536 913B NW Beal Pkwy Fort Walton Beach 32547 MUSIC IS NOT WHAT WE DO, IT’S WHO WE ARE. info@upbeatmusic.com www.upbeatmusic.com rentals repair retail lessons Music was always important to Dick and Carla Reinlie, they met as children in band camp! As they grew older and eventually married, music has always played a special part in their relationship. They saw a great need for Northwest Florida to have a source for quality musical instruments, repairs, lessons and accessories. That desire grew and eventually was fully realized with the opening of UpBeat Music. A full line retail music store in Crestview Florida, which as of April 2019 has expanded with a 2nd location in Fort Walton Beach. “Music is not what we do, it’s who we are!” -Dick Reinlie Check out our website for more information. www.upbeatmusic.com UpBeat Music THINGS TO DO IN CRESTVIEWwww.crestviewchamber.com 23 THINGS TO DO IN CRESTVIEW Located in historic downtown Crestview www.gordonmartialarts.com GORDON Martial Arts The family center 850-682-0720 SINCE 1979 Proudly the oldest Lennox and WaterFurnace dealers in Okaloosa/Walton counties 850-682-5214 www.gordonair.com THOMAS GORDON FL CAC 181783 In 2004, Gordon Martial Arts was opened by Tom with much the same mindset as Gordon Air Conditioning. That is, to provide the best possible service in the area on a much-needed service. They’ve partnered with Okaloosa Sheriff's Dept and Crestview Police Dept to do free women’s self-defense clinics and bully buster classes for children. The Gordon family has lived in north Okaloosa County area for hundreds of years. Before Okaloosa or Walton counties existed, we went to school here, work here, live here, raise our family here, teach here, and give back here. Gordon Martial Arts Brady Gordon and Edna Bryan, both natives of Laurel Hill, started dating while in high school. They got married in 1950. Brady went into the National Guard in 1949, and active duty in 1952, deployed to Korea during the War. Making a career out of the Army, He served 23 years, with three tours, and two wars later, he retired and came back to Crestview with his school sweetheart and four children. In 1979, they started Gordon Air Conditioning. The two youngest of the four children grew up around, and in, the family business. Trish, the youngest of the daughters, went to college and came back to work in the family business for about 15 years before stepping back to raise her family. Tom, the youngest of the four, officially bought the company in 2007 and operating it with his wife, Barbara. The Gordon’s have worked diligently to be the go-to place if you’re looking for heating and cooling services or expertise in the Crestview area. It’s a family-owned, second-generation company with more than four decades behind it. The staff is knowledgeable and fully trained on a full range of HVAC products, maintenance, replacement, and new construction, technology – you name it. The mission as a company is to exceed our customer’s expectations while providing prompt and professional service. Gordon Air Conditioning24 www.crestviewchamber.comwww.crestviewchamber.com 25 Living in Crestview26 www.crestviewchamber.com W e are excited to be a proud member of the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce and included in this year’s Community Guide book. First, what is the Building Industry Association of Okaloosa – Walton Counties (BIA) and how can it help you? The BIA is your resource for everything construction related, think of the BIA as the Chamber of Commerce of Construction. Through advocacy and education, the BIA unites and supports area builders, developers, remodelers, associates and their affiliates and promotes construction of safe affordable homes and resilient communities. Through events like the annual Parade of Homes and the Holiday Tour of Homes that give members the opportunity to showcase their homes and provides a chance for you to see the newest and best the building industry has to offer, this year’s Parade of Homes is scheduled for June 5-7 & 12-14. Education is a huge part of what the BIA does to help create and retain a healthy viable Workforce. The BIA has worked hard for over a year with our partners in Washington DC to create a pre-apprentice program at Northwest Florida State College for veterans, exiting military members, their spouses and dependents. This 12 week program is currently training in carpentry and free to our military members. LIVING IN CRESTVIEW Living in Crestview BIA Community and Homeswww.crestviewchamber.com 27 The BIA has worked for years with the school board to establish construction based programs at four local schools. Crestview High School has 90 students in our Future Builders of America Chapter; visit www.futurebuildersofamerica.org to learn more; focused on HVAC and Electrical. Baker High School, Laurel Hill and Pryor Middle School have carpentry with a total of over 200 students participating. This year we will see continued growth with addition schools coming on line with career technical programs in both Okaloosa and Walton Counties. The BIA host a “Student Career Signing Day” at the end of the school year that introduces students that are wanting to enter the local workforce to local businesses that are looking to hire. In 2019 the BIA created the “Tools of the Trade Scholarship”. This scholarship is designed to financially help the student with the necessary tools to be successful at their new job. The BIA also has the Mike Josey and William “Mac” McClarie Memorial Scholarships for students that are going to college. Lastly, the BIA is working to provide students in the juvenile justice system a path through leadership, mentorship and a positive path to a productive future in the construction industry. From needing a new home to a kitchen or bathroom remodel or any other challenge that puts up when you least expect it, your BIA is the go to organization to help solve your problem. If your business is related to the construction industry and you would like to know more about the benefits of the BIA, visit www.biaow.org or call us at 850-863-5107. We look forward to a successful year for Crestview Chamber of Commerce and the partnership with the Building Industry Association of Okaloosa – Walton Counties. All the best, Alan Baggett Executive Vice President of the BIA LIVING IN CRESTVIEWNext >