Beal House Makes Its Debut on Okaloosa Island

May 25, 2023 | Development

Beal House Fort Walton Beachfront, Tapestry Collection by Hilton has made its debut in the Florida Panhandle. Ideally positioned on the sugar-white sand of Okaloosa Island, this six-story, 100-key hotel reopened on Thursday, May 25, following a down-to-the-studs renovation and a rebrand designed to merge the property’s new identity with the destination’s notable past.

The reimagined Beal House is owned and operated by South Carolina-based OTO Development, which is part of The Johnson Group.  

“It matters where you stay, and Beal House makes the most of everything visitors love about Fort Walton Beach: the sugar-sand beach, the emerald-green water, the balmy weather and, of course, the laid-back vibe,” says Paula Evans, general manager, who heads the hotel’s leadership team alongside Diana Gonzalez, director of sales. “Our location is perfect — just steps from the Gulf, with easy proximity to local restaurants, retail shops and recreation sites.”

Beal House Fort Walton Beachfront comprises 100 rooms — 60 with balconies overlooking the water — all designed with clean lines, coastal touches and plenty of thoughtful conveniences like storage cubbies to stow all the gear travelers bring to the beach. Amenities include a well-equipped fitness center, an outdoor pool, a library and an onsite restaurant, The Remedy Coastal Kitchen + Bar, which specializes in “Coastal Fresh with a Dash of Cajun.”

With a relaxed beach ambiance and bar seating both inside and out, The Remedy serves everything from morning coffee to late-night cocktails, plus some fabulous food in between. The dinner menu centers around locally sourced seafood while the spirited bar menu highlights handcrafted cocktails, specialty martinis, boozy slushies and local brews.

“Beal House is, in spirit, a home base for guests,” Evans says. “Cozy rooms make it easy to simply nestle in, but our new identity — which harkens to the community’s past — is designed to encourage people to get out and explore.”

Indeed, Beal House mixes contemporary décor with a healthy dose of Fort Walton Beach history. The name honors the legacy of Dr. James Hartley Beal (1861 – 1945), a fascinating man of many accomplishments. Dr. Beal was a distinguished pharmacist, an avid shell collector and a creative thinker who fostered the region’s early tourism industry.

Nearly a century later, Beal House connects his memory to travelers’ memories yet to be made.

Naming the restaurant The Remedy is a nod to Dr. Beal’s eminence in the field of pharmacology. And his beloved shell collection — one of the largest in the world — serves as a design motif scattered throughout the hotel interior. A commissioned mosaic by Georgian artist Brandon Harder, for example — designed with more than 300 pounds of shell from around the world — enjoys pride of place at the front desk; lobby shadowboxes display seashells of the most eye-catching varieties. A pool bar selfie wall by Panhandle muralist Sara Gramlich proclaims the location’s “Good Time State of Mind.”  

“Beal House is imbued throughout with authentic touches to invoke guests’ curiosity, encouraging them to discover both the history and current attractions of Fort Walton Beach,” Evans says.

OTO Development partnered on the Beal House project with Pond, architect and interior designer; Robins & Morton, general contractor; and Kaleidoscope Design Factory, art vendor.

Beal House is located at 380 Santa Rosa Blvd. in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. The property is located less than 1 mile from the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center, the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park and The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island; it’s part of a strong drive-to market that’s popular with leisure travelers while also catering to military and government guests with proximity to Eglin Airforce Base, Hurlburt Field and private-sector defense companies.

Beal House Fort Walton Beachfront, Tapestry Collection by Hilton is part of Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton’s 19 distinct hotel brands. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount that can’t be found anywhere else and free standard Wi-Fi. Members also have access to contactless technology exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton Honors mobile app, where Hilton Honors members can check in, choose their room, and access their room using a Digital Key.  

For more information about Beal House or to make reservations, visit BealHouseFortWaltonBeach.TapestryCollection.com or call +1 850.243.9444. For more information about The Remedy, visit RemedyBealHouse.com. Connect on social @BealHouseFWB and @RemedyBealHouse.

Read more about Tapestry Collection by Hilton at Stories.Hilton.com.