WaterColor sits between Grayton Beach and Seaside, and it’s one of the most complete master-planned communities on the entire 30A corridor. For buyers who want resort-style amenities without sacrificing a genuine sense of place, it’s consistently one of the first communities I recommend touring.
What Is the History of WaterColor?
WaterColor was developed by The St. Joe Company on roughly 500 acres, with construction beginning around 1999 to 2000. The community was planned by Cooper Robertson & Partners along with Urban Design Associates, with landscaping designed by Nelson Byrd Woltz. In 2013, WaterColor transitioned from developer control to the WaterColor Homeowners Association, though St. Joe still owns and operates several of the community’s signature amenities, including the WaterColor Inn, the LakeHouse, and food and beverage service at the WaterColor Beach Club and Camp WaterColor.
The community is planned for a total build-out of roughly 1,062 homes, with the final phase (41 custom homesites) breaking ground in 2020.
What Natural Features Define WaterColor?
Nearly half of WaterColor’s 500 acres were preserved rather than developed, protecting coastal dunes and Western Lake, one of Florida’s rare coastal dune lakes. Walton County has one of the highest concentrations of these unique, brackish ecosystems in the world, and Western Lake is one of the more prominent examples along the corridor.
What Architectural Style Does WaterColor Use?
WaterColor’s homes draw on classical coastal town design with Southern influences, pulling from English, Dutch, Spanish, and French Colonial architectural traditions, and using natural color palettes drawn from the surrounding landscape. The result is a town that feels cohesive without the stricter, more uniform design codes of a community like Alys Beach.
What Should Buyers Know Before Purchasing in WaterColor?
Amenities are a major part of the value. Between the Beach Club, the Inn, the LakeHouse, and Camp WaterColor, this is a community built around resort-style living, and much of what you’re paying for is access to that ecosystem, not just the home itself.
HOA governance changed in 2013. WaterColor is now governed by its own Homeowners Association, separate from St. Joe’s ongoing operation of certain amenities. Read the current governing documents to understand exactly what your HOA dues cover versus what requires separate amenity access or membership.
Rental rules still apply. Any short-term rental in WaterColor is subject to Walton County’s Vacation Rental Certificate and state licensing requirements, in addition to whatever WaterColor’s HOA currently requires. Confirm current rules for your specific property before assuming rental income potential.
Why Do Buyers Choose WaterColor?
The appeal of WaterColor, in my experience, comes down to balance. It offers more resort infrastructure than Seaside next door, more natural preservation than some of the denser East 30A towns, and a genuinely walkable, bike-friendly layout. It also sits in one of the most desirable middle stretches of the corridor, close to both Seaside’s town square and Grayton Beach’s laid-back character.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who developed WaterColor?
WaterColor was developed by The St. Joe Company beginning around 1999 to 2000, on roughly 500 acres between Grayton Beach and Seaside.
Is WaterColor still controlled by its original developer?
No. WaterColor transitioned from developer control to the WaterColor Homeowners Association in 2013, though St. Joe continues to own and operate several signature amenities like the WaterColor Inn and Beach Club.
What is Western Lake, and why does it matter?
Western Lake is a rare coastal dune lake within WaterColor, one of the unique brackish ecosystems that Walton County is known for, with one of the highest concentrations of these lakes anywhere in the world.
If WaterColor’s blend of amenities and natural preservation appeals to you, let’s talk about what’s currently available and how the community’s HOA and amenity structure actually works.
