It all started when a man named Leonard Destin
settled along the East Pass Peninsula in 1850. He was the
first white man to come to the area and started what became known as "The
World's Luckiest Fishing Village" by giving fishing jobs to young men
newly arrived to the area. The first fish camps sprung up on the Moreno
Point Military Reservation that was sold off by the government to private
ownership. By 1908, there were homes, churches and at least eighteen fish
camps dotting the coast. Each separate, but all sharing one common
thread... fishing!
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Homer Jones, John Maltezos,
"Uncle Billy"Marler and, of course, Leonard's sons were among the first
fisherman to scour local waters for the bounty of the Gulf. Each has
become a "local legend" of sorts in the now famous little fishing village.
Maltezos, originally from Greece, owned businesses in what is now Milton,
FL (north of Pensacola). His properties consisted of a restaurant, general
store and a dance pavilion. But in 1922, he and his family moved to Moreno
Point and Maltezos became a well-known boat builder. His most famous
vessel, "The Primrose," now sits in the Destin Historical Museum.
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'Uncle Billy' Marler is
probably the most well-known historical character. He moved to the East
Pass in 1879 to fish alongside Captain Destin. He soon became one of the
best fishermen in the area and built over 100 boats in his lifetime. He
also became the village coffin maker and undertaker, charging nothing for
his services. The first school was held in the Marler living room, along
with the first church service. In 1899, he started the first post office
in the parlor of his home and, of course, became the postmaster. He
continued on as the Postmaster until retirement in 1945. It was Marler who
coined the town's name, Destin, in honor of his former employer and he
also passed down the responsibility of Postmaster to his heirs.
In 1899, he started the first post office in the parlor of his home and,
of course, became the postmaster. He continued on as the Postmaster until
retirement in 1945. It was Marler who coined the town's name, Destin, in
honor of his former employer and he also passed down the responsibility of
Postmaster to his heirs.
Literally millions of people flock to the
Destin's Emerald Coast every year. They come for many reasons... but the
sheer physical beauty of the place is the chief motivation. Shockingly
white sands frame brilliant aquamarine waters, scattered sea-oats cling to
soaring sand dunes, surrounded by sand pines and blossoming magnolia
trees...this is the perfect place for a vacation rental!
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