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Walton County is weighing a $1 million contribution toward deploying the SS United States as an artificial reef off Okaloosa County’s coast.
Okaloosa County requested an additional $1 million over three years for joint marketing, which Walton County is currently not committing to.
A final decision from Walton County is pending further discussions, with an update expected at the TDC’s June meeting.
Scuba diving is a sport that will continue to flourish in the panhandle of Florida in coming years and for good reason. Matt Algarin, Tourism Director of Walton County made a presentation to the Tourist Development Council on April 1 describing a potential multi-county partnership for the deployment of the SS United States (SSUS). The massive ship is in the process of becoming the Gulf’s largest artificial reef. The vessel procured by Okaloosa County is approximately 1000 feet long. It will serve as a habitat for marine life, a support to the fishing industry, and a vast haven for divers who live in our area and the many divers and fishermen who will make this record-breaking reef a vacation destination.
Mid Bay News originally reported that Okaloosa County’s interest in purchasing the ship began before October 2024. The SSUS, when purchased, was located in Philadelphia and it required great planning to orchestrate the move and actual navigation of the ship to Mobile where it now awaits its final journey. The vessel sailed on its 401st voyage down the Atlantic coast and into the Gulf and is currently being remediated and environmentally cleaned in Port of Mobile.
Mr. Algarin began his presentation by describing the SSUS. He said that Okaloosa County, the primary investor, with over $10 million invested, “has asked us [Walton County] to help secure the deployment. They [Okaloosa County] are requiring a total of $2 million contribution with $1 million being allocated for the deployment of the reef trail system [creation of the reef] and an additional $1 million for marketing support paid out over a 3 year period.” This marketing investment is intended to let the world know that the largest artificial reef is a short boat ride from our beaches.
Walton County Environmental Resources Department employee Melinda Gates offered more information on the project. Melinda indicated that Okaloosa is seeking a partnership with other counties that would benefit and have a vested interest in the deployment and creation of the reef. So far Escambia County and Bay County have made initial presentations to their respective Tourism Development Councils. Both counties appear to be motivated to participate and invest in the vessel’s deployment and eventually reap the benefits of greater tourism.
During the presentation, Mr. Algarin indicated that Bay County stipulated in their negotiations to partner with Okaloosa County that the deployment would need to be in reasonable proximity to Panama City Beach. It was noted that Bay County is potentially partnering with a 3 million dollar bid for deployment expenses.
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It appeared there was great support by the TDC to see a reef this size becoming a major attraction for Okaloosa County and partnering counties. Okaloosa County is also preparing to build a reef museum that will contain the funnels from the gigantic SSUS vessel. The museum aims to become an on-land attraction to bring attention to the reef. Okaloosa’s TDC hopes to create a space enjoyed by tourists, including those using fishing and diving charters, on land.
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Walton Tourism Development Council member Tiffany Edwards asked, “Do we have an understanding of the full budget amount for the actual deployment? Following that, for marketing, how would we be integrating our marketing team to make sure Walton County is accurately represented in those [marketing] discussions?”
No actual breakdown of deployment costs from the Mobile harbor to the reef positioning was provided but Ms. Gates of the Environmental Resources Department summed up an overview of expenses stating, “To be completely frank, Okaloosa County committed all the money to it [the entire acquisition, remediation, and deployment of the SSUS]. But because of the significance of this deployment, they [Okaloosa County] want to see this as a regional opportunity. Because [sic] yes, we work in our silos but we work in partnerships too because we bring in people from all over. What they do over there benefits us. People stay here [in Walton County] and spend money for housing, but they go to Destin and do activities there. They go over to Bay County and do the same.”
After more discussion, Chairman and County Commissioner Brad Drake, who also sits on the Walton TDC, asked the Council if it might be worthwhile going back to Okaloosa County to see if a 1 million dollar commitment from Walton County for SSUS deployment and not offering the requested 1 million dollar marketing support for the three year period would be agreeable. No decision was made at the meeting to move forward with the partnership with Okaloosa County.
Tourist Director Algarin was instructed to contact Okaloosa County and determine if a 1 million dollar partnership would be acceptable for deployment with no additional marketing support. Algarin told Mid Bay News that he will be contacting Okaloosa County with the instructions given by the TDC. The next step will be to report back to the TDC on Algarin’s conversation with Okaloosa County at the next scheduled TDC meeting in June.
