SANTA ROSA BEACH — Guests who booked spring vacations at two South Walton resorts helped raise more than $2,000 to support conservation efforts for one of the area’s rare coastal dune lakes.
Newman-Dailey Resort Properties announced this week that its 2026 Earth Day travel promotion generated a $2,002 donation for the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA). This nonprofit organization works to protect local waterways throughout Northwest Florida.
The donation came from reservations made throughout April at Sanctuary by the Sea and Sanctuary at Redfish, two vacation communities along Scenic Highway 30A, adjacent to Big Redfish Lake. For every qualifying stay booked during the promotion, Newman-Dailey contributed $26 to the CBA.
The funds will help support ongoing monitoring, restoration, and conservation efforts for Big Redfish Lake, one of Walton County’s 15 coastal dune lakes.
“Our team is committed to protecting and preserving our local waterways, and Big Redfish Lake is one of the area’s rare coastal ecosystems,” said Jeanne Dailey, founder and CEO of Newman-Dailey Resort Properties. “We’re grateful to our guests for choosing to travel with purpose. Their participation helped us give back to an organization that plays a vital role in monitoring and protecting Big Redfish Lake and the waterways that define our coastal landscape.”
Coastal dune lakes are considered globally rare because they periodically connect with the Gulf, creating a unique mix of fresh and salt water. The unusual ecosystem supports a wide variety of wildlife, including redfish, mullet, osprey, herons, and numerous native plant and animal species.
The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance conducts water quality monitoring, shoreline restoration projects, and educational outreach designed to preserve the lakes for future generations.
Guests staying at both properties have direct access to Big Redfish Lake, where they can kayak, paddleboard, canoe, fish or explore the shoreline. The gated communities also offer resort-style amenities, including pools, fitness centers, and beach access. Guests at Sanctuary at Redfish can also take a pontoon shuttle across the lake to the Gulf beach.
Founded in 1985, Newman-Dailey Resort Properties has supported environmental initiatives for more than four decades through coastal cleanups, nonprofit partnerships and conservation-focused guest programs.
Photo Credit to Newman-Daily
