About
Just beyond the Eglin AFB East Gate lies the city of Valparaiso. This Panhandle city has an “Old Florida” feel and is surrounded by the Boggy Bayou, an arm of the Choctawhatchee Bay. In 1922, James E. Plew moved down from Chicago in search of paradise and found it in Valparaiso. He purchased and developed what he affectionately dubbed “the end of the rainbow,” and retirees have been flocking to this area ever since. In 1934, he sold a significant portion of the land to the U.S. government, which later become Eglin AFB.
Residents are drawn to Valparaiso for the slow pace, desirable schools, affordable homes, and proximity to Eglin AFB. Fort Walton Beach and Destin are nearby and fill the shopping and dining needs of this bedroom community. “Val-p” shares a border with Eglin AFB and the “sound of freedom” is heard loud and clear in areas near the north/south runway. Valparaiso and Niceville are known as the “Twin Cities,” mainly due to the Valparaiso’s reliance on its younger, more populated neighbor.
Neighbors
This community is very popular with retirees and military families alike. It’s less of a vacation destination than nearby Destin and there is a small-town, tight-knit community vibe.
Neighborhood Feel
The homes in Valparaiso are typically older, most dating back to the 1950s. Affordable homes in need of renovation can be found easily, but new construction is hard to come by.
