Mid Bay Shores Maxwell/Gunter Recreation Area

State: Florida

Short Name: Mid Bay Shores

Address 1: Maxwell Air Force Base

Address 2: Military Park

City: Niceville

Phone: 334-953-3509

Open all Year: Yes

Number of Sites: 34

Full Hook: 28

Free: No

About: Can you imagine relaxing on the sandy shore with a beautiful sunset glistening on the water on Florida’s Gulf of Mexico shores? You have spent the day boating, and swimming, and now you are grilling your dinner on the grill beside your beautiful cabin – enticing, right?

Mid-Bay Shores, Maxwell/Gunter’s Florida resort location opened April 2003 with 25 new fully furnished cabins. Formerly called Lake Pippin, the new name, Mid-Bay Shores, was chosen to better reflect the beautiful white sandy shores of Choctawatchee Bay that the resort faces. The gated entrance is just before the Choctawatchee Mid- Bay Bridge, a toll bridge that connects Niceville and Destin.

Located about three hours from Maxwell in Niceville, FL., Choctawatchee Bay is a large body of water that lies between Niceville and Destin. “This is really one of the most desirable vacationing areas in the Southeast,” said Joby Cheesman, Outdoor Recreation manager. “This location offers easy access to Destin with its great shopping, dining and family entertainment facilities and with its good year-round weather really makes it a gem for the Air Force.”

The rebuilt site now offers the 25 new furnished cabins plus 28 RV spaces with full hook-ups – water, electrical and sewer, and six overflow sites with just water and electrical hook-ups. Visitors have access to barbecue grills and picnic tables next to their facility. There is also a new bathhouse with laundry facilities.

The cabins are two-bedrooms with large closets, one bath, large living room and eat-in kitchen. The kitchen offers a full size range and refrigerator and dining table with six chairs. The living room has a queen-size sleeper sofa, two chairs, tables and lamps. The main bedroom is furnished with a queen bed, bedside tables and lamps. The second bedroom is furnished with a queen and a twin bed. The centrally air conditioned – heated cabins also have a color television for relaxing. There are window treatments for privacy and bedspreads on the beds. Visitors must furnish their own linens and towels.

Directions: FL-291 (Mid-Bay Bridge Connector) to Lakeshore Drive exit, follow signs to Maxwell-Gunter Recreation Area. The toll bridge is $3.00 for one vehicle with two axles and an additional $3.00 for each additional axle.