The history of the Alligator Point–St. Teresa Association

If you've ever looked at Alligator Point from the air, you've probably noticed something unique. The narrow peninsula stretching west from eastern Franklin County resembles an alligator making its way through the Gulf. That's how Alligator Point got its name—and for generations, it has been one of Florida's most special coastal communities.

Long before today's neighborhoods took shape, Alligator Point and nearby St. Teresa were quiet vacation destinations with only a handful of seasonal homes and a small marina serving local boaters and fishermen.

Everything changed during World War II.

In 1942, the U.S. Department of War acquired more than 16,000 acres stretching from Carrabelle to eastern Franklin County to establish Camp Gordon Johnston, where soldiers trained for amphibious landings before deployment overseas. The beaches of Dog Island and St. George Island became training grounds, while Alligator Point was used for aerial bombing and gunnery practice. Homes at St. Teresa Beach housed military officers during the war.

Alligator Point during World War II: This historic map shows the Camp Gordon Johnston training area, including Alligator Point, where military forces conducted training exercises during World War II. Courtesy of the State Archives of Florida.

When the war ended in 1946, the land was returned to its original owners, and over the following decades the Forgotten Coast slowly began to grow. By the 1960s and 1970s, Alligator Point and St. Teresa had become increasingly popular destinations for second homes, weekend getaways, retirees, and outdoor enthusiasts. The area also became an important source of Franklin County revenue through property and sales taxes.

Yet residents faced a unique challenge.

As unincorporated communities located far from the county seat in Apalachicola, eastern Franklin County had relatively few full-time residents—and therefore relatively few voters. Most homes were still vacation or weekend residences. Longtime APSTA member Ben Houston recalls that residents felt their end of the county was not receiving its fair share of government services and maintenance.

Roads, public safety, beach access, emergency services, and protection of the area's natural beauty all required a stronger and more unified voice.

A community comes together

According to Ben Houston's recollections, local residents began organizing around these concerns as early as the mid-1960s. What may have started informally eventually became the Alligator Point Taxpayers' Association (APTA), providing property owners with a collective voice in county government.

The organization was formally incorporated on February 11, 1977, as the Alligator Point Taxpayers' Association, Inc., a Florida nonprofit corporation. It continues to operate under that legal name today.

As neighboring communities became more interconnected, the association's mission gradually expanded beyond Alligator Point. To better reflect the communities it serves, the organization eventually adopted its public name, the Alligator Point–St. Teresa Association (APSTA), representing residents of Alligator Point, Bald Point, Bay North, and St. Teresa.

From its earliest days, the association's purpose has been straightforward: to work cooperatively with Franklin County while providing a strong, independent voice for residents and property owners in the eastern part of the county.

Over the decades, Franklin County officials have come to recognize the association as an important voice for the Alligator Point and Bald Point communities.

From the old fire station to Mission by the Sea

APSTA's monthly meetings haven't always been held in the comfortable surroundings members know today.

For years, members climbed a steep flight of stairs to a meeting room on the second floor of the old fire station. Ben and Julia Houston remember the space as dusty and sometimes moldy, with firefighting gear and equipment waiting nearby for the next call. The steep staircase was particularly difficult for some of the association's older members.

Ben believed moving the meetings to a more accessible and welcoming location might encourage more residents to participate.

Two faithful association members, Frank and Juanita Gibson, were also members of Mission by the Sea Community Church. Frank was a church trustee, and Ben approached the Gibsons about the possibility of holding association meetings there. With the church's approval, the association moved its meetings to Mission by the Sea and agreed to pay for use of the facility.

The arrangement proved lasting. Decades later, APSTA members still gather at Mission by the Sea for their monthly meetings.

Keeping neighbors connected

Long before websites, email newsletters, and social media made it easy to spread community news, APSTA kept members informed the old-fashioned way—through the mail.

Longtime members remember an association newsletter believed to have been called Down at the Point. Ann Price served as editor, with the APSTA president typically contributing a column. Ann Muzak was also a frequent contributor, along with other community members.

The newsletter kept property owners—many of whom did not live at the Point full time—connected to what was happening in their coastal community.

That commitment to communication continues today, even if the tools have changed considerably.

A stronger voice after Hurricane Dennis

Few events demonstrate the importance of a strong community association more clearly than Hurricane Dennis in 2005.

Although Dennis made landfall well west of Franklin County, the storm produced a devastating surge along Alligator Point. Residents remember a massive wave of water sweeping across the Point, destroying the KOA campground, damaging or destroying Gulf-front homes, and washing out portions of Alligator Drive.

Water crossed the peninsula, leaving behind debris, mud, and destruction. With road access severely compromised, some residents walked for miles through the heat and debris simply to find out whether their homes were still standing and, if they were, how badly they had been damaged.

The devastation strengthened the association's role as an advocate before the Franklin County Commission. Additional road washouts followed during subsequent hurricane seasons, and APSTA repeatedly pressed for immediate and timely repairs to restore access for residents.

The experience reinforced something the association had understood since its earliest days: a small, unincorporated coastal community needs a strong collective voice when dealing with issues that affect its safety, property, and future.

Building relationships with local government

Over the years, many APSTA leaders and volunteers have worked tirelessly on behalf of the community.

Longtime board member Allan Feifer became known as the association's researcher, digging deeply into issues affecting the area. He also encouraged APSTA members to work directly with Franklin County department heads and the Franklin County Sheriff's Office during the annual budgeting process.

That effort helped establish what would become a close and productive relationship between APSTA and the Sheriff's Office and strengthened the association's involvement in public safety issues.

Other longtime volunteers provided years of continuity behind the scenes. John Murphy served for many years as secretary, while Bill Kimbrough was a longtime treasurer. Both eventually stepped down for health reasons after years of service to the organization.

APSTA has been fortunate to have many presidents and board members over the decades who have worked hard to ensure that eastern Franklin County receives the attention, services, and representation it deserves.

Among those leaders was Andrea Novak, APSTA's first female president. Elected shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic, she guided the organization through an unprecedented period when normal membership meetings could not be held and, for a time, only the Board was able to meet.

Growing from advocacy into community

APSTA's story isn't only about roads, budgets, hurricanes, and county government. Over time, bringing neighbors together became an important part of its identity.

Ben Houston joined the association in 2001, and that Fourth of July, he and Don Munroe cooked hot dogs for residents at Alligator Point. Ben and Julia believe it may have been the association's first community-wide social event.

It was a simple gathering, but it represented something important: APSTA was becoming not only an advocate for the community, but also an organization that helped create a stronger sense of community.

That role continued to grow.

The Welcome Garden, for example, was originally cared for by local residents, including Joann Dieble and other women in the community who kept flowers blooming and created an inviting entrance to the Point. Around 2009 or 2010, APSTA began helping maintain the garden, continuing the tradition established by those early volunteers.

Today, monthly membership meetings, educational programs, holiday celebrations, beach and bike path cleanups, beautification projects, volunteer recognition, and community events all help strengthen connections among neighbors while preserving the welcoming spirit that makes this area so unique.

Growing with the community

Over the years, APSTA's work has expanded far beyond its original focus on taxpayer concerns.

The association has advocated for improvements to roads and transportation, public safety, emergency services, beach preservation, shoreline protection, hurricane recovery, environmental stewardship, and responsible growth throughout eastern Franklin County. APSTA members regularly attend county commission meetings, public workshops, and meetings with government agencies to ensure local residents' voices are heard.

Recent projects have included supporting improvements to the S-Curve boat ramp, installing community benches, expanding community communications, creating the APSTA Little Free Library, recognizing volunteers, and continuing to work with Franklin County on issues involving traffic safety, infrastructure, and beach access.

Through all these changes, one thing has remained constant: APSTA is powered by volunteers.

From the residents who tended the Welcome Garden and mailed newsletters decades ago to today's members who attend county meetings, organize community events, clean beaches and bike paths, maintain community projects, and keep their neighbors informed, generations of volunteers have helped shape the organization.

Looking ahead

As APSTA approaches its 50th anniversary as an incorporated organization, it continues to fulfill the vision of the residents who first came together decades ago: providing a unified voice for the people who call this special corner of Franklin County home.

Whether working to protect our beaches, improve public safety, preserve our natural environment, advocate for essential services, or simply bring neighbors together, APSTA remains committed to helping ensure that Alligator Point, Bald Point, Bay North, and St. Teresa remain wonderful places to live, visit, and enjoy for generations to come.

And while much has changed since residents first began gathering to discuss the needs of their community, APSTA's greatest strength remains exactly what it has always been—neighbors working together for the place they love.

We invite all residents and property owners to join us at our monthly meetings at Mission by the Sea Community Church and become part of APSTA's continuing story. 

Special thanks to Sam Rogers, one of APSTA's first presidents, and Julia and Ben Houston, who provided this history, and to John Kelly for researching and compiling the above information!

Help Preserve Our History

Do you have old photographs, newsletters, newspaper clippings, or memories of Alligator Point, St. Teresa, Bald Point, Bay North, or APSTA? We'd love to hear from you. Please send them to me so we can help preserve our community's history for future generations.