Beal House

Florida’s Panhandle boasts some of the nation’s most beautiful white sand beaches, attracting tourists from all over the world. From Perdido Key to Apalachicola, each coastal town has its own unique character and when visitors are looking for the convenience of city amenities near the solitude of a national park, Fort Walton Beach tops the list.

For decades, a Gulf-front Best Western hotel – less than a mile from major city attractions, including the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center, Gulfarium Marine Park, and Okaloosa Boardwalk – served travelers to the city. In 2022, OTO Development, part of The Johnson Group, partnered with construction firm Robins & Morton to renovate the hotel, transforming it into a boutique property. Now part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton, the hotel pays homage to local history as it welcomes visitors from around the world.

OTO Development planned to cosmetically renovate every portion of the property and give it a new identity: Beal House Fort Walton Beachfront, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. The name pays homage to Dr. James Hartley Beal, a pharmacist, educator, and early citizen of Fort Walton Beach whose vision still influences the community today. To honor Dr. Beal and the city’s culture, OTO Development worked with architect Pond – a full-service interior design, architecture, and engineering firm – to incorporate nods to his legacy into the hotel design.