DeFuniak Springs was founded by the officers of the Pensacola & Atlantic Railroad, a subsidiary of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. The P&A Railway was organized to connect the terminus of the L&N near Pensacola to the western terminus of the Seaboard Railroad at River Junction, now the Chattahoochee River, in the 1880s. It was named after Frederick R. DeFuniak, the president of the L&N Railroad. Like much of Northwest Florida, DeFuniak Springs was settled mainly by Scots from Virginia and the Carolinas.
This website was created to help you find information pertaining to Defuniak Springs, FL including history, hotels, restaurants, attractions and historic structures.
Located between Tallahassee and Pensacola, DeFuniak Springs Florida is the county seat of Walton County. DeFuniak Springs is located off of I-10 and situated 30 minutes from The Beaches of South Walton in one direction, 30 minutes from the Alabama state line to the north. DeFuniak Springs is one of two locations in the world with a naturally occurring round spring-fed lake.
Every year the Chautauqua Assembly gathers in DeFuniak Springs to celebrate the history of the assembly and to carry on the tradition.
Outdoor activities abound including hunting (especially deer), hiking, canoeing, golfing, fishing and boating. Freshwater fishing for bass is the main fishing target and for saltwater the Choctawhatchee Bay is a short drive away, as is Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City and the charter fishing fleet.
Other yearly activities include the Bonifay Rodeo, the Walton County Fair, and numerous musical events from gospel to bluegrass and more. Within Defuniak Springs there is much to see, the oldest operating library is here, the Victorian homes around Lake Defuniak are a must see.
