Eastpoint is central for fishing and relaxation in the Florida panhandle
Eastpoint was established by a communal religious group in the 1800s and grew into a farming and fishing community. Eastpoint still has a focus on fishing but has also transformed into a relaxed center for tourism and a second-home destination on Florida’s panhandle. Buyers can expect properties with larger lawns and backyards among live oaks and palm trees. Some homes back onto the Gulf or the East Bay and have small private beaches or fishing piers. “It’s a laid-back lifestyle,” says Kara Landiss, a Realtor with Naumann Group Real Estate Inc. “It’s beach life, and we are not a big city, so we don’t have Costco and huge stores if that is what you’re into.”
A mix of housing options with some HOA activity
The median home price is $734,000, higher than the national and state medians. Properties include stilt homes, bungalows, ranch styles and New Traditionals. Plots of land are also for sale. Properties tend to sell slowly, remaining on the market for 133 days, higher than the average of 48 days. Landiss notes that some developments and properties have homeowners’ associations. She also adds that there have been some newer builds in Eastpoint.
Landiss says that Eastpoint has attracted both second-property and investment buyers as well as full-time residents and retirees. “We’re just more rural, and therefore, if people buy here, it’s basically (because they) love the area,” says Landiss.
Franklin County School District
Eastpoint students attend Franklin County School District, which is rated C-minus on Niche. Franklin County School has kindergarten through 12th grade classes and is ranked C. Gulf Coast State College, which is graded B-minus, has a campus in Apalachicola.
Nature reserves, state parks and beach access
The Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve, a 246,000-acre nature preserve, has its research and education center in Eastpoint, featuring exhibits and classrooms. Eastpoint also features multiple public fishing spots and charter companies.
Parks include Indian Creek Park, featuring a playground and small boat launches. Vrooman Park has several baseball diamonds, a playground and a basketball court. Tate’s Hell State Park, northeast of the locale, has hunting spots, horseback riding and camping areas. Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park is south of the community and has camping spots, hiking and biking trails. St. George’s Island also has public beaches.
Local restaurants abound, but larger retailers are limited
Eastpoint has multiple local dining options. Lynn’s Quality Oysters has been in the area since the 1970s, serving fresh local shellfish, and has a market. Mangia 850 has Italian dishes and rotating weekly specials. Fatdaddy’s Smokehouse serves breakfast items along with barbecue brisket and smoked chicken.
The community has several boutique clothing and gift shops off U.S. 98. Big Top Supermarket provides locals with groceries, along with several dollar stores. Other grocery stores can be found in Apalachicola, while Crawfordville has larger big-box retailers. George E. Weems Memorial Hospital is 6 miles west in Apalachicola.
Hurricane and flooding risk in Eastpoint
Hurricanes and severe weather can be a factor in Eastpoint, with Hurricane Michael skirting the area in 2024. Franklin County has an emergency management system to assist during storms. Maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency show a risk of flooding throughout most of Eastpoint, especially for properties directly adjacent to the water.
U.S. Route 98 and the distance to airports
U.S. Route 98 runs through the center of Eastpoint and connects to other cities on the Florida panhandle. Tallahassee International Airport is 76 miles north, while Northwest Florida Beaches International is 87 miles northwest.
