Ponce de Leon offers room to breathe for an affordable price
Ponce de Leon offers classic Florida living. Much of the area remains undeveloped and feels tropical, with wild brush growing along roadsides and homes spread far apart from one another. On a typical day, you can grab a bite at one of the town’s few restaurants and recognize nearly everyone in the room, and, in the summer, kids cool off by swimming in natural springs. It’s a good fit for buyers who want more land without paying big-city prices. And it’s still within driving distance of hubs like Panama City or Fort Walton Beach.
What homes cost and common styles in Ponce de Leon
Most homes in Ponce de Leon sit on large lots, with plenty of undeveloped land between properties. There aren’t traditional subdivisions here, just homes dotted along the tropical, near-coastal Florida landscape. For $100,000 or less, buyers can find a plot of land or a small home needing significant repairs. Most single-family homes range from the mid-$100,000s to the mid-$500,000s, and ranch-style homes, Cape Cods and A-frame houses are common. “It’s best for someone who wants to have more space in terms of their homestead,” says broker Susan Sharpe with Exit Realty Anchor South, who has sold many homes in the community.
Natural springs offer swimming and scuba diving year-round
“There are many lakes and springs in the area,” Sharpe says. “It appeals to someone who enjoys hunting, boating, fishing — that kind of thing.” At Ponce de Leon Springs State Park, the spring water stays at 68 degrees year-round. Visitors can take a dip in the clear waters, hike two nature trails through a lush forest or go fishing. Nearby Vortex Spring Adventures, Florida’s largest scuba diving destination, also offers snorkeling, swimming and camping opportunities. Morrison Springs County Park, spanning about 160 acres, is another popular swimming and diving destination. It’s part of the 57,000-acre Choctawhatchee River Wildlife Management Area, which runs from Alabama to Choctawhatchee Bay.
Small-town stores with bigger options just 10 miles away
Shopping and dining are limited in Ponce de Leon. Dollar General and Family Dollar cover essentials, while restaurant options include Panhandle Café & Market, offering comfort food like burgers and fries, and The Lunch Box, a food truck serving burgers, hot dogs and more. Wayne’s Grocery and Tom Thumb are two small convenience stores in town. Defuniak Springs , the next town over, about 10 miles west, has more grocery options, including Piggly Wiggly and Walmart Supercenter.
How school choice works in Holmes County School District
The Holmes County School District serves the community. School choice is capacity-driven. Families apply annually for reassignment, or open enrollment, to attend a different in-district school, and nonresidents may apply to transfer. Approval depends on available seats and priority categories, with lottery-numbered wait lists used once schools near or exceed capacity.
Driving times to nearby cities and regional hubs
Ponce de Leon is car-dependent, and several major roadways cut through the community, including Interstate 10, U.S. Route 90 and state Road 81. Here’s how long it would take you to get to more populated areas by car and what they're like:
- Crestview, around 40 miles west, in Okaloosa County, is known as a regional hub for shopping and dining.
- Niceville, about 45 miles southeast, near Eglin Air Force Base, has a strong military presence and a suburban feel.
- Fort Walton Beach, about 55 miles southwest, is a coastal city with beaches, tourism and a vibrant community.
- Panama City, approximately 60 miles southeast, is a major city on the Gulf Coast with extensive shopping, dining and entertainment.
The nearest airport, Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, is about 40 miles south, and the closest hospital, Walton Community Health Center, is about 10 miles west.
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Adreanna DeMarino
