WHEELHOUSE COMES FULL CIRCLE: Landmark restaurant space will return to 30A as developers plan a culinary campus

A South Walton landmark on County Road 30A, The Wheelhouse Restaurant, is getting a new lease on life.

Victoria and Skip Moore bought the property in April and plan to rebuild a restaurant on the site, plus a little lagniappe.

The Wheelhouse sustained fire damage about five years ago and has sat vacant since then.

The structure and five cabins in back rest on 1.24 acres.

The Moores said they don’t know yet if refurbishing will be an option or if the structure will be torn down as everything is still in the conceptual stage.

However, local business owner Nikki Nickerson said she believes refurbishing would be impossible due to the extent of the damage.

Nickerson plans to expand her Cowgirl Kitchen and open a satellite branch at the site. She is currently located at Rosemary Beach.

“I have been looking for a second location,” said Nickerson. “The new location will be a grab and go with a market, and offer breakfast, coffee, teas, specialty items, wine, beer, casseroles to go and I will have wine tastings. I’m pretty excited.”

Skip said he plans for the restaurant to be a casual family type place that sports enthusiasts could enjoy.

Although the Moores have not been in the restaurant business before, Skip feels confident of their ability to make a go of it.

“Our confidence in this area for the long term is huge, and we’re committed to go in there and make something,” he said.

The Moores have been visitors to the area from their Atlanta home for more than 10 years and recently purchased a second home close to the Wheelhouse property. They owned two businesses in Atlanta, which were recently sold.

The Moores plan to open the five cottages on the property for retail space.

“We see it as becoming an avenue for strolling and shopping after dining at the restaurant that would flow like a campus,” said Victoria.

“We think it will be fun and exciting,” said Skip. “The cottages were built in the ‘50s and are charming. We want to keep their architecture and ambiance and just do basic standard upgrades to keep their original look and feel.”

Nickerson feels the campus will be a vibrant and exciting new addition to 30A.

The Moores said there has also been interest expressed by others to become part of the business campus.

Skip said the project is contingent on approval from planning and zoning.

“Right now we are in the design and engineering process. We probably won’t open for 8-10 months,” he said.