Maxwell-Gunter Mid-Bay Shores Recreation Area

A perfect little getaway place hidden right by the Mid-Bay bridge. We love to come to this hidden gem area whenever we get a chance. They got picnic tables where you can bring your own food and enjoy the view while having your meal.

Cute little, no frills, 2 br bungalows on the bay! Fishing, swimming, water sport friendly. Some units accept pets. They have a playground.

An “off the cut” type of place and hidden near the mid-bay bridge. Definitely a beach getaway from the busy beaches on Okaloosa Island. If you enjoy the quiet and woodsier areas, then this is the place for you. It is well kept up and enough shade during the hot summer days provided by the trees. The incredible sunsets will not disappoint! It is not only a nice local spot, but also a fun family vacation hideout!

Very disappointed - tons of potential but suffers from basic TLC. Pros - The cost is cheap. Most sites have electricity, water, sewer, and cable. Strong wifi is available throughout the park. Close proximity to water (bay) and an assortment of self-powered water craft are available to rent as well as bikes. Friendly staff Cons - Dirty, check out is at 10:00 and check in at 1500 but we couldn't understand why; the sites are not inspected nor cleaned when vacated. Our site and the two adjacent had discarded lumber, carpet, burnt wood, and trash. Entire area needs to be mowed. The single bath house was large but during our week stay it was never cleaned. Yes, they did check that toilet paper was available and the trash taken out, but otherwise no cleaning. The area is also an RV, boat, trailer storage area. I'm not knocking this, but the management has allowed owners to park their vehicles however they chose with the resulting chaos making the entire area resemble a low-rent trailer park. It was apparent some of the RV's and trailers hadn't been moved in years. Management actually commented one had a registration dated 2012; management had no idea who actually owned the vehicles nor an accurate record of who was up-to-date with their monthly rent. The area has great potential, but it's not getting the attention it needs. There are other locations nearby that are much better; Henderson Beach, Topsail Preserve, Grayton Beach to name just a few.

This was my 5th year for my children and grandchildren to get together for fun and relaxation. We rent 4 to 5 cabins every year for a week and have no regrets. The staff was absolutely wonderful this year, making sure that our stay was fun and memorable.