Grayton Beach: Nice dogs, friendly folks and a colorful three-eyed giraffe
By Tom Adkinson
November 26, 2021

The towering giraffe marks the location of the Zoo Gallery. Image by Tom Adkinson

GRAYTON BEACH, Florida – “Nice dogs, friendly people” is the phrase that residents of Grayton Beach enjoy using to describe this beach community. Visitors who stroll through its tiny commercial district might amend it to say “Nice dogs, friendly people and a colorful three-eyed giraffe.”

The towering giraffe marks the location of the Zoo Gallery, a shop with a colorful, diverse and sometimes weird inventory. Examples include Jerry Garcia, Bernie Sanders and Willie Nelson felt Christmas ornaments made by Central Asian artists; T-Rex earrings; and artful and decidedly untouristy t-shirts.

Grayton Beach sign welcomes everyone. Image by Tom Adkinson

As distinctive as the Zoo Gallery is, it’s not likely to become Grayton Beach’s most famous landmark. That title belongs to its across-the-street neighbor, the Red Bar. The Red Bar burned in February 2019, but a virtual carbon copy rose from the ashes and opened in July 2020 under the giraffe’s watchful gaze. It sees all that happens along Hotz Avenue since it has a third eye that stares out from its chest.

Grayton Beach is perhaps the most laid back of the communities along Florida 30A in the Florida panhandle.