The story of TOPS’L begins in 1927, when its 52 acres along the Gulf Coast were granted through a presidential land patent. Over the following decades, the property passed through several owners, including investors such as Winthrop Rockefeller, Sophie Woodson Coors and members of the Woodson family. The land’s potential was recognized early, even as ideas for its use varied.
In 1982, Eddie and David Clark purchased the property and formed The Topsail, Ltd. Their goal was to develop a planned residential and resort community built on long-term vision and thoughtful design. In 1983 they created the TOPS’L Master Association, which still governs the community. By the mid-1980s the first buildings, amenities and tennis facilities were underway.
After national real estate changes in 1986, the project experienced several ownership transitions. In 1994, a group of Memphis businessmen partnered with Abbott Realty Services and reactivated large-scale development. Between 1996 and 1999, TOPS’L grew with new buildings that included The Summit, Captiva, Sierra Dunes and The Tides.
In the years that followed, remaining parcels and management entities associated with TOPS’L were acquired by ResortQuest, later by Wyndham and eventually by Vacasa. Through these changes, the community continued to follow the framework of the original master plan, maintaining a lower-density vision and a focus on natural surroundings. In 2019 Walton County approved an Essentially Built-Out Agreement that confirmed the remaining development capacity.
In 2022 the TOPS’L Master Association selected Virtuous Management Group to guide operations and future planning. Several parcels remain approved for development, including Grand Villas, a planned collection of luxury homes by Stephan Karian.
From its beginnings in 1927 to the community it is today, TOPS’L has been shaped by vision, planning and respect for its Gulf Coast setting. As the region grows, the resort continues to honor that heritage while looking ahead to a thoughtful future.