Stay & Play at Camp Creek Inn

Membership Has Its Privileges

By McKenna Mears | Photography courtesy of The St. Joe Company and Camp Creek Inn

Nestled among towering pines and overlooking the tranquil greens of the Camp Creek^® Golf Course, Camp Creek^SM Inn, a seventy-five-room boutique hotel, draws inspiration from the charming architecture of Louisiana. From the moment guests arrive, a sense of tranquility envelops them, setting the stage for a truly serene escape just a few minutes from the white-sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico and Scenic Highway 30-A along the Florida coast.

At Camp Creek Inn, luxury wears a laid-back, welcoming charm. As part of the Watersound Club^® experience, guests of Camp Creek Inn become “members for a stay.” Booking a room allows them to enjoy exclusive access to a plethora of amenities, including golf courses, restaurants and bars, pools, an idyllic beach club, and a rejuvenating wellness center, ensuring a genuinely immersive retreat. Established in 2023, Camp Creek Inn marks only the beginning of an ever-expanding array of offerings for both members and guests, with the anticipation of a forthcoming addition—a new golf course. The Watersound Club team will be joined by PGA legend Davis Love III and his design firm, Love Golf Design, in building a new golf course named “The Third.”

The club creates a home away from home treasured by visitors and locals alike. Among the unforgettable amenities, outdoor activities, and breathtaking landscapes are the private dining venues offered only to guests of Camp Creek Inn and Watersound Club members. From lunch after a morning on the golf course to sunset cocktails at the private Beach Club or hearty meals steeped in tradition, there’s a treat for every palate.

Step into the grand entryway of the Camp Creek Clubhouse and back in time to 1936. An upscale bar steeped in history, 1936 welcomes guests with its timeless charm. The elevated private bar and relaxed lounge offer the perfect setting to unwind after a round of golf or a spirited game of pickleball or tennis. Indulge in light bites, craft cocktails, and a delightful happy hour, making it the ultimate retreat for relaxation and camaraderie.

Venture beyond the bustling bar and step into ANR, a culinary tribute to the Southeastern coastal region and the Apalachicola Northern Railroad, which was the heartbeat of the area from 1903 to 2002. The culinary team has crafted the menu to include flavors inspired by famed cities and small towns that lend their tastes to a selection of ANR entrees called “Southern Town Mains.” Using local ingredients, this dining venue pays homage to the past and invites guests on a journey through the region’s culinary landscape.

Each menu was curated to appeal to our hotel guests and club members and to tell the story of The St. Joe Company

After a day spent leisurely floating in the lazy river, lounging in the adults-only pool, or enjoying family fun on the waterslide, there’s nothing like a poolside feast and refreshing cocktails to cap it off. Bark ’N Brine, located poolside at Camp Creek Inn and Golf Course, provides the perfect casual setting.

Just a skip away, the Watersound Beach Club^® beckons with even more private dining experiences. At Beach Break Grill, guests can find freshly grilled burgers, sandwiches, and salads—a perfect complement to a leisurely day in the sun. Meanwhile, 30°86° offers breathtaking views of the beach, inviting guests to savor coastal classics in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. For those seeking a more traditional golf club experience, Shark’s Tooth Grill provides the ideal setting, with options for intimate indoor dining or al fresco dining on the expansive patio overlooking the eighteenth green at Shark’s Tooth.

If your stomach is rumbling with anticipation, it’s time to book your stay at Camp Creek Inn, become a member for a stay, and dive into all these dining experiences. Just remember to arrive with an appetite!

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To book a stay at Camp Creek Inn and learn more about the Watersound Club private dining options and experiences, visit CampCreekInn.com or follow @campcreek.inn on Instagram.

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General manager David Merryman gave us some insight into Camp Creek Inn’s culinary offerings!

VIE: Guests of Camp Creek Inn become “members for a stay” at the exclusive, private-membership Watersound Club properties. What unique dining privileges and experiences can they expect?

David Merryman: The Club has an amazing assortment of dining venues, each created to provide our members and inn guests with unique options for any occasion. Whether it is the upscale ambiance of ANR, the convivial clubhouse feel of 1936, or the casual smokehouse experience at Bark ’N Brine, Camp Creek Inn has an option for everyone. Add in our two beachside venues at the Watersound Beach Club amenities, and we have your classic waterfront experiences covered, along with panoramic views of the Gulf.

VIE: Can you tell us about the inspiration behind Camp Creek Inn’s restaurant menus?

DM: Each menu was curated to appeal to our hotel guests and club members and to tell the story of The St. Joe Company, which is so intertwined with the local area. While ANR was focused on giving a more approachable upscale venue for dinner, 1936 speaks to its function as the clubhouse’s all-day dining venue. Bark ’N Brine was conceived with its poolside location in mind, and as such, it is a lively and casual venue with a menu to match.

VIE: What factors do you consider when designing the dining experience for guests at each restaurant?

DM: We always take feedback from our members when designing our menus and lean on the experience we have gained with our other dining locations throughout the St. Joe® portfolio of hotels and restaurants. We take into consideration the location and function of each venue. For example, 1936 serves as the classic “clubhouse” venue, and you instantly feel that club vibe with golfers, members, and hotel guests all intermingling and enjoying lively conversation or sports on the video screens. For ANR, we wanted to offer a more private and intimate space where the elevated cuisine was matched by warm brickwork and penny tile floors, with sweeping views of the golf course through floor-to-ceiling windows.

VIE: What sets each of the restaurants at Camp Creek Inn apart in terms of ambience and cuisine?

DM: ANR takes its inspiration and name from the Apalachicola Northern Railroad, which served as the lifeblood of the area from 1903 to 2002. Our culinary team has curated ANR’s menu to encompass culinary flavors inspired by popular towns and renowned cities, stretching from Alabama’s Gulf Coast to the French Creole area of New Orleans and out-of-the-way small towns.

1936 is named after the company’s founding year and is located on the first floor of the inn and clubhouse. 1936’s centerpiece is its lively bar, creating an ideal meeting spot after golf or time on the tennis and pickleball courts. It’s the perfect locale for gathering for lighter fare and enjoying happy hour with friends in the evening. It also offers an intimate outdoor dining area with stunning views of the ninth and eighteenth holes of Camp Creek Golf Course.

Situated poolside at Camp Creek Inn, Bark ’N Brine offers a casual and laid-back ambience, with exposed brick decor and a blend of indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor firepit and bar have become popular gathering spots for our members and guests alike. The menu offers health-conscious twists on Southern smokehouse fare, gluten-free options, and casual comfort food, perfect for enjoying by the pool or in the company of friends and family.

VIE: What excites you most about the future of the dining experiences at Camp Creek Inn?

DM: The chance to really provide our members and hotel guests with a memorable experience that tells the story of who we are was the most exciting thing for me as we took the dining experience from concept to reality. It’s been amazing to see how each venue has developed its own personality and how our members and guests use each outlet. You always hope you are offering an experience that resonates with your patrons when you develop dining concepts. It’s so gratifying to see that unfold and see those venues brought to life and provide lasting memories to everyone who experiences them.

VIE: Thank you, David!

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