Sand Beach takes its descriptive name from the sandy shoreline along Apalachicola Bay in the historic fishing community of Eastpoint, Franklin County. Eastpoint was established in 1896 by Quaker David Brown and his family from Nebraska, who founded the Co-Workers Fraternity, a cooperative enterprise where families engaged in farming, seafood harvesting, lumber, and manufacturing with all profits shared communally. The 1898 experimental colony developed into an authentic commercial fishing village that became the heart of Florida's oyster industry. The area forms part of Florida's Forgotten Coast, a designation celebrating the Big Bend region's largely undeveloped character. The John Gorrie Memorial Bridge, originally built in 1935 and rebuilt in 1988, connects Eastpoint across Apalachicola Bay to the town of Apalachicola.
Eastpoint Public Beach provides shallow Apalachicola Bay waters for wading, picnic tables for waterfront dining, and a fishing pier extending into the nutrient-rich bay system. While Sand Beach offers bay-side access, nearby St. George Island State Park, 7-10 miles distant, provides Gulf of Mexico swimming, sunbathing, and beachcombing on white sand beaches. Fishing opportunities abound throughout Apalachicola Bay's shallow waters, with redfish, flounder, trout, and numerous other species thriving in the estuarine habitat. Two public boat ramps serve anglers and recreational boaters, with multiple bait and tackle shops supporting the fishing community. The Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve features a visitor center with fish tanks, interactive displays, and walking trails. Kayaking, hiking, and biking extend north into Tate's Hell State Forest and Apalachicola National Forest via Highway 65.
Lynn's Quality Oysters Raw Bar, located at 402 Highway 98 overlooking Apalachicola Bay, serves freshly harvested Apalachicola oysters from the bay producing 90% of Florida's oysters and 10% of the nationwide supply, maintaining a 5-out-of-5 TripAdvisor rating for three consecutive years. Red Pirate Family Grill and Oyster Bar in the heart of Eastpoint near Island Drive offers various oyster preparations in a family-friendly setting. Barber's Seafood specializes in the best Apalachicola oysters prized for their buttery, briny, mellow flavor, along with shellfish and fresh-caught fish.
