A story about the last cable operated ferry service east of the Mississippi. Read how its sudden closure on February 9, 1989 left over two hundred residents isolated in their island community. Situated less than two water miles from the idyllic village of Sea Haven, the setting for the recent Hollywood movie, local residents were cast in a real life drama when the access to their homes was removed.
In 1938 the army corps of Engineers constructed the intracoastal canal, joining West Bay in Bay County, with Choctawhatchee Bay in Walton County, Florida. The new waterway sliced through the access road leading to the tiny community of Bunker Creek, which became known as Bunker Island. For 51 years, vehicles and their passengers were transported across the waterway by an antiquated barge held on course by a steel cable strung from bank to bank, that was raised and lowered each time it was used. County records show that over the years, three separate incidents occurred when boaters received serious injuries trying to slip under the cable

Walton County had made several efforts to discontinue the service, but each time were rebuffed. In January 1989 following a verbal fracas with residents over operating hours, a resolution was passed to close the ferry permanently. Ferry supporters erected this sign on Hwy 98, and hundreds of people packed the meeting hall in De Funiak Springs to voice their opposition. County Commissioners ignored their pleas and voted 4-1 to discontinue ferry service immediately. All residents could do was scurry back to catch the last ferry to Bunker Creek.

At 2 p.m. that same day, the old steel barge made its last trip and Walton County wasted no time in removing the contentious vessel. Quoting allegations of gunfire at the ferryman's lodgings , the ferry was winched from its mooring at 3 p.m. the following day. Children couldn't get to school, people lost their jobs, and the elderly were left stranded, cut off from hospitals, grocery stores, and churches.

1937, MARCH 26.
U.S. Congress grants Walton County permission to provide ferry service to 16 Bunker families and 23 schoolchildren until bridge built.

1938, JULY 7.
Intracoastal opened.

1989, FEBRUARY 9.
Ferry closed by Walton Co.

1989,FEBRUARY 10.
Only known photo shows ferry removed despite pending court action.

1990, FEBRUARY 9.
Residents denied access to their homes 200 days out of 365 due to impassable conditions on Steelfield Road.

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