Carrabelle has historically been a quiet fishing village where shrimp boats depart from to fish the productive shallows of the Gulf of Mexico.
Sitting where the Crooked River snakes into the Gulf, it commands a view of Dog Island and St. George Island along its southern horizon.
During World War II, Camp Gordon Johnston upended daily life for this off-the-beaten path town.
To practice storming the beaches of Normandy, the beach at Carrabelle is where the Army taught soldiers to disembark from amphibious watercraft.
Only remnants of the camp remain today, including the local airport, a few structures, and a museum devoted to its important role in the success of the D-Day invasion.
Surrounding the community is Tate’s Hell State Forest, occupying more than 315 square miles. To the north of that lies the Apalachicola National Forest.
So you’re unlikely to stumble across Carrabelle unless you love the outdoors, or take the time to drive the Big Bend Scenic Byway along the Forgotten Coast.
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