About Emerald Coast Motor Club and Scrap the Track DeFuniak
What is Emerald Coast Motor Club?
Emerald Coast Motor Club (ECMC) is a members-only motorsport country club and luxury entertainment complex proposed for 651+ acres of rural land in DeFuniak Springs, Walton County, Florida. The racetrack’s impact zone isn’t theoretical—it includes real people, real places. Right now, it’s aimed at the Alaqua and Woodlawn neighborhoods, where families, farms, churches, and our hospital are all at risk.
Marketed as a “golf club but with a racetrack instead,” the ECMC proposal includes:
3.25-mile FIA Grade 2 racetrack designed for professional-level sports cars
Karting track that doubles as an autocross for car training & sprinkler system for practicing wet driving
Skid pad circular track where cars spin, slide, and burn rubber at high speeds—creating constant noise and toxic tire, brake, and exhaust pollution
Pit and paddock
130 “recreational villas” (marketed as non-residential but that function as luxury residences)
Trackside garage condos that can be built out for overnight stays with kitchens, bathrooms, and rooftop terraces.
Private clubhouse with dining, training, and fitness facilities
651+ acres of paving, concrete, and buildings, much of it around land containing wetlands and Flood Zone A land, with Blounts Creek requiring a bridge from the villas to the racetrack.
- It’s estimated that more than 32% of the site would be paved or built over—twice the impervious surface limits Walton County recommends for rural areas.
Unlike most Tilke-designed racetracks, which are typically located in remote areas or near major highways and airports, ECMC is positioned directly within a rural community, immediately adjacent to homes, churches, and less than a mile from the city’s hospital.
This proximity, among hundreds of residents, poses serious risks to nearby families who value their peace and safety. The constant noise, traffic, and activity of such a high-density luxury entertainment complex would drastically reduce the quality of life for hundreds of residents, making ECMC a unique and pressing threat to Walton County’s rural communities.
While ECMC is promoted as a “private club,” a quick look at other Tilke Club of Clubs racetrack projects shows that these facilities often expand after approval, adding public events, nighttime racing, and relaxed restrictions. Atlanta Motorsports Park (AMP) followed this path, starting as private-only but now hosting large public events and night racing despite initial promises.
The scale and intensity of this luxury entertainment complex are incompatible with Walton County’s rural setting and require rezoning and land use changes that appear to conflict with the Walton County Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code—rules designed to discourage urban sprawl and protect rural landscapes.
Who We Are - Scrap the Track in DeFuniak
We are Scrap the Track in DeFuniak, a large, growing coalition of Walton County residents, small farm owners, business owners and multi-generational families who live adjacent to and near the proposed Emerald Coast Motor Club site.
Our mission is to protect our Alaqua and Woodlawn neighborhoods’ rural character, farmland, and environment from this oversized racetrack and luxury entertainment complex being plopped down right in the middle of our homes. We believe in responsible growth that respects local families and natural resources—not development that sacrifices our peace and safety for the benefit of out-of-county seasonal members.
Through research, public education, and community engagement, we are working to ensure Walton County’s Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code are upheld, so growth remains compatible with our rural way of life.
We are not opposed to growth or even a private racetrack of this kind in Walton County, provided it’s in a location that doesn’t endanger neighborhoods, churches, wetlands, and critical infrastructure. But we stand united in opposing this racetrack and entertainment complex at this location because we believe it:
Threatens property values, public safety, and rural tranquility
Risks long-term environmental damage to Blount’s Creek, Choctowhatchee Bay watershed, and protected species
Places an unnecessary burden on water, sewer, and road infrastructure
Conflicts with Walton County’s planning standards, designed to prevent urban sprawl
Brings minimal economic benefit to local residents while serving primarily out-of-area members
This isn’t about being anti-racing—many in our community support motorsports and some are racers themselves. What we oppose is the location: next to rural homes, small farms, and families.
Why This Page Matters
We built this site to:
Give residents clear, fact-based information about ECMC.
Make it easy to understand the impacts this development will have on our community.
Help neighbors get involved—by writing letters, attending meetings, and staying informed.
