Carillon Beach began as a pristine 104-acre parcel of gulf front property that includes almost a mile of white, sandy beach bordering the Gulf of Mexico. Lloyd Vogt, a renowned New Orleans architect, was engaged to develop our town plan. His love of historical preservation coupled with his knowledge of traditional urbanism formed the foundation of what Carillon has become today.
Vogt knew that a seashore community has different requirements from those of a typical town layout. It was critically important that the town’s arrangement make the beach accessible both physically and visually. The village’s amenities and their placement emphasize a sense of community, and they were planned to encourage pedestrian, bike, and cart traffic.
Beyond the beautiful gulf beach setting, the community was planned around two important elements of Carillon – one natural and one man made.
Encompassed within our community is Lake Carillon, a 13 -acre freshwater lake. The lake is brimming with local flora and fauna including lily pads, bass, and turtles, and is an important stopping-off point for migrating birds.
The Carillon Bell Tower represents the heart of our community, and all of the roads in Carillon lead to bell tower circle. The bell tower contains 35 bells that play an assortment of music as it dutifully chimes on the hour during the day.
Construction began on Carillon roads, sidewalks, utilities, and amenities in 1991, and shortly thereafter, sales of home sites were initiated. It was important that all homes and cottages within Carillon be unique, but also that they share a distinctive thread of consistency that would evolve into the “Carillon Style.” Along with the master plan for the community, Lloyd also developed the architectural guidelines for home design and construction. The Carillon Beach Design Code is not tied to a particular period or place in history, but rather it respects the unique climate and geography of the Gulf coast.
Homes were encouraged to include features like shaded porches that capture the gulf breezes and high ceilings that created airy rooms full of light. Each home is custom designed and constructed by carefully selected and proven licensed architects and builders. Even though the overall character of the community has been maintained with strict guidelines and individual reviews, there are no two Carillon homes alike. Both our homes and amenities contribute to the distinctive weave of a fine community fabric that is functional while being aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
It is a place where family, neighbors, and friends can enjoy the environment and each other, while feeling safe and having a true sense of community. In a word … Carillon Is Home!
In 1998, Carillon’s developer began a major, multi-year expansion called Market Street that added shopping, services, on-premises dining options, and condominiums. In 2007, additional expansions added the Carillon Inn and the Sunrise and Sunset Condominiums to our growing and diverse community offerings.