The Town
Wausau is a tiny incorporated town on State Road 77 between Chipley and Panama City, about fifteen minutes south of the county seat. The town's biggest day in its early history was July 4, 1907, when thousands gathered to celebrate Independence Day and the completion of the Birmingham, Columbus, and St. Andrew's Bay Railroad to Wausau. The railroad brought the timber industry, and the town grew around it.
Wausau incorporated in 1963 after a civic revival in the 1950s. Today it remains one of Washington County's smallest municipalities, but it punches well above its size in name recognition thanks to one thing: the Possum Festival.
The Possum Festival
Since 1970, Wausau has hosted the Wausau Possum Festival on the first Saturday of August. Created by Dalton Carter and the Wausau Community Development Club, the festival celebrates the Virginia opossum — a creature that was a vital survival food for local families during the Great Depression. The festival has run for more than fifty years and draws visitors from across the region. Wausau calls itself the Possum Capital of the World, and there is a Possum Monument in town to prove it.
For a town this small, the festival is a significant community anchor and a reminder that Washington County's small towns have character that the county-wide statistics don't capture.
For Land Buyers
The land around Wausau is rural Washington County at its most affordable — pine flatwoods, small farms, and homesite acreage along and off State Road 77. The corridor between Wausau and Chipley sees some commuter interest, and SR-77 provides a direct route south toward Panama City Beach (about 40 minutes).
Wausau itself has minimal commercial services — Chipley is the practical hub for groceries, medical care, and county offices. Buyers looking here are buying for rural character, affordability, and SR-77 access, not for town services.
As with all rural Washington County land, check well and septic feasibility, confirm county zoning, and verify legal access before making an offer.
Nearby
- Chipley — county seat, about 15 minutes north
- Greenhead — nearby on SR-77
- Sunny Hills — platted community to the south
Common Questions
What is the Wausau Possum Festival?
The Wausau Possum Festival has been held on the first Saturday of August since 1970. It was created by Dalton Carter and the Wausau Community Development Club. The festival celebrates the Virginia opossum, which was a vital survival food for local families during the Great Depression. Wausau is known as the Possum Capital of the World.
How much does land cost near Wausau FL?
Land near Wausau is generally priced below the county average, comparable to rural tracts in the Vernon area. Exact pricing varies by tract size and road frontage. Contact Doug for current inventory and pricing.
How far is Wausau from Chipley?
Wausau is approximately 15 minutes south of Chipley via State Road 77.