There it is … sitting along a beautiful beach sandwiched between a high-rise condominium to its right and a parking garage of another high-rise condo to its left. A place where friends meet. A place where others become friends. A place for good times and good music.
It’s a local legend, yet a place well-known throughout the South. A place that northerners in the condos as vacationers or snowbirds came to know. The place actually straddling the Florida-Alabama state line – although it is mainly in Florida. A place that was a very short walk from where we stayed in January.
There it is – A place displaying a weathered look while sitting along the beach since 1964. A weathered look of normal wear and tear that beach side brings, plus the occasional hammering by storms and hurricanes.
The Flora-Bama -a colorful place with a colorful past that includes a long list of colorful characters.
The Flora-Bama – a place featuring music seven days a week by local and regional musicians songwriters. Some who made it to the national stage of hits and awards while others maintain their local craft.
The Flora-Bama – with its more than eclectic collection of artifacts adorning its walls and ceilings – plus walls with names of patrons written in permanent markers – let alone the framed signed pictures of visitors and performers – and yes, even there is even more to see.
The Flora-Bama – an institution to many, no wonder country music star Kenny Chesney wrote a song about it. No wonder he performed his only concert of 2014 along its beach to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Before I tell you more in another post, I’ll let his lyrics and his music video introduce you to this slice of Americana – the place its documentary called The Last Great American Roadhouse. Welcome to the Flora-Bama Lounge Oyster Bar and Package Store.
What a great teaser… for those of us who’ve not been…
Love Kenny Chesney!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dale,
Thanks. My first draft most of this info plus my encounters with this place. I couldn’t make it work until I got the idea for two posts! (The next one probably next week). And finding this video was one of the main factors. Glad you enjoyed Kenny. Maybe I’ll include it in the follow-up post. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am transported. I’m 20 again, with my girl on a summer Virginia beach. There was no other time like it .
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jim,
Ah ha … you must have been the young Naval officer based in Newport News trolling the sands and boardwalk of Virginia Beach. Glad I was able to spark the memories.
LikeLike
Should have gone there. Thanks for the description.
LikeLiked by 1 person
John,
Oh yes … Interestingly, back then it may have given people the “I’m not going in there” impression. At one time I recall T-Shirts calling it The Ultimate Dive Bar.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks like my kind of place.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great … and there will be people there who know who to blame!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve already laid blame for not having gone there. Not my fault for sure. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Unquestionably Obama’s fault for you not going when you were in the area.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLike
I’ve not heard of this place before Frank, I shall look forward to hearing more 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pauline,
I had never heard of the place until my in-laws talked about it … and I’m much closer to it than you are in New Zealand. 😉 … If all goes as planned, I’m thinking the follow-up post will be the same time next week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We had a family reunion in Panama City Beach a few years ago. Does that qualify as Flora-Bama? A relative referred to the region as the redneck riviera. I thought the beaches were nice with white sand for miles.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jim,
That entire coastline is the Redneck Riviera … probably from Panama City westward. But, there is only one Flora-Bama. You will find some very good guitarists there!
LikeLiked by 1 person
PS: I don’t know if you listened to the song, but “Redneck Riviera” is part of the lyrics.
LikeLike
I love this kind of place! Authentic and quirky and totally Florida!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kerry,
Quirky and authentic are unquestionably great descriptors! If you ever get to the panhandle region, keep it in mind. Meanwhile, I have another post about the Flora-Bama in the queue for next week. 🙂
LikeLike
Never heard of it before but it looks like a great place. I like country music a lot but in the past I havent really enjoyed Kenny Chesney – this song and the video has changed my mind!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Phillip,
After all, most Americans haven’t heard of the Flora-Bama! Including myself until I was in my 50s. You would hear your share of country music at this place. Glad you enjoy Chesney .. I accidentally stumbled across this video, and immediately knew I had to use it. Stay tuned for a follow-up to this post that should be in a week.
LikeLike
great reminder of what is good in this country, Frank. Good, reflective share – I wish I was sitting in the sands with the waves lapping on my toes right now. Connecticut is Cold.. again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Audra,
There is much good to be told – especially during these tense times. The Flora-Bama is quite the place, and Kenny Chesney’s song tells part of the story. Cold in Cincinnati too … then again, as a whole, February was very mild!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never heard of this place, but I saw in comments above that others haven’t either. It’s probably not the type of place I’d want to visit (not a country music fan), but it’s interesting. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Merrl,
As a northerner, I wouldn’t anticipate you knowing unless you visited the area in the past. I’m not a big country fan, but we enjoy visiting this place.
LikeLike
Love it! Great post! ⭐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Resa,
Glad you enjoyed this post because this place is a classic … and it gets a second post (probably next week).
LikeLike
You weren’t lying, Frank. I love this post. It’s the kind of post that learns you something whilst putting a great big smile on your face. Win? Meet win.
And I love that Chesney spill.
Nicely done, Cincy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cayman,
I had a hunch you would enjoy this post. Flora-Bama is definitely unique and legendary! In terms of the Chesney song, I stumbled across it last month, and immediately knew it had to be part of the post. I’ve got one more post on this place, hopefully next week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You know your musical attachments, Cincy. Well done. Can’t wait for the next installment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It will be a bit more personal with some pics from our past. Found a post hurricane pic with it definitely being tattered and torn. But Chesney does a great job with the lyrics and the video shows off important features.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enough said, I’ll be waiting for it. Yes, the Chesney selection was inspired.
LikeLike
We stayed just a few condos away … I caught glimpses of it in the video.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Will look forward to reading more about this little dive on the beach. Trying to catch up on my blog reading.
Regarding basilcello, you are right (as usual), I should have said I made it with grain alcohol instead of whiskey. I used Everclear and it was probably not the best but it was an experiment for me. You said it could be made with vodka also. I believe that I first learned of basilcello from one of your posts in probably December of last year but haven’t been able to find it again. If you would give me the date of link, I would add it to my post. Thank you and cheers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
CC,
This place on the beach is a classic. Their T-shirt’s used to same “The Ultimate Dive Bar” … a good chuckle. Another post hopefully next week!
Everclear is a fine … I use 1 bottle of Everclear at the beginning then add 1 bottle of vodka later. I like that balance better than 2 Everclears. Besides, Everclear does a better job extracting than does vodka. Glad you enjoyed it … PS: My niece made grapefruit cello … awesome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
OK so I get the Flora-Bama thing, but given that my wife and I aren’t 20 anymore, and that we don’t need to travel somewhere to get Margarita Therapy, just tell us your Number One, King Of The Hill, Top Of The Heap, best walking beach in the world, and we’ll go there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tim,
As a one in the music field, I’m surprised about your beach question. Nonetheless, the best answer is based on the criteria you establish for yourself.
LikeLike
We over-think things, so we want to keep it simple (see-the-ball, hit-the-ball) and go with your all-time favorite location.
LikeLike
You do realize that over-thinking and wanting to keep in simple are direct contradictions.
Over the years, we enjoy going to different places. Each beach is different. Sarasota’s Siesta Key is fabulous, but not miles and miles. This Alabama beach is also wonderful … but that doesn’t mean all beaches in Alabama are. So, for an all-time favorite, I will not provide one because I didn’t keep a written scorecard.
LikeLike
A non-profit brewery is exactly the indulgence excuse I’ve been looking for.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Greatsby,
LOL … so if you ever in Portland, OR … enjoy!
LikeLike
What a great little find, Frank! I wouldn’t have been able to resist exploring, and so I love the video! I think when traveling I can be completely caught up in the unexpected places that have a story! Very special!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Debra,
This place is unquestionably an institution, so if you ever in this area, definitely stop by for a unique slice of Americana. Meanwhile, another post about the Flora-Bama is in the near future.
LikeLike
Sounds like a great place to spend some vacation time, Frank. is it far from where we are in West Palm?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sylvia,
Oh yes … quite far … in the panhandle between Pensacola and the Florida/Alabama state. Nonetheless, a good getaway – but not as warm as your area.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I swear that wasn’t my bra on the chandelier! 😉
LikeLike
Lorna,
I’m not so sure about that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sadly (or not), neither am I!! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: On the Flora-Bama – A Frank Angle