You can’t go any more west in Florida than the infamous Flora-Bama Lounge located on Perdido Key directly on the Alabama-Florida line.

  In fact, the rustic honky-tonk opened in 1964  just after the State of Alabama connected Orange Beach, Alabama, with Florida’s Perdido Island with AL 182.  Since the Alabama side was then dry and Florida side was wet, the bar was placed in the Sunshine State and the seating in Alabama.

 Despite a direct hit by Hurricane Ivan which wiped out the original, infamous Deck Bar, the Flora-Bama Lounge grew into a twenty bar wooden fortress where four complete bands could be performing.  Entertainers and sports figures love this place. Expect to see celebrities during the summer months.

 Jimmy Buffett sang “Bama Breeze” as a tribute and Kenny Chesney recorded “Flora Bama” to honor the place.   The annual mullet toss should be a regular ESPN event.

 What is unique about this Gulf-side roadhouse is it attracts a diverse mix of blue collar crackers, shrimpers, college students, wealthy tourists, and anyone else who likes loud music, endless beer, and oysters piled on a tray.

 Getting there is easy for vacationing Floridians: just head west on Perdido Key Drive, and when you see a huge beachside place next to an even bigger parking garage, you have arrived at the place called “the Last Great American Roadhouse.”