THE FLORA-BAMA - Orange Beach, Alabama & Perdido Key, Florida
“Sitting here at the Flora-Bama Bout to open up a big old can of good times, unwind Fall in and out of love in the same night Can’t say I got a whole lot of cares I’m in the redneck riviera It’s getting crazy, getting hammered Sitting right here at the Flora-Bama At the Flora-Bama”
- Lyrics from Flora-Bama by Kenny Chesney
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In New Orleans, with many Gulf Coast and Florida transplants, you’ll likely hear about a drunken trip to the Flora-Bama at some point. The bar is located right on the state line of Alabama and Florida and flaunts beautiful white beaches nestled the narrow key.
It has a few claims to fame: The Mullet Toss (the mullet is a fish tossed on the beach across the state line), The Bushwacker (a frozen drink said to “give you the best time you won’t remember”), and hundreds of bras hanging from the ceiling of the honky tonk.
What makes it special is the comradery. The bar is a maze of rooms to accommodate multiple bands, a huge attached deck and a huge section of beach on the Gulf. People move freely between all the areas and chat everybody up. Lots of knowing nods and sharing drinks.
This year, I have made two trips to the Flora-Bama. The first was on New Years Day. People eager to start the year off right, started day drinking and were ready to plunge in the ocean at noon. Most were in costume and all had fun on their communal chilly dip.
On Memorial Day, they held a less kid friendly event and had their annual bikini contest. Women came out and strutted their stuff doing splits and push-ups or just carried a drink to compete for glory and lots of bar credit.
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Tammy Mercure is a State Guide to Tennessee and co-editor of THE AMERICAN GUIDE. A photographer living in New Orleans, Louisiana she enjoys photographing just about any event that includes loud noises and fast moving things. She was recently named one of the “100 under 100: The New Superstars of Southern Art” by Oxford American magazine. Follow her on Tumblr or on her website, TammyMercure.com.