Spring Break Destination, A Louisiana Favorite to be Demolished

Louisiana fans of Spring Break in the 90s might be shedding a nostalgic tear at the news that one of the destinations that defined that right of passage for a generation of Americans is facing the wrecking ball. If you recall the 1990s were when MTV, Music Television as it was called, used to do live broadcasts from various beach locations around the country. This may have been the most popular destination.

Whether you were one of the tens of thousands who joined the TV network on the beach for sexually infused fun, over-indulgent alcohol consumption, or the occasional concert or you just watched it on television you probably have at least a foggy memory of The Spinnaker Nightclub in Panama City Beach Florida.

Okay, that Instagram post was from a little before the 1990s but you get the idea the The Spinnaker Nightclub was the happening place in PCB. That was until 2018 when Hurricane Michael made landfall in that part of Florida. The winds and waves of Michael did significant damage to The Spinnaker causing it to close in 2018.

According to a report via MyPanhandle.com the structure is going to be demolished and its place will be a new club with a very familiar name to fans, especially of country music. The newly revamped Spinnaker will be rebranded as Tootsie's Orchid Lounge. The new Tootsie's would be a relocation of the current Tootsie's at Pier Park.

The current plan regarding the physical structure that was once The Spinnaker is to demolish half the building and then create a structure that combines new construction while celebrating the remaining legacy of the old Spinnaker. However, if the damage is too great then the entire property will be leveled and a whole new Tootsie's Orchid Lounge will be constructed.

For a lot of us, The Spinnaker is where we got overserved, got way too sunburned, and watched a lot of great musical acts. Did you know that American Idol's Luke Bryan used to play the Spinnaker for free? He did six straight spring break shows there with each one getting larger and larger. His last show drew over 50,000 people.

Let's hope the new version of The Spinnaker will leave a lasting legacy as the new Tootsie's Orchid Lounge and will introduce to the next generation of performers who understand "the spring break" sound of the Gulf South.