Spinnaker Nightclub was an instantaneous success. OPCB’s best recollection is that it opened in the summer of 1970.
This photo appears to be from their opening season. At the time, Spinnaker was the first building on what was a very long stretch of Thomas Drive with vast open dunes. OPCB visited Spinnaker as soon as the law allowed. I think it was strictly a discotheque for several years before live bands appeared. Spinnaker was so successful that other locations began to emulate their business model.
Many nightclub ventures on Panama City Beach have shined brightly and burned out fast. I guess Spinnaker has the record at ~48 years.
Finally some decent shots of the Spinnaker. Except those are Spinnaker II. The original Spinnaker was rebuilt from an office/model for an old condominium group. I got hired on in April 1975 to help remodel it. The original had two bars, one on each level. The dance floor was on the top level.
Three guys were the original owners. One guy, Dobber, another guy was a 2nd string middle linebacker for the 1972 Miami Dolphins and I don’t recall the third guy. They hired Fred Wright as manager and me as a bar back/bouncer. We opened in May, 1975. I still have an invitation in a small bottle with cork.
We had one helluva a summer. I won’t go into details but it was great. Then came Hurricane Eloise on September 23, 1975. Heavily damaged the building. The three guys came back, loaded up their stuff and went to Los Angeles CA. They asked me to come to help open another nightclub. But hell, I’m just an old country boy and didn’t go.
Now that is the true story behind the original Spinnaker. Jimmy Cristo and a fellow from Tallahassee opened it back up as Spinnaker II. It was tremendously expanded and be came a super club long before La Vela ever appeared.
Thanks. Been wanting to set the record straight for awhile!!!!