Bill's Blog

Four days wandering around Apalachicola

Starting with some signs...

Random Catch, including Rubber Duckies (lower left)

So, not technically a sign, although it does say Eat at the Grill

Buildings

Two buildings I shot before (search "Apalachicola" on my blog... there are 1/2 dozen or so posts with Apalachicola images)

The old Coin Operated Laundry has been undergoing renovations for years. Walls are stabilized, new doors and windows, but no roof. It's a closed-in outdoor venue.

Joe Taranto has been closed ever since I started coming to Apalachicola in 2015. I've shot it several times and the building is a little more worse for wear every time I come by.

Another building I've photographed, the old Volunteer Fire Department. In the past, the doors have been closed. Now they look like H. Michael may have gotten them, so a peek inside.

Two now- closed landmarks:

The Tin Shed- a quirky tourist trap. Good news: they relocated a bit inland to get away from the water. 'Love the windows.

All that is left are cats (black blobs). The yard used to be filled with maritime good junk.

This used to be the entrance to the Apalachicola Maritime Museum, "founded to celebrate and preserve the maritime history of Apalachicola."  A local told us that after H. Michael struck, devastating the museum, and when the Pandemic hit, the owner and his girl bought a sailboat and sailed off into the sunset. Rumor has it he will return one day to reopen the museum.

A boat behind the museum you could tour is covered tightly, waiting for the reopening.

The Museum, despite being closed since 2018, still has an active Facebook page. Click here to see it. 

Miscellaneous "wandering" images...

The Billiard Room at the Gibson Inn

A Stump Mermaid... or a Mermaid Stump?

A Brick (the post office is a block or so away)

As I said in a previous post, Hurricane Michael and the Pandemic were not kind to Apalachicola. The Good News is the town is coming back to life!

No more cabinets from the Cabinet Shop

Worn out from hard days. 'Bout sums it up.

End of day pictures

Just before sunset

We stayed at the Gibson Inn. This is from one of their 2nd-floor patios.

Another from the Gibson Inn, looking at the former owner's residence that has been refurbed to guest rooms.

My four preceding posts have more images from this trip to Apalachicola.

June 23-26, 2021

Apalachicola, FL
June 2021

In memory of those who served, those who came home, and those who didn't.
Lest it is all forgotten.

Flower Rider

Red & Yellow

Chapman Botanical Gardens
Apalachicola, FL
06/26/21

Hurricane Michael and the Pandemic have not been kind to one of my favorite Florida towns, Apalachicola in the Panhandle.

The Apalachicola River Inn and Caroline's Restaurant, including Boss Oyster, were some of the victims. Closed in 2018 after Michael, the property never reopened and went into bankruptcy. A Federal Bankruptcy Judge approved the sale in 2020. The Pandemic came along and stopped work on the property. The new owners also own the recently renovated Gibson Inn and locals say they are going to start work back, initially on Boss Oyster.

We were in Apalachicola over a weekend recently and one of the places we visited was the River Inn complex.

One of the first restaurants I went to in Apalachicola, in 2015, was Caroline's Restaurant. Excellent dinner looking out over the water.

A view into the dining room; I sat on the left side by the water.

The walls between the rooms have been knocked down. The only thing left in the rooms is the toilets.

Tables and chairs neatly stacked in the parking lot.

Next to the 24-room Inn and restaurant is Boss Oyster and the Inn registration.

Still "Opening Soon"

Regstration, with Christmas decorations.

Waiting to light up OPEN again.

The namesake boat is not quite seaworthy anymore.

The script below the cabin windows says, "Shut up & Shuck."

    June 25-26, 2021

Apalachicola, FL
06/26/21