Bill's Blog

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