Pat McClellan Dies, Flora-Bama Co-Owner

Pat McClellan, longtime co-owner of Flora-Bama, died peacefully in his sleep, with the venue marking his passing as the loss of a legend. A University of Minnesota graduate and Navy veteran, he joined Joe Gilchrist as a partner in the mid-1980s and helped transform the Flora-Bama into a Gulf Coast icon. He authored and championed signature events like the Interstate Mullet Toss and the Polar Bear Dip, and played a key role in the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival. Known for his boisterous personality, quick wit and mentoring of performers such as Taylor Hicks, McClellan helped cultivate a welcoming culture that drew crowds from across the region. Ownership of the Flora-Bama has since continued under John McInnis III with Cam Price, preserving the venue’s legacy. Tributes described how McClellan turned ordinary days into stories and solidified the Flora-Bama as a national Gulf Coast landmark.