Lords of an Underground Empire
The Old Plantation is the hottest bar in town. But only after surviving arson, harassment, and sabotage.
By
David Bauer
Published in
D Magazine
June
1979
Photography Courtesy of Ed Oakley
J
anuary, 1976: The two men stood in the dim light and surveyed their new domain. The place was looking good. It was late Saturday night and construction was right on schedule. The bars were nearly complete, all the equipment installed; the big dance floor was laid in the disco. Tomorrow they would put down the carpet and begin fine-tuning the place for their grand opening, just five days away. The two men had high hopes for their new nightclub here on Cedar Springs. It was going to be, they felt, the best gay bar in Dallas, the liveliest disco around. There was an established competitor just blocks away, but they were confident. The new Old Plantation would be a hit. They took one last look around, smiled at each other, and left.
By Gordon Byrd
Dec 17, 2020
PINELLAS PARK Thousands lost power and several buildings were damaged by a tornado, including a home that was severely damaged, Wednesday afternoon.
Amateur radio operators reported power poles split in half and four structures damaged in the Bayou Club when the twister came through around 3:50 p.m.
UPDATE: Pinellas Park police Captain Adam Geissenberger says most of the damage was concentrated in an industrial area between Belcher Road and 66th Street along Bryan Dairy Road. There s significant roof damage, there s significant intrusion into the structures due to falling trees and limbs, but we have not seen a complete structure collapse. He also adds that no injuries have been reported. As of 7:00 p.m., Duke Energy reports about 12,000 customers without power in an area bounded by Pinellas Park, Largo and Seminole.
By Gordon Byrd
Dec 17, 2020
PINELLAS PARK Thousands lost power and several buildings were damaged by a tornado, including a home that was severely damaged, Wednesday afternoon.
Amateur radio operators reported power poles split in half and four structures damaged in the Bayou Club when the twister came through around 3:50 p.m.
UPDATE: Pinellas Park police Captain Adam Geissenberger says most of the damage was concentrated in an industrial area between Belcher Road and 66th Street along Bryan Dairy Road. There s significant roof damage, there s significant intrusion into the structures due to falling trees and limbs, but we have not seen a complete structure collapse. He also adds that no injuries have been reported. As of 7:00 p.m., Duke Energy reports about 12,000 customers without power in an area bounded by Pinellas Park, Largo and Seminole.
By Gordon Byrd
Dec 17, 2020
PINELLAS PARK Thousands lost power and several buildings were damaged by a tornado, including a home that was severely damaged, Wednesday afternoon.
Amateur radio operators reported power poles split in half and four structures damaged in the Bayou Club when the twister came through around 3:50 p.m.
UPDATE: Pinellas Park police Captain Adam Geissenberger says most of the damage was concentrated in an industrial area between Belcher Road and 66th Street along Bryan Dairy Road. There s significant roof damage, there s significant intrusion into the structures due to falling trees and limbs, but we have not seen a complete structure collapse. He also adds that no injuries have been reported. As of 7:00 p.m., Duke Energy reports about 12,000 customers without power in an area bounded by Pinellas Park, Largo and Seminole.
By Gordon Byrd
Dec 17, 2020
PINELLAS PARK Thousands lost power and several buildings were damaged by a tornado, including a home that was severely damaged, Wednesday afternoon.
Amateur radio operators reported power poles split in half and four structures damaged in the Bayou Club when the twister came through around 3:50 p.m.
UPDATE: Pinellas Park police Captain Adam Geissenberger says most of the damage was concentrated in an industrial area between Belcher Road and 66th Street along Bryan Dairy Road. There s significant roof damage, there s significant intrusion into the structures due to falling trees and limbs, but we have not seen a complete structure collapse. He also adds that no injuries have been reported. As of 7:00 p.m., Duke Energy reports about 12,000 customers without power in an area bounded by Pinellas Park, Largo and Seminole.