- Location
- 16 Via de Luna, Pensacola Beach
- Years
- 1956-1990
- Now
- Fairfield Inn & Suites
Bill and Betty Shea opened Shea’s Motel on Pensacola Beach in 1956. A former Marine who spent time in the South Pacific, Bill added a Polynesian-themed lounge in 1961, carving the tiki masks himself. Renamed “Tiki House,” the Sheas sold the motel in 1964.
The lounge remained a beloved hangout until December 8, 1986 (“the day the music died”).
The Gulfside complex was demolished in 1990, replaced by a Best Western and later a Fairfield Inn.