by Jeani G.

On a sunny mid-June day, we felt like “Free Birds” as we embarked on an exploratory ride dreamed up by Gator Ken to the now historic Van Zant House in westside Jacksonville, FL. Six of us: TJ & Beth, Don & Lisa, and Gator Ken & I were on a mission to visit the cradle of Southern Rock … the childhood home of famed Ronnie, Donnie and Johnny, the lead singers and musicians of Lynyrd Skynyrd and 38 Special.

Along the way we “Wild Eyed Southern Boys” (and girls) stopped at the 3D Saloon in Palatka where owner Donnie served up some breakfast cocktails. With “The Breeze” in our faces, we “Held on Loosely” as we rode on to our destination. The Van Zant House located at 5419 Woodcrest Rd. in a blue-collar neighborhood the brothers referred to as Shantytown, was officially declared a Florida heritage site on Saturday, May 12, 2018. It’s been remodeled in the 70’s style that the boys grew up with … complete with a rotary-dial telephone, wooden console stereo with an 8-track player, and memorabilia hanging in their former trophy room. Fans can rent the house and do some “Down South Jukin’” in the place where their music began.

We ventured on to 5301 Lennox Ave. where we hoped to cut a rug at a place called The Jug with a girl named Linda Lou (y’all know how the story goes), only to find it was closed, most likely due to Covid-19. This is the location of the then West Tavern which was Ronnie’s inspiration for “Gimme Three Steps”, based on actual events of a confrontation he had when he was just 18 years old. While frantically driving away from the man with a gun in his hand, Ronnie, Gary, and Alan passed a liquor store called the Little Brown Jug on Edison Ave. as they penned the lyrics to one of their most recognizable songs. The West Tavern’s name has since been changed to The Jug Saloon.

Ooh “That Smell” … which led us to Huey’s on Edgewood Ave. for lunch where we enjoyed delicious Nashville hot chicken. We then took a westerly route back through Putnam county wetting our whistle at several veteran owned and operated bars: The Howlin’ Wolf in Melrose and Lit’l Caesars Dive Bar in Interlachen. Then on to Long’s Log Cabin in Welaka … always a favorite stop!

A total of 260 miles round trip brought us back to OB’s in DeLand where we continued “Rockin’ into the Night” with my “Simple Man” Gator Ken, and me his “Fantasy Girl.” Hope you enjoyed this Southern Rock tale as much as we enjoyed the ride … stay healthy and safe y’all.