The story of the ghost of the Flora-bama is a sad story. Orville Stickenbacker was a shy boy that lived his entire life in Orange Beach and the surrounding area. He had lost both his parents and didn't have very many friends. Orville worked at a shop in Gulf Shores selling nick nacks to tourists. He took his role in Gulf Coast culture seriously and tried to dress the part. He wore brightly colored tropical shirts and had a pet hermit crab named Jezebel.
When Orville turned twenty-one he did what anyone would do and went to the bar. Of course, Orville didn't drink, but he enjoyed the activities at the Flora-bama. On Orville's first night at the Flora-bama, it was the night of Flora-bama's famous mullet toss. On Orville's first night at the Flora-bama he fell in love with the mullet toss and he even won the toss. It was the most fun he had ever had.
The next year was not kind to Orville. Orville began to get sick. He found a lump when he was taking a shower and began losing weight. People noticed Orville's steady decline. They begged him to go to the doctor, but for some reason, Orville refuse. He grew sicker and sicker and Orville did nothing. He wasted away without medical attention. No one can say why he didn't go to the doctor. Maybe he wanted to die, maybe he couldn't pay the hospital bills, but forever reason he just wouldn't get help.
The next year Orville went to the mullet toss with his pet hermit crab, Jezebel in his pocket. He participated in the mullet toss but did not win, so he asked if he could toss a fish. He tossed the fish and with that action began the now famous fish toss at the Flora-bama. When the night ended and all the fish and mullets had been throw, Orville walked out onto the beach. He walked into the ocean and drown himself.
People say that Orville still haunts the Flora-bama. He sits on the back deck watching people throw mullets and fish. He is often seen wandering the beach and walking towards the waves.
*Story taken from "Alabama Ghosts" by Holly Smith
