FLEMING ISLAND – The roadway noise from County Road 220 never ceases. Cars cross over Swimming Pen Creek with a persistent whirl. In the past half-century, progress around Whitey’s Fish Camp Restaurant and Campground has been gauged by concrete, conveyances and waterfront homes.
“When I started here, there was no Fleming Island,” said Kelly B, who worked at the iconic restaurant for over 20 years. “We were a place in the middle of the woods. A lot has changed around us, but Whitey’s is still the same.”
Besides serving seafood and other dishes, Whitey’s is where legions of hungry customers have called home for decades.
What started as a camp for fishing in 1963 is now the oldest restaurant in Clay County, now grooming for a third generation of management. Whitey’s will celebrate its 60th anniversary on Saturday, Oct. 7.
Many employees have been delivering plates of shrimp, gator tail bites and glasses of beer for more than 20 years. To them, Whitey’s is family.
“I lost four people in my family last year, and they helped me with the funeral arrangements,” said Michelle Shearin, who’s spent the last 17 years there as a server. “They delivered food. They treated me like family. Everyone looks out for each other up here.”
When Assistant Manager Kelly B needed three major surgeries, the sibling owners Elaine Cassala, Luke and Greg Lawley plus Billy Ham ensured her position would be waiting for her after a full recovery.
“That’s why I’ve been here so long,” she said. “Whitey’s will always be a staple in the community. It’s amazing how many people bring their families here. We’ve served adults, and they started bringing their children. Now we’re serving their grandchildren.”

From the beginning

Whitey and Ann Ham opened a fish camp in 1963 while he was in the Navy. It consisted of a tackle shop, a nine-seat bar, soft drinks, beer, a toaster oven and sandwiches.
Originally, Whitey had difficulty catching fish during the first winter months. He found success by running fishing lines deeper in the cold water of Swimming Pen Creek, Doctors Lake and the St. Johns River, according to his daughter, Cassala.
“There was no money in the winter because the fish didn’t bite,” she said. “He ran catfish lines, and soon they had to figure out what to do with all those fish. My mom said, ‘Why don’t we cook these up (and sell them)?’ That’s how it all started.”
One of the first faithful customers was Ronnie Van Zant, a founder of Lynyrd Skynyrd. He often sat in the same seat and feasted on catfish 50 years ago.
A fire in the kitchen on March 30, 2002, destroyed the kitchen and restaurant. It re-opened 11 months later. During reconstruction, the brothers and sister worked in the bait shop.
It now has an inside and outside bar area and two tiki bars. There’s also a Captain’s Room that seats 40, beach seating for 100, a private section that can accommodate 40, the upper tiki deck for more than 50, another tiki area for 40 and a dining deck.
On most nights, especially the weekends, the outside areas fill quickly – especially since some patrons arrive by boat to dine and dock.
“It’s insane we’ve been here this long,” Cassala said. “The key is to serve good food. We’ve had the same customers here for a long time. And we have a good management team. Our parents started it. We’re carrying the tradition.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced restaurants to close or reduce their services, Whitey’s reported record sales the first week after the front doors were locked.
Manager Danielle Lawley said traffic from boaters kept the bar and kitchen busy.
“We kept getting paid,” Kelly B said. “They helped as much as they could. The boat traffic was incredible. We stayed busy, even during the shutdown.”

‘Old soldiers’ meet at Whitey’s every day

One regular customer, Jerry Sorrells, aged 72, sits by the bait shop during the day and joins his buddies in the afternoons for a beer.
It’s the beloved routine he’s cherished for half of his life.
“This is the meeting place for all my friends,” he said. “On Fridays, there’s usually about 40 of us. We play cards and have a few beers.”
It’s also where Sorrells has said goodbye to many of his friends.
“I bet I’ve lost 25 friends from up here,” Sorrells said. “When it’s your friends, it takes something out of you.”
Sorrells said many longtime customers are cremated and have their ashes interred off one of Whitey’s docks into the Swimming Pen Creek.
“This place is more than home,” Sorrells said. “It’s special.”
The restaurant is filled with memorabilia and artifacts from several Southern Rock bands. Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 Special and Molly Hatchet – all bands with Clay County residents – are prominently displayed.
“I can’t tell you how many people come up here to tour the place,” Cassala said. “It’s crazy.”

The celebration

Saturday’s bash will be a flashback to 1963. In addition to glow disco, balloon drop, tie-dying station, antique cars and prizes, the band Nickoloff will hit the stage at 8 p.m.
Actually, the party started Thursday night when Johnny Van Zant and Rickey Medlocke appeared for the Florida launch of their new Hell House Whiskey. They signed more than 550 bottles of the hooch that memorializes the place where Skynyrd wrote most of their early hits more than 50 years ago in Green Cove Springs.
On Friday, the band Big Engine performed. The Jacksonville band has appeared with Motorhead, Bret Michales, Vince Neil, Charlie Daniels, 38 Special, Ted Nugent, Jackyl, Great White and Black Stone Cherry.
“It’s going to be a busy, busy week,” said assistant manager Amy McClain, who’s been at Whitey’s for 21 years. “And we just found out the boat parade will be back, too.”
The parade in 2020 filled the creek and spilled well onto Doctors Lake. More importantly, it raised $20,855 for the Safe Animal Shelter.
This year’s parade will feature boats with Christmas-themed lights on Dec. 9.
In addition to the restaurant and bait shop, Whitey’s has 40 campsites for recreational vehicles.
Better yet, the site is less than 50 yards from the front doors of the restaurant and bar.