Club La Vela

Club La Vela was a nightclub owned by Patrick and Thorsten Pfeffer located in Panama City Beach, Florida.

The original management team was headed by Willian Bass C.P.A., Gordon Hundley (deceased), Jimmy Christo Jr., and Clifford A. Becker.

Original performing acts the first season included Ramsey Lewis, Gregg Allman, Robin Trower, Tom T. Hall, Pure Prairie League, Leon Redbone, The Outlaws and a host of others.

The original venue was much smaller than it is presently, and in pre-reopening expansion, after a brief winter hiatus in November and December 1984, an outdoor band shell was added along with extended deck space and subsequently through the early years Mr. Pfeffer with the support of his wife and sons, oversaw the growth of the club.

With the addition of longtime resident DJ John Hulsey, as music director, several "Live Mix Shows" started in the late 80's and through 1999.

From 1997 to 1999, World Championship Wrestling hosted an annual episode of WCW Monday Nitro at the venue in March (the event emanated from South Padre Island in Texas in 2000).

The purpose of each of the annual "Spring Break-Out" episodes was to gain favor with adolescent and young adult viewers who were not familiar with Nitro.

On January 6, 2014, Pfeffer expanded into broadcasting by taking over the operations of WPCF, an AM radio station in Panama City that also simulcasts on an FM translator.

[2] Largely because of its size, popularity, party atmosphere and frequent media coverage, Club La Vela has been subject of several run-ins with the authorities.