For at least 30 years, I have looked forward to my occasional ride out to Billy’s seafood in Bon Secour, Alabama. The not so out of the way destination takes me through a unique slice of our area history. You know you are getting close as you drive under canopies of ancient live oaks draped in signature Spanish moss.
“Bon Secour” derives from the French words “safe harbor,” and to the French, Spanish, English, and Baltic German founders of the village, Bon Secour it meant just that. The beautiful, old homes near Bon Secour’s Billy’s Seafood are surrounded by giant mossy oaks that suggest a time in our southern history that renowned authors such as Harper Lee, Eudora Welty, or Tennessee Williams may have written about. The settlements and homes in the area are some of the oldest along the Gulf Coast. It is believed that remnants of tabby built structures found here may date back to 16th century. Tabby is a type of concrete made by burning oyster shells, crushing them to create lime, then mixing with water, sand, ash, and broken oyster shells. It is considered America’s first concrete and was used by early Spanish settlers about the time St Augustine, Florida began taking shape in the mid-150’s. Existing land titles in Bon Secour can be traced as far back as 1793!
A visit to the area isn’t complete without stopping in at The Tin Top Restaurant & Oyster Bar. Locals love The Tin Top! They serve up New Orleans southern coastal cuisine, along with fresh oysters outside at the oyster bar. Just d the down the road you can see the Swift School. Originally a private school in the home of John Cook circa 1840, it is now the county’s oldest public school. The Pre-K thru 6th grade Swift School is loved by the community, and students past and present.
For years, now over 42, Billy Parks and family has served as a mostly local’s destination for fresh authentic local seafood from the Gulf of Mexico. Here is an inside tip, Billy’s mother makes a mean shrimp salad and they also have a great, locally made smoked tuna dip.
Open 7 to 5 daily, closed on Sunday.