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In 1840, an early settler of the western Florida panhandle started a sawmill on the Blackwater River.  Sometime between then and the establishment of a post office in 1887, someone decided to call the town Bagdad, after Baghdad, Iraq.  Some say it was named so because both places are located on the confluence of two rivers – Florida’s Bagdad sits between the Blackwater and Escambia while it’s sister city in Iraq sits, of course, between the Tigris and Euphrates. However, no one really knows why the Florida town was named after the Middle East capital.

Today, the quiet little town of about 4,500 in Florida is a place where residents and tourists alike take pleasure in water sports such as canoeing, kayaking, sailing, and fishing on the Blackwater River and its surrounding waterways.  History buffs will also enjoy walking around its historic district or visiting the Historic Bagdad Village Museum

Oh, and did we mention it also has an original Stuckey’s? Sure, today it’s a combo Stuckey’s and Dairy Queen, but they’re in the same mid-century modern building with the beautifully sloped roof that was built to house a solo Stuckey’s all those road tripping years ago. And underneath that roof you’ll still find Stuckey’s famous Pecan Log Rolls and kitschy souvenirs right next to the Dilly Bars and Peanut Buster Parfaits.

So, after you’re finished grilling and chilling and you’ve stocked up on all of your favorite Stuckey’s road trip snacks, go ahead and check out some of these things to see and do near Stuckey’s of Bagdad:

Hit the Bricks

At the intersection of Red Brick Road and U.S. Route 90 near Milton, Florida, is one of the finest examples of preserved brick road construction in all of the Sunshine State.  Built in 1921 on what is also known as the “Old Spanish Trail”  this portion of the original scenic Florida State Route 1 is constructed of 8.5” x 3.5” x 3.5” monolithic vitrified bricks grouted together on a packed, sandy clay foundation with 4” wide concrete curbs on each side that hold all the bricks together.  

In 1955, a new road was built adjacent to Red Brick Road; however, the old road was left behind and has since been preserved thanks to the National Register of Historic Places.

If you’ve always wanted to know what it felt like to travel old school, you can drive on a section of the old brick road by turning west onto it at the intersection until you come to a wooden bridge that crosses the Marquis Bayou. What’s more, while you’re traveling west, turn north onto Cathy Street. You’ll cross a railroad track here and turn west again onto another brick road that was once part of the Old Spanish Trail.

Hog the Scene

Before Clarence Saunders opened the world’s first self –service grocery store in Memphis, Tennessee, in September 1916, people couldn’t meander all around the store picking up their own goods. Back then, the customer gave the grocery clerk a list and the clerk went around gathering up all the products. Letting customers get their own goods not only led to more sales through impulse buying, but also allowed Saunders to cut costs and lower their prices. As a result, Piggly Wiggly became an almost immediate success. Today there are nearly 500 Piggly Wiggly supermarkets throughout the U.S., most of them located in the South and Midwest (especially Wisconsin, interestingly enough).

When Mr. Saunders was asked why he chose the name Piggly Wiggly for his store, his answers were often ambiguous. One time, for example, when asked by a woman why he chose the name, he answered, “So people like you would ask me a question like that.”

At the Piggly Wiggly store in Milton, Florida, you can take a selfie with a statue of Piggly Wiggly himself. He’s been standing out in front of the store since sometime in 2019.

Cool Your Jets

At the Santa Rosa Westbound Rest Stop located just off I-10 about 9 miles east of Stuckey’s of Bagdad, you’ll get a great photo-op with a real A-4 Skyhawk used by the Blue Angels between 1974 and1986. Originally formed by Admiral Chester Nimitz in 1946, the Blue Angels are a Navy flight exhibition team made up of five pilots – four Navy and One Marine – presently based out of the nearby Naval Air Station outside of Pensacola.  Since 2020, the Blue Angels have been flying the Boeing F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets, so taking a selfie with the Skyhawk is like taking a selfie with history.

Shed Some Skin

With Eglin Air Force Base, the Naval Air Station, and the Army’s Camp Rudder all in the area, you may have noticed there’s a big military presence here in the western panhandle of Florida. However, there are also a lot of reptiles in the area as well.  Together, they meet at the U.S. Army’s 6th Ranger Reptile House located way out in the piney woods of Camp Rudder on Eglin Air Force Base.

Part of U.S. Army Ranger training, reptile education takes place here at the 6th Ranger Training Battalion’s Reptile House where visitors can get a hands-on look at some of the reptiles the Rangers work with everyday. Once inside, you’re never more than three feet away from hundreds of snakes. Outside, the pool is filled with several alligators, so if you suffer from herpetophobia – or a fear of reptiles – you probably want to wait in the car. For more information on visiting U.S. Army’s 6th Ranger Reptile House, visit their website here.

Visit the Parents

If you drive west from Stuckey’s over to 107 West Gregory Street in Pensacola, Florida, you’ll find the family home where Rear Admiral George Stephen Morrison and his wife Clara (nee Clarke) are thought to have conceived their son James Douglas Morrison. The house had been in the Morrison family for generations, even once being used as a speakeasy during Prohibition. Steve and Clara rented the basement apartment from their cousin R.B. Morrison and his wife Frances while Steve finished his U.S. Navy flight training.  Soon after, they moved to Melbourne, Florida, where baby James was born. However, you probably know him better as Jim Morrison, the lead singer of the famous rock band The Doors.

Well, these are just a few of the cool and quirky places that you can see and visit around Stuckey’s, but once again, this is Florida and it has more roadside attractions than you can shake a stick at. Let us know some of your favorites in the area.

Of course, a road trip through the Sunshine State isn’t really a road trip without a Stuckey’s stop for some delicious road trip snacks.

Along with your favorite pecan treats like our pecan pralines and our iconic Stuckey’s Pecan Log Rolls, why not some take along some of our tasty salt water taffy or for those with the crunchy munchies, our Hunkey Dorey?

Speaking of Hunkey Dorey, for all of you popcorn lovers who can’t make up their mind, try the Stuckey’s Popcorn Sampler that’s sure to be a big hit with all of you road warriors on your next big adventure.

Whether you’re preparing for a family vacation or a family staycation, stock up on your Stuckey’s snacks by ordering from stuckeys.com today.

Stuckey’s – We’re Making Road Trips Fun Again.

Whether your next road trip is by car or by rail, it’s not really a road trip without taking Stuckey’s along. From our world famous Stuckey’s Pecan Log Rolls to our mouthwatering Hunkey Dorey, Stuckey’s has all the road trips snacks you’ll need to get you where you’re going.

For all of the pecany good treats and cool merch you’ll need for your next big road adventure, browse our online store now!

Stuckey’s – We’re Making Road Trips Fun Again!