James McNeill Jr. was born at Indian Pass, just west of Apalachicola, in 1924. His father, James McNeill Sr., was originally from North Carolina. Working the rivers rafting timber downstream, James Sr. eventually made his way to Florida. Soon after, he got into the turpentine business and eventually acquired some 13,000 acres of Florida wilderness. James Sr. passed away in 1941. In 1947 James Jr. married Betty Lane. Together, they established the Indian Pass Seafood Company. The McNeills also operated a commissary, a remnant of the turpentine camp days, catering to the families that worked for them and lived in the remote area. Today, the commissary is better known as the Indian Pass Raw Bar. James and Betty's son, James McNeill III, came up with the idea for the restaurant. In 1985, after Hurricane Kate hit the Florida Gulf Coast, they turned the old commissary into the hangout known today. The turpentine and seafood businesses are gone. Hurricane Dennis wreaked havoc on the area in July 2005. But the McNeills have bounced back, yet again. The Indian Pass Raw Bar has been renovated. But the oysters are the same. They still come from water that laps up on the shores of Indian Pass.

Scope and Content Note
James and Betty McNeill discuss their family history, including James' upbringing in Indian Pass and Betty's background in Wewahitchka. James' father was involved in the turpentine business, and James himself served as a B-17 pilot in World War II before attending the University of Florida. James and Betty got married in 1947 and have lived in Indian Pass ever since. The Indian Pass Raw Oyster Bar originated from the turpentine operation and served as a commissary for workers. In 1985, after Hurricane Kate, they entered the oyster business, but the oyster beds were depleted by then. They had leased oyster bottoms in Choctawahatchee Bay and Indian Pass, with Indian Pass providing high-quality but limited oysters. Contrary to popular belief, James McNeill, not his father, started the oyster business. Betty's father worked for St. Joe Lumber and Export Company and owned a restaurant called Dad's Café in Port St. Joe before selling it. After being forced out of the oyster business due to a hurricane, the McNeills opened the Indian Pass Raw Bar, transitioning from a retail store to a restaurant. They used to sell gasoline but stopped due to insurance costs. They were also involved in the oyster and shrimp industry, operating oyster houses in Apalachicola, Eastpoint, and Indian Pass. They sold oysters locally and shipped them to places like New York. They faced challenges related to safety and habitat depletion in the oyster industry. The couple mentions their children's involvement in the business and their efforts to maintain their property in Indian Pass, including a campground. The McNeills discuss the history of the Indian Pass Trading Post, which used to be a commissary and grocery store. They stocked various items and served as a charge business for oystermen. The Indian Pass Raw Bar gained attention after a travel editor wrote about it, attracting visitors from across the country. They talk about the artist who painted the Indian Pass Trading Post sign and mention the air pump and the operation of shrimp boats and crab vats associated with the Trading Post. The conversation also delves into the history of the Gypsy Tea Room in Apalachicola, which was opened by Betty's family during the turpentine days. They started with Saturday night suppers and expanded to regular service during World War II. The tea room was known for Betty's mother's cooking and fancy country meals.