Rafters began as a small town barbeque joint call Smokey Mac's. The restaurant, which was named after my grandfather whose friends called 'Mac', was located a block north of the Gulf Shores Public Beach.

Smokey Mac's served southern style barbeque including 'fall off the bone' tender ribs. After two years at that location it was time to move on to bigger and better things. Smokey Mac's moved on to a new location a few blocks up Highway 59. We expanded the menu, created a top notch sports bar, added a game room and changed the name. Thus Rafters Sports Bar & Grill was born.

Rafters did extremely well for two years and would still be sitting by that little bayou between Little Lagoon and Lake Shelby except for Hurricane Ivan. Ivan tore through Gulf Shores in 2004 bringing over seven feet of water into Rafters. When the storm moved on and the waters receded as they all do, Rafters was a total loss.