After the name became synonymous with nude dancing in Destin, Oasis reopens with a clean slate (PHOTOS)

After years of controversy, the Oasis on Mountain Drive has opened again — this time with a new name and new management.

“We have been open since January,” bar manager Jana Lindsey told The Log Thursday. “With all of the construction along Mountain Drive people didn’t know we were open, but we are here and ready to give our locals a place to hang out.”

Formerly known as the Oasis and the site of topless dancing, the bar was the epicenter for a federal First Amendment lawsuit.

But now with a new name, The Original Oasis is paying homage to its roots.

“We wanted to go back to what this place was in the past,” Lindsey said. “A pool hall and a locals bar.”

The pool hall tucked back on Mountain Drive originally got a bad name in 2008, when the now deceased Terry Stephenson, who leased and ran the establishment, applied for a business license to replace the bikini dancing that was offered at the Oasis with nude dancing.

The city turned him down, saying that adult entertainment is only allowed in the Industrial Zoning areas off Airport Road. After months of wrangling, Stephenson and the city would eventually come to a settlement, where he agreed to close the current location and move any topless establishment in the industrial zoning district.

After the city had settled with Stephenson and six months after the establishment had closed, Lindsey told The Log the new management came into the business and gave it a complete makeover, from top to bottom.

“The walls were red and it was very gloomy in here,” she said from the now brightly colored, tropical-themed hangout. “We had to redo everything.”

With the changes in hand, Lindsey said the focus is now on getting back to business and letting “Destinites” know their favorite watering hole is open. The bar has been a Destin hangout for decades.

Bartender Angie Oyler told The Log that locals visiting the Original Oasis for the first time could expect good music, a great atmosphere and a place where they can go and have good conversation.

“I have people that come in here just to talk and tell me about their day,” she said. “We have everyone in here from 21-year-old deckhands to 65-year-old retired people.”

Now that the construction on Mountain Drive is wrapping up, Lindsey expects to see more customers pouring in.

“It was very, very slow during spring with the construction and everything, but our sales are starting to look better over the past few weeks,” the Nashville native said.

Although he has never been inside the building, Councilman Jim Bagby told The Log that he was happy to see a business open its doors along Mountain Drive. Bagby voted against the city’s settlement with Stephenson, saying they “rushed the decision.”

“I’m sure it’s a nice place and I am glad that chapter is closed,” he said.

As she looks around the room, The Original Oasis has been transformed into “more of what we wanted it to be” and despite the stripper pole, which still rises on the stage, the pool hall will continue to “move away from the reputation it used to have.”

“People are very happy with what we have done and are doing here,” Lindsey said. “This place did very well in the past, and it will again.”