Club La Vela

Club La Vela is a nightclub owned by Patrick and Thorsten Pfeffer, and is located in the resort community of Panama City Beach, Florida. It is billed as the largest nightclub in the United States. While open throughout most of the year, the club has gained most of its fame and infamy during the weeks of spring break when thousands of college students converge on the club.

Built in 1984 as La Vela Beach Club and Concert Hall, the venue was designed by Walton Chancey and Timothy Packard Architects. It was originally owned by Alois Pfeffer and George Christo and after the initial season in the fall of 1984 Mr. Pfeffer became the sole owner in early 1985 and began the expansion that would eventually make LaVela Beach Club and Concert Hall, Club LaVela and the World's Largest Nightclub. From the sinking of the original support pilings in the summer of 1984 LaVela (as it was first known) was constructed in 54 days culminating in a Grand Opening on Labor Day 1984 and an opening evening concert by John Prine. It should be noted that the building was Mr. Chancey's thesis from the School of Architecture at Auburn University. The original management team was headed by Willian Bass C.P.A., Gordon Hundley (deceased), Jimmy Christo Jr., and Clifford A. Becker. Alois Pfeffer himself an Engineer, Architect and International Entrepreneur was instrumental in advising the just graduated and certified architect team of Chancey & Packard. Originally set to cost $400,000 U.S., overtime exceeded that figure on the project alone. Alois Pfeffer continued to support the project through its infancy with money and expertise culminating in the pening on time! Original acts the first season included Ramsey Lewis, Gregg Allman, Robin Trower, Tom T. Hall, Pure Prairie League, Leon Redbone, The Outlaws and a host of others. The original venue was much smaller than it is presently, and in pre-reopening expansion, after a brief winter hiatus in November and December 1984 an outdoor band shell was added along with extended deck space and subsequently through the early years Mr. Pfeffer with the support of his Wife and sons oversaw the growth of the club. The club has added nine so-called "theme rooms", dance floors, swimming pools, bars and more.

From 1997-1999, World Championship Wrestling hosted an annual episode of WCW Monday Nitro at the venue in March. The purpose of each of the annual "Spring Break-Out" episodes was to gain favor with adolescent and young adult viewers who were not familiar with Nitro. The venue was also the site for the final episode of Nitro on March 26, 2001.

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