Ike’s has been flying people off Perdido Key for over 35 years, which in beach-concession years makes it an institution. The operation runs right off the sand at the Flora-Bama — you park in the Bama’s free lot, walk through the bar (a feature, not a bug), and find the yellow kiosk on the beach.
The flight
They let out 800 feet of line, which puts you around 400 feet up — the FAA maximum — for a flight of roughly 8 to 10 minutes, nearly double what most operators give you. Up to three people can fly together if you’re under 450 pounds combined, so nobody has to go up alone and pretend they’re not nervous. Boats are U.S. Coast Guard inspected and the crews keep current first-aid and CPR certifications, which is the kind of detail you want from people dangling you over the Gulf.
Good to know
Banana boat rides run too, usually four to six riders at a time. It’s seasonal: 9 to 5 daily Memorial Day through Labor Day, variable hours in the shoulder months, and closed entirely November through February. Land, dust off, and the Flora-Bama is right there for the debrief.
