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Gene Holloway spent millions in 1979 to build Tampa’s Sea Wolf, the most fabulous and elegant restaurant of its time. The sprawling complex sat on 14 acres across from Busch Gardens. It seated 500 and was so successful that customers still had to wait hours to be seated. By the end of its first year, the Sea Wolf was one of the top 10-grossing restaurants in the nation.
Do you have any memories of visiting the restaurant? Do you remember its opulance and decor?
Send us your comments in the form below.
Yes Randall, He piloted the planes out at the Z hills DZ for many years.
Back in ‘79 my husband was in Tampa to pick up some concession equipment. He dined with friends at the Sea Wolf. Being in the food business, he has quite a collection of memorabilia. Today while going through a file drawer we found the menu (in perfect condition)from the Sea Wolf and a four-page “newspaper” type handout about Holloway running for president and the restaurant. It prompted us to Google them both. We have really enjoyed reading the posts on this comment thread as well as the timeline. My heart goes out to the kids and grandkids left behind. I’ve experienced many emotions reading their posts. What a story. A family member should write the book....before some stranger does.
I was talking with some guys toaday about how it was the restaurant to be seen when I lived in Temple Terrace back in 1980-81. I worked at the SeaWolf as a waiter for over a year, and can remember it like it was yesterday. Great place, and it was a real experience to eat there with the animals an what-not. Plus as 20-year olds who didn’t have much money we never starved!
Hello Jack please say hello to your father and your grandparents for me. I was in Tampa a year ago and tried to visit but couldn’t contact anyone at the time. I spent alot of time with Jack and Judy. They are very special people and I hope they are doing well. We used to communicate by sending Christmas cards but we have missed the past few years. Please give them my best. I was married to your Uncle Gene in the 80’s I also have alot of fond memmories. When you see him tell him Susan says hello Hudson.....take care
Hi I was told by a friend,who had visited the resturant years ago, to go there when I am in Tampa. Is it still in business? I will be there next week and would like to see it even more so after reading Genes story.
Bob Dourney was my father. Holloway’s antics cost my father dearly.
man this is weird. i just was thinking about the wolf, so i googled gene, and hear i am… this is drew moore. the guy tha worked with paco for two or three years.i had some of the best times of my life in that restaurant(sea wolf). i would go pick-up all the fresh stuff for the restaurant every morning at the farmers market on hillsborugh ave. man i can tell you some storys about that place, so if you have eney questions! or want to get in-touch. pleas write me at
Hi this is Jack Holloway, Gene Holloway is my uncle and my dad, Jimmy Holloway, has told tons of stories about my uncle Gene and his sea Wolfe.Most of the stories are about his tigers, black leopard, a moutain lion or a panther, can’t remeber which.I see him almost every day so if you are one of his old friends I can tell him hi for you.
Gene holloway is my uncle, I see him all the time.
I keep the communication loop open to Dad at As a favor to him I provide his contact information to those out there that have lost contact with him over the years. He sends his deep appreciation for all the kind postings he has received here at Memories of Sea Wolf Restaurant. He values the friendships he has made over the years and looks forward to talking with those who are interested again in the near future. Here is something that is kind of humorous that everyone might want to check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl-TlfqVdFE or go to the YouTube site and just type in Gene Holloway. Thanks in advance for your replies and I wish everyone a Merry Christmas.
With Warm Wishes,
Randall (Randy) Holloway
I met Gene in 1978 at the Sea Wolf. I was with about 10 friends from work.
Gene was making his rounds and joined our table for a while. Following that meeting we became friends. I found him to always be very kind, always interesting and generous. I found him to be a very sincere and deep person; that was my experience. He was a hard working business man with many accomplishments and he loved that gordeous restaurant. As is the case with most of us, he was not perfect; and who is?? Gene was very kind to me personally and I have witnessed him being very kind to many others along the way. I am glad he is doing well and continue to wish him the very best. Write a book Gene.
hi gene, i don’t know if you remember me or not. we grew up together in drew park. floyd mckenzie and i were talking about you the last time i was in tampa. mom and dad and my sister rosie have all passed on. sure would be nice to see you again. will be in fla sometime in jan 08 if you think you would want to get together.
I know they played it on Q-95 and I believe it was also on 98 Rock radio stations. I would start my inquiries with the radio stations first about getting a copy of Gene Gone Away. Good luck on your search. I believe your Dad piloted for us and I’ve heard Dad mention his name often. He flew the plane for me at Zepherhills Parachuting Center when I made my first skydiving jump. Is your Dad the same person I’m talking about? It’s been quite some time ago and I get a lot of people mixed up from back then.
My father was on the boat the day that gene “dissappeared” We were personal friends of gene and family.
I’m looking for the radio spoof song that played so much on popular radio back then titled “gene gone-away”
If you know where I can get a copy. iet me know…
hey grandpa just saying hi you have alot of history about you but anyways hopefully you have time in your life to talk to me and you great grandson nathan. you should’nt of let the sea wolf resturant go the first time. i just wated to say hi uncle randy holloway.
I worked as a bus-boy at the Tampa Sea Wolf from the time it opened until July 1979. My friends and myself enjoyed many fine meals there. We all took our girlfriends. I was just a kid but Gene always treated me pretty well. I have a lot of fond memories of people I met there. Anybody have any idea where Paco is now?
Was he the owner of the Tobacco Co?
My brother Jason and his wife Kelly guided me to this webpage, and after reading it, Ive came to the conclusion that Gene you have lived one hell of a life, and every person in this world can only dream of living a life full of adventure as you have and I hope you have many more wild adventures to come! I look foward to meeting you all one day, the way my brother talks you guys are all great people!
Yes, Mr and Mrs Montgomery this is one heck of a house. If you visited any of the Seawolf Restaurants in Tampa and Lakeland you can understand why, they have the same designer(Dad). The house has to much character to list. This home at 3 mil compared to only a piece of property on the corner of Hollingsworth and Collins Ave less than 2 miles away has only a 1/2 an acre, is going for $750,000 and that doesn’t include the mansion. Hi Jason it’s good to see your comment hope to see you and your family in Florida soon and again welcome to the family. Danny you lived on Hollingsworth longer than I, you may relate better in positive terms than I can.
Anyone out there interested in purchasing the former Holloway home in Lakeland....email me and I will send you the specs....it’s spectacular...the presenet owner has it priced under $3m....and what a home...right on Lake Hollingsworth...with every bell and whistle imaginable!!! We are with Exit Realty and it just came on the market!!!
Hollywood should make a movie of Gene’s life....if ever there were a person who could get into a a pile of it and come out smelling like a rose...it was he!!! (We often compared him to Dallas character JR Ewing!!!) Hope he is enjoying his Golden Years and is happy even if he isn’t as rich!!! Never has there been a restaurant here in Lakeland that can compare to The Sea Wolf. Sure miss it!
i never had a chance to eat at the sea wolf but it sounds like it was a spectacular place. people seem to have alot of bad things to say about my grandfather but i never got to meet him either. hope he has turned out to be a better person. Hi gramps hope to talk to you again soon.
Iwonder what hardlickher,aged the beauty queen??
Daniel...your right, the real story probably never will come out. I suppose that is part of what keeps some folks so interested.
Some of the “happenings” were so bizare that this could truely have been turned into a movie.
Bob I was left out of the time line too,and I,m the oldest son.I have the real story they will not tell it because it is edited.............
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Posted by Julie Bedard, Westminster,MA on 06/10 at 12:02 PM
My family & I ate at the Sea Wolf in 1981 during my childrens’ 1st trip to FL. Tho we were a group of six the prices were not prohibitive & I still remember the opulence.
This AM I found a menu from that visit & wondered if it could possibly still be open. I was quite surprised to see that it was one of the finest restaurants in the country at the time.