Ard's Cricket Ranch: Locals Still Chirp About Bait Shop & Bar in Pensacola

A Unique Piece of Pensacola History

If you weren’t around in the 1980s, you might not understand just how unusual and memorable Ard’s Cricket Ranch was. For several decades, this unique establishment on Lynch Street became a local landmark where people gathered to drink, play pool, and enjoy the sounds of crickets chirping in the background.

Ard’s Cricket Ranch was more than just a bait shop—it was a bar that served cold beer and offered a variety of entertainment. The owner, Kathy Ard, was known for her big beehive hairdo and friendly personality. She sold live crickets to fishermen and even to people who simply enjoyed having them as pets. Her business thrived, and by the late 1970s, she had hundreds of cricket bins, each holding thousands of crickets.

In 1984, a group of students from Escambia High School, including Katy "Buggs" Kings, made headlines when they bought 800 live crickets from Ard’s and used them in a prank. They cut a circle in their principal's window and dumped the crickets inside. The next morning, the school was filled with the sound of chirping. Though the students were never caught or punished, the event became part of the school’s history, and the yearbook featured a photo of the students with the sign “The Cricket Crew is Not Through.”

Katy Kings, who grew up in Pensacola, recalls the incident fondly. She got her nickname as an infant when a priest named her “Katy Bugg.” Her story highlights the quirky nature of life in Pensacola, where unusual events often become part of the community’s folklore.

The Man Behind the Crickets

Kathy Ard started her business in 1968 by purchasing a former bait shop and adding a bar two years later. At first, she knew little about crickets but learned through experience and attending a convention in New Orleans. What began as a simple business quickly expanded into a full-fledged operation, with millions of crickets being raised and sold.

The ranch wasn’t just about selling crickets. It was a gathering place for locals, featuring a small bar with pool tables, dart boards, and a jukebox playing country music. If someone ate a live cricket, they received a free beer. This unique combination of a bar and a cricket farm made Ard’s a one-of-a-kind spot in Pensacola.

Retired University of West Florida philosophy instructor Nicholas Power remembers his visit to Ard’s. He said he once crunched on a live cricket for a Busch beer. While the taste wasn’t great, he described it as crunchy with a soft middle. These kinds of stories are what make the place so memorable.

A Cultural Touchstone

Pensacola author Nic Schuck was inspired by Ard’s Cricket Ranch when he wrote his 2016 novel, Panhandlers. He created a fictional location called Sally’s Cricket Shack based on the real-life establishment. Although he only visited a couple of times, the experience left a lasting impression on him.

“I only went in once or twice and both times I was already intoxicated,” Schuck said. He felt out of place among the older regulars but now wishes the place was still open so he could feel more at home.

Local charter fishing captain Miles Howell also has memories of Ard’s. His grandfather, Joe Howell, used to fix jukeboxes and other arcade games for the bar. Howell recalls that crickets would often jump out of the machines, making for some unexpected surprises. He also noted that during mating season, the noise from the crickets made it hard to hear anything inside the bar.

A Legacy That Lives On

Kathy Ard passed away in 2005 at the age of 59. Her son, Gene Ard, and his wife continued running the business until it eventually closed. However, the Ards still operate a similar cricket business in Westville, Florida. Despite attempts to reach out to them, no one responded to recent inquiries.

Eric Jones, another longtime resident, remembers the charm of Ard’s. He said the country music jukebox and occasional sightings of Kathy Ard were highlights. “She was always gracious and welcoming,” he said. “Her hairstyle was something the two women from the B-52’s could only aspire to.”

Ard’s Cricket Ranch may no longer be open, but its legacy lives on in the hearts of those who remember it. From pranks involving crickets to the unique blend of a bar and a cricket farm, it remains a symbol of Pensacola’s quirky and colorful past.