Fins

Short-lived but not soon forgotten, Fins was Clemson’s own little slice of Key West. This Jimmy Buffett–themed bar popped up downtown around the late 1980s. Decked out in tropical décor (think palm fronds and parrot paraphernalia), Fins catered to the “Margaritaville” mood – Buffett’s hit song “Fins” gave the bar its name and laid-back identity. The blender drinks flowed and “Cheeseburger in Paradise” was likely on the sound system. Its downfall? Perhaps too popular with the under-21 crowd. Students joked (after the fact) that they went to Fins “at a ‘legal’ age,” with a wink and a nod – implying many did not​tigernet.com. In reality, Fins developed a reputation for being lax on carding, which likely drew the attention of authorities. Before long, the party was over – Fins closed its doors, possibly due to losing its license over underage patrons​tigernet.com. Despite its brief run, Clemson students of that era still reminisce about Fins Bar: the island vibe in the middle of Tiger Town, where for a moment they could pretend Clemson was the Florida Keys. It’s a classic example of a college bar that burned bright and fast – a tropical oasis that shut down as quickly as a summer storm​tigernet.com.