The moment that parrotheads have been dreading for years has finally come. In a stunning but not completely surprising move given his age, Jimmy Buffett is leaving the rigors of the road behind and will open a theater in Branson, Missouri, according to the Branson Tri-Lakes News:

Known for his Caribbean-flavored tunes about boat drinks and sailing ships, entertainer Jimmy Buffett will leave the road in 2014 and will take up residence in a new theater on 76 Country Boulevard. Buffett, who will turn 67 next Christmas, spoke of a desire to finally “stay in one place for more than a few days.”

“I’ve been on the road touring since 1970,” said Buffett. “After more than 40 years of doing this, it’s time to settle down.”

While many entertainers of his caliber have taken up shop in Las Vegas, Buffett felt Branson fit his laid-back persona better.

“I just love the small town charm and the easygoing, laid back attitude that you find in the Ozarks. Sure it comes from the average age of the patrons exceeding 70 instead of anything to do with the islands, but it’s the thought that counts,” Buffett explained.

Buffett’s new theater will be built adjacent to the Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater, across the street from Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede. Construction is slated to be complete in time for the Silver Dollar City Bluegrass & BBQ Festival, one of the town’s top tourist draws of the year.

Other acts that have had their own theaters in Branson include Andy Williams, Glen Campbell, Tony Orlando, Mickey Gilley, Mel Tillis, and Moe Bandy.

Update – April Fools’ 🙂

Jimmy Buffett is back in the musical game. Margaritaville.com announced today that he’s producing Big Fish, the musical adaptation of the 2003 film.

Big Fish is a rollicking fantasy set in the American South. Directed by 5-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman (The Producers), the story centers on the charismatic Edward Bloom (whose impossible stories of his epic adventures frustrate his son Will). As Edward’s final chapter approaches, Will embarks on his own journey to find out who his father really is, revealing the man behind the myth, the truth from the tall tales.

Big Fish’s World Premiere Pre-Broadway Engagement is in Chicago at the Oriental Theatre from April 2nd to May 5th, then it lands in New York City on Broadway starting September 5th! Tickets and more information can be found at BigFishTheMusical.com.

This won’t be Buffett’s first foray into musicals. He adapted Herman Wouk’s novel “Don’t Stop the Carnival” for a musical in the late 90’s, but it only ran briefly in Miami and Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas.

Jimmy Buffett will return to Chicago this summer but will play at the Charter One Pavilion on Northerly Island, the former site of Meigs Field.

Jimmy Buffett and Phish were confirmed Thursday to headline concerts in a newly expanded Charter One Pavilion on Northerly Island.

The facility, on the site of the former Meigs Field, will add 22,000 lawn seats and 600 fixed seats, for total capacity of 30,000.

Buffett is expected to play June 29 and Phish, according to their Web site, on July 19-21. Additional Northerly Island shows include Dispatch on June 1, O.A.R. on June 28, and Barenaked Ladies and Ben Folds on July 9. Buffett and Phish had previously played ampthitheaters and arenas during their regular summer visits to the Chicago area, including Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill., and Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wis. Only Buffett and Phish will use the expanded configuration of the facility.

No word yet on when tickets will go on sale.

Jimmy Buffett was in St. Thomas on Friday to unveil plans for the first Margaritaville Vacation Club.

Buffett is partnering with Wyndham to open the 262-unit resort, located at the former Renaissance Grand Beach Resort in Smith Bay on St. Thomas.

The hotel property has been abandoned for years, and Wyndham plans to invest $90 million to transform it into the flagship Margaritaville Vacation Club by Wyndham property.

Friday’s reception took place at Penga, the Point Pleasant Resort restaurant that overlooks the site of the new Margaritaville resort.

Kicking off his flip-flops, Buffett picked up his guitar and sang three songs – “Boat Drinks,” which he said was inspired by a trip to St. Thomas; “Volcano”; and, of course, “Margaritaville” – to the small crowd as the sun began to set over Water Bay.

Buffett came to St. Thomas on his first sailboat in 1972, a boat he bought with the money he made from his first album. He lived on his boat at the old Sheraton Marina off and on for about a year, playing gigs in the area and making friends.

When the opportunity to bring his Margaritaville brand to the Virgin Islands arose, Buffet said, he jumped at the chance, seeing it as a perfect fit.

Buffett said the brand is about a lifestyle, and a way to connect with his fans – also known as “parrot heads.”

“We sell escapism,” he said. “They’ve been escaping through our music for so long, this is a real place on the beach, Margaritaville. It’s about appealing to the people who’ve been fans for so long.”

Buffett said he plans to buy the first four timeshare units at the resort so his musicians and crew can rotate through. Music will be a big part of the resort, with live acts playing regularly – maybe even Buffett himself.

Buffett currently lives on St. Barths and pilots his own seaplane, which he said would be very easy to land in Water Bay.

“You never know when I’m going to show up,” Buffett said, referring to the future resort.

Construction on the resort will begin in July. The first phase – which includes the main administration buildings, restaurant, common areas and the units by the pool – will take about 18 months to complete.

Read the full article.

New Margaritaville properties are sprouting up everywhere! Two weeks ago came the announcement of a Margaritaville resort in St. Thomas. The day before that, a Margaritaville restaurant opened in Cincinnati. Another restaurant looks to be in the works in the Pigeon Forge area, and now a Margaritaville Casino and restaurant in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Officials with the River Spirit Casino in Tulsa announced plans to build a 500-room hotel tower Monday, which they claim would bring Tulsa around 800 new permanent jobs and its construction nearly 2,000 more.

The casino’s expansion will feature a 22-story Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Casino and Restaurant, complete with its own spa, convention and meeting center and a handful of restaurants.

The facility will also hold some 750 electronic gaming devices and 20 table games within its projected 45,000 square feet of new gaming space, according to the casino.

Officials say the groundbreaking will begin in the fall, with plans to open the $250 million-facility by early 2015.

A press conference will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the River Spirit Event Center to officially announce the project.