Jimmy Buffett made a surprise visit to his Margaritaville Biloxi Casino on Friday:

Buffett made a quick walk through the property with Margaritaville managers and Mayor AJ Holloway to share his ideas for the hotel that’s in the works. Architects are working on those plans right now. And while there’s no timetable for construction, leaders hope to be breaking ground by the end of the year.

Buffett also stopped to visit with employees and say thanks for all the hard work they do to keep the 24/7 operation running smoothly.

“I had to do a double-take to believe it, but sure enough I was standing in front of Jimmy Buffett,” said employee Emma Roberts. “He was so nice and appreciative of what we do.”

Roberts, a native of Puerto Rico, said she was also pleasantly surprised to learn the songwriter “speaks perfect Spanish.”

Buffett also surprised a few customers before leaving on his seaplane.

After three years and a few delays, the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort is finally ready for groundbreaking:

The developer of Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort will host a groundbreaking bash for local dignitaries at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Johnson Street bandshell.

Hollywood officials are predicting the $147 million Jimmy Buffett-themed project will usher in a wave of redevelopment on the beach.

Nearly 200 city officials and VIPs have been invited to the big event.

The Margaritaville Biloxi opened a year and a half ago, and this week it was revealed that a hotel tower is planned for the development:

A workshop to discuss a connector road for Bayview Avenue brought news of two casino developments on the Point in Biloxi.

Margaritaville Casino is planning a $50 million to $60 million development to build a hotel tower, according to managing director John Cary.

Chris Ferrara of Biloxi Boardwalk, who owns the Heinz plant adjacent to Margaritaville, said he plans to spend $200 million for a casino, hotel, convention center and RV park in east Biloxi.

It was announced last week that a Margaritaville restaurant would be built in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. But that’s apparently not the only Jimmy Buffett property being built.

Pigeonforgetnguide.com has a photo of a banner that is hanging up at The Island development where the restaurant will be built:

As the banner says, the Margaritaville Island Hotel will feature 132 rooms and a rooftop pool, with an opening in Spring 2014.

(hat tip Shane)

Jimmy Buffett is performing tonight at his new casino hotel in Bossier City, Louisiana to celebrate the opening of the $197 million project.

Paradise Theater doors open at 4pm CT and the show starts at 5pm CT. You can listen live on Radio Margaritaville.

The Margaritaville casino is all on one level, spread across 30,000 square feet, and features around 1,300 slot machines and 54 table games. 400 rooms occupy the remaining space, along with three restaurants and the Paradise Theater, which seats 900.

It’s the sixth casino in the Shreveport-Bossier area and the first new facility in more than a decade.

Visit margaritavillebossiercity.com for more information on the hotel and casino.