Margaritaville construction back underway in Melbourne as fans mourn Jimmy Buffett's death

As Parrot Heads around the world mourn the death of legendary "Margaritaville" singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, construction crews are resuming work on his future namesake tourist resort on the Space Coast.

In May, construction of the Compass Landing by Margaritaville resort on U.S. 1 in Melbourne was suspended because of high interest rates and unfavorable economic conditions. The target opening date was pushed back from fall 2024 to late 2025.

Now, construction is back underway, said Harry Mirpuri, who is spearheading the Margaritaville hotel-entertainment complex.

"The legacy of Jimmy Buffett will live on in the memory of this project. And we'll make sure that, like his songs, this is something that we continue to play forever," Mirpuri said.

The tropical-themed Melbourne Margaritaville will include a seven-story hotel facing the Indian River Lagoon, a two-story restaurant building with 400 seats, a 221-slip marina, a 14,000-square-foot lawn with stage for concerts and events, a four-level parking garage, and a public boardwalk.

“We're breaking the project down into separate phases. And right now as part of our initial phase, we are working on the marina component. As you can see out there, the promenade is going to be an important part of that," Mirpuri said.

"It extends about 700 feet and is about 15 feet wide. So it's going to be an impressive public venue," Mirpuri said.

Jimmy Buffett, conservationist: Jimmy Buffett threw his celebrity behind Florida manatee

Site work kicked off last October at the 4.6-acre site along the riverfront just south of Cherry Street. The marina will cover another 3 acres of submerged lands.

“We're working with our team and design team to stagger (construction) out, and we'll see how that develops. But obviously, we're working in a way that makes sense for us, and more importantly in a timeline that works in the staging of the project," Mirpuri said.

After an illustrious recording career spanning more than a half-century — crafting a unique mix of folk, country and Caribbean music — Buffett died Friday at his home in Sag Harbor, Long Island, after a four-year fight with Merkel cell skin cancer. He was 76.

"Jimmy lived his life like his songs: from beaches to boats to bars, sailing, surfing, and flying. He knew how to have fun and cared deeply about bringing everyone else along with him for the ride," said a tribute statement on the Margaritaville website.

Kelly Slater on Jimmy Buffett: "It was a real dream to know you"

"When he flashed that signature smile one-on-one or to 100,000, somehow you just felt happy to be in his orbit," the statement said.

"His original idea for Margaritaville was to expand the opportunity for as many people to experience the lifestyle immortalized in his iconic song as possible," the statement said.

The Space Coast Parrot Heads chapter has about 225 members. Parrot Heads are the official fan club “for people who are interested in the music of Jimmy Buffett and the tropical lifestyle he personifies” — and the international network includes more than 200 clubs across the country.

“Obviously, his passing hit a lot of people really hard. A lot of people openly were crying and couldn't believe it on Radio Margaritaville, his SiriusXM radio station. People were calling in and just telling all kinds of stories," said Ron Mead, Space Coast Parrot Heads past president.

Where is Margaritaville, anyway? Everything you need to know about Buffett's laid-back empire

Mead, an Indialantic retiree, met his future wife, Carla, seven years ago through the Brevard Parrot Heads chapter. They married in July 2022.

“I've been a Parrot Head, I guess, for the last 10 years when I moved to Florida and met people. And it's been a great family. That's what it really is. It's a big family," Mead said.

The Space Coast Parrot Heads hosts a monthly "phlocking" gathering the third Thursday of every month at 5 p.m. at Pineda Inn Bar & Grill near Suntree. The nonprofit social club raises money for various Brevard charities.

Saturday afternoon, West Melbourne singer-songwriter John McDonald performed a tribute set to Buffett at Squid Lips Overwater Grill in Cocoa Beach. He lists Buffett as one of his chief musical influences.

“To be frank with you, it has kind of affected me here. It’s been a little bit of a roller coaster for me emotionally over the last few days. Because his presence and his music have been in my life for over three decades now,” he said of Buffett’s passing.

Last November, McDonald won the Trop Rock Music Association Single of the Year Award for his song "Islandology" during an awards show in Key West.

McDonald performs at a rotating list of Space Coast venues such as Lou’s Blues in unincorporated Indialantic, Balibar Wines and Finds on Merritt Island, Old Fish House Bar & Grill in Grant, and Pub Americana and Meg O’Malley’s in downtown Melbourne. He also plays at shows across Florida and out-of-state festivals.

He called his trop-rock musical subgenre "an outgrowth of what I sometimes kiddingly call the Jimmy Buffett phenomenon."

“Jimmy Buffett is a complete, original and completely singular entity, and is irreplaceable," McDonald said.

"It's just pretty amazing what he's pulled off. Very, very few people — on the strength of one song — have been able to create an entire lifestyle-leisure brand worth hundreds of millions of dollars. But there's no doubt that he tapped into something in the American psyche," he said.

Rick Neale is the South Brevard Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1

Support local journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Melbourne Margaritaville work resumes after Jimmy Buffett's death