Jimmy Buffett was a singer, songwriter, author, and businessman best known for creating a laid-back, island-inspired lifestyle brand centered around his music and persona. He was born in 1946 in Pascagoula, Mississippi, but spent much of his life in Fairhope and Mobile, Alabama.
After a brief stint at Auburn University, he graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg in 1969, but after seeing a band perform in Biloxi, Buffett began a career in music, performing on the streets of New Orleans and Nashville.
In 1977, he released Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, featuring the hit “Margaritaville”, which became his signature song and cultural calling card. He toured extensively with his Coral Reefer Band, attracting a devoted fan base known as “Parrotheads.”
He grew not just a music following, but created an empire with his own range of restaurants, hotels, retirement communities, beer, and spirits. After a private battle with a form of skin cancer, Buffett died on September 1, 2023.
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Jimmy Buffett Landmarks in Alabama
Auburn
Buffett attended Auburn University for a time and pledged the fraternity Sigma Pi. It was here that he learned how to play guitar as a way to meet girls. But he flunked out in 1966, but would return in 1986 to play at Beard–Eaves-Memorial Coliseum.
Gulf Shores
The Alabama Gulf Coast towns have deep ties to the Buffett family. He was known to perform at the Flora-Bama, which inspired his song “Bama Breeze.” The state-straddling bar even has an annual celebration for National Jimmy Buffett Day. His sister also has a restaurant in the area, Lulu’s.
Mobile
Buffett and his family came to Mobile for his dad’s job at the Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Company. They settled in a house on Sunset Drive. Later on, Buffett was married in 1969 at St. Joseph’s Chapel on the campus of Spring Hill College. He also performed around town at The Admiral’s Club and the Saenger Theatre.
Jimmy Buffett Landmarks in Florida
Cabbage Key
The small, secluded island off the southwest coast of Florida is only accessible by boat and is one of several places alleged to have the burger that inspired “Cheeseburger in Paradise.” The restaurant at the rustic retreat was visited by Buffett, so it’s up to you to decide. The Dew Drop Inn in Mobile also claims the title.
Key West
Perhaps nowhere is as closely associated with Jimmy Buffett as Key West, Florida. It was here that he met his first wife at the Chart Room bar. In 1971, after they divorced, he returned to the island to play at venues like the old Anchor Inn and Howie’s Lounge. In 1987, he opened his first Margaritaville. Buffett also lived in Palm Beach for a time.
Jimmy Buffett Landmarks in Mississippi
Hattiesburg
He may have only attended school there for a few years, but his impact looms large in Hattiesburg. There’s a mural in his honor titled “Parrots in Paradise” on Hardy Street, painted by Gulfport artist Lucinda L’Enfant. See the others here.
Biloxi and Pascagoula
The Mississippi Gulf Coast was another important place for Buffett. His hometown, Pascagoula, has a bridge named for him and he loved eating at Scranton’s. In Biloxi, he opened a hotel and dined at Mary Mahoney’s and played at the Coast Coliseum.
Other Jimmy Buffett Landmarks
Buffett lived all over the country, including California and New York, plus a residence in Saint Barthélemy.
Margaritaville Cafés can now be found all over the region, including Atlanta, Myrtle Beach, Miami, and Pigeon Forge. Landshark Bar & Grill outposts can be found in Daytona Beach and Lake Lanier. There’s also a bar at Universal Orlando.
Looking for a place to stay? Buffett-approved stays include hotels in Biloxi, Fort Myers, and Shreveport-Bossier. Don’t miss the cottages in Panama City Beach and Kissimmee and the Camp Margaritaville RV Resorts.
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