Dolly Parton Said She Always Loved This Florida Hotspot With White Sand And Emerald Water

With the sad news of the passing of country music queen Dolly Parton at the age of 80, the world has lost one of its most beloved entertainers. Having delighted fans with her music for more than six decades, Dolly was known as much for her warm and generous nature as she was for her music. With her boundless energy and indomitable spirit, she traveled extensively around the country performing classic songs like "Jolene", "I Will Always Love You", and "9 to 5" for her faithful supporters, becoming one of the best-selling female artists of all time.

But while her heart always belonged to her home in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, there was another place she held dear, and that was Panama City Beach on the Panhandle, one of Florida's most underrated vacation spots. Dolly chose this spot to open her $60 million Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show in June 2025. "I've always loved the Panama City Beach area," she explained in an interview with Thrillist. "That white sand and beautiful emerald water just draws you in. It's a place where families go to have fun, so bringing one of my dinner shows there felt right and it's perfect for Pirates Voyage." 

With the show still drawing visitors, Dolly leaves behind another part of her entertainment legacy in a destination she clearly loved.

Spending time with family and having fun together was clearly important to Dolly Parton and an image she associated with Panama City Beach. To get into that same family spirit, start with a barefoot stroll along the shoreline, building sandcastles and feeling the sand between your toes, taking the time to gaze out upon the famously green water. Florida's Gulf Coast can sometimes be dangerous, so if the red flags are out, don't go swimming or you risk receiving a fine. Instead, take a boat trip out to Shell Island to go beachcombing and wildlife watching. Deer and sea turtles sometimes make an appearance and dolphins are occasionally spotted offshore. The island even has a few pirate stories of its own, in preparation for the evening's entertainment.

After successfully launching the Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show in Myrtle Beach and Pigeon Forge, where she also created the must-visit Dollywood theme park, Dolly wanted to bring the same fun experience for families to enjoy at Panama City Beach. She told Thrillist, "Growing up in the Smoky Mountains, everything we did seemed to revolve around great food, great music, and stories around the table. So, it just made sense to put all that together in a way that families could enjoy." The show, which runs for most of the year, centers around an action-packed pirate spectacle staged on full-size pirate ships, with sword fights and acrobatics, and accompanied by a four-course meal. Tickets cost from $59.99, and are available on the Pirates Voyage website. If you're lucky enough to make it to the show, be sure to raise a glass in Dolly's memory.