Pirates Voyage Project in Panama City Beach, Florida Reaches Construction Milestone
August 16, 2024Panama City Beach, Florida (August 15, 2024) — Construction crews today placed the final steel beam atop the Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show building in Panama City Beach, marking an important milestone for the entertainment property which is set to open in Spring 2025.
During today’s topping out ceremony, crews finished the last major aspect of the building’s iconic outside profile. Attention now will focus inward, as construction continues on the property’s spacious Buccaneer Bay lagoon, which is the centerpiece of the show’s action. Another focus will be the backstage areas for staff and entertainers, as well as family-friendly public areas including the ticketing center, Treasure Chest gift shop and Pirates Village™, where the pirates come to trade their wares.
Jack Lawrence, Pirates Voyage CEO, led media, city officials and area representatives on a tour to highlight the progress of the construction. He said that as the interior begins to take shape, one upcoming big task will be to “build” the lagoon known as Buccaneer Bay, which is the centerpiece of the set that will house the two pirate ships where the action of the entire show takes place. Once completed, the 15-foot deep lagoon will hold more than 600,000 gallons of water.
“We’re going ‘overboard’ with the details as we prepare everything – and that starts with the building itself,” Lawrence said. “This is going to be a show that guests to Panama City Beach are not going to want to miss. People have been asking for details, so we thought now would be a good time to share some of those as we ‘top off’ the building.”
More than 400 jobs have been created during the construction process. From the time construction began until completion in Spring 2025, more than 200 tradesmen will have worked on the Pirates Voyage project. Materials used include:
- More than 44,000 cubic yards of import fill material
- In excess of 2,600 cubic yards of concrete
- Over 600 tons (or 1.2 million pounds) of steel
- Approximately 16,000 gallons of paint
When completed, the 60,000 square foot indoor theater will have more than 1000 seats. Guests will be treated to a dinner and show where the Crimson and Sapphire pirates battle on deck, in the water of the 15-foot-deep lagoon, and in the “sky” above the two full-sized pirate ships that serve as the swashbuckling stage for adventure, excitement and fun for everyone. When the new dinner show opens, it will employ 300 people. The total cost for the project is estimated at $60 million.
Get more information on the Pirates Voyage experiences in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Dolly Parton’s dinner shows have operated since 1988, featuring special effects, musical productions, live animals and a four-course family feast. Dinner show venues, theaters, and restaurants for family fun and adventure can be found in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; Branson, Missouri; and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: Dolly Parton's Stampede Dinner Attraction, Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show, Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud, The Comedy Barn Theater, and Frizzle Chicken Café.
