Dolly Parton may be best known for Tennessee's Smoky Mountains, but the late country icon made a meaningful connection to Florida's Gulf Coast before her passing. In a 2025 interview with Thrillist, Parton explained her affection plainly: "I've always loved the Panama City Beach area. That white sand and beautiful emerald water just draws you in." That fondness translated into real investment in the destination, making Panama City Beach a place where fans can still feel her presence today.
Her most prominent contribution is the Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show at Pier Park, which opened in 2025 featuring two full-size pirate ships and a 15-foot-deep lagoon. Parton told NewsChannel 7 that she chose Panama City Beach partly because it was a "great place for families to come and visit." Attendees enjoy a four-course meal alongside sword fights, acrobatics, mermaids, and live animals, with Parton's music woven throughout a production she reportedly helped develop and partially scored herself. The show holds a 4.4-star rating on Google Maps. A short walk away, the PCB Wheel rises 200 feet above Pier Park for sweeping views of the coastline — another attraction tied to Parton's company.
The beaches near Pier Park back up Parton's glowing description. The Russell-Fields City Pier stretches more than 1,500 feet into the Gulf right across from Pier Park's main entrance, and for a small fee, visitors can walk out for impressive open-water views. Reviewers consistently praise the clarity of the water — some reporting sightings of sea turtles, stingrays, and dolphins from the pier itself. The surrounding beach is set up well for families, with seasonal lifeguards, volleyball courts, outdoor showers, and concession stands. One caution: Panama City Beach enforces a $500 fine for entering the water when double red flags are flying.
For a quieter, more nature-forward beach day, St. Andrews State Park sits about 10 miles east of the pier area and offers roughly a mile of Gulf shoreline along with Grand Lagoon frontage. Reviewers frequently note it's far less crowded than central Panama City Beach, and the park's jetty area is popular for snorkeling among rays, octopuses, and angelfish. Those craving the low-key feel of "Old Florida" might also consider Inlet Beach, about 15 minutes west of the main strip. Travelers flying in will find Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport roughly a 20-minute drive from the heart of Panama City Beach.
Beyond Parton's attractions, Pier Park itself offers more than 100 shops, a movie theater, laser tag, and a mirror maze in a walkable outdoor setting — though it leans more toward lively tourist hub than laid-back coastal retreat. This article is based on reporting by Islands.
