As Entech Innovative Engineering celebrates its 30th anniversary, we want to not only commemorate three decades of engineering excellence but also pay tribute to an iconic figure who has left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment – Jimmy Buffett. It is with great respect and gratitude that we remember the collaborations we've had with Margaritaville, the embodiment of Jimmy Buffett's laid-back, tropical paradise vision, especially in the wake of his recent passing.
Margaritaville Myrtle Beach: Spinning Hurricanes and Tequila Dreams
In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Margaritaville's center bar took center stage with an awe-inspiring spectacle. Designed by The McBride Co. and brought to life by Entech Innovative Engineering, this bar featured a giant spinning hurricane with a colossal tequila bottle at its core. The tequila bottle descended from the rotating hurricane clouds, pouring "tequila" into a massive blender below. The visual effect was heightened by misty smoke, confetti, and shark fins emerging from the hurricane's bands.
Crafting this iconic feature required expertise in size, engineering, specialty metals, fiberglass, control systems, scenic paint, and, most importantly, a sense of fun. Despite the complexity of the project, we completed it in a remarkable 68 days, delivering an unforgettable experience to Margaritaville's patrons.
Margaritaville's Lady Liberty: An Icon with a Margarita Twist
In the heart of New York City, at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Resort in Times Square, a unique dining experience awaited guests – one that featured a 1/3-scale Statue of Liberty, but with a Margaritaville twist. This massive icon, engineered and fabricated by Entech Innovative Engineering, replaced the golden torch with a margarita glass, offering a whimsical path to all Parrotheads!
This extraordinary creation incorporated an integrated banquette seating area within Lady Liberty's torso, complete with chandelier lighting and integrated flat-screen televisions, immersing diners in the ambiance of the Statue of Liberty. Building an iconic figure of this scale required meticulous planning and execution. It began with developing a digital model that all stakeholders agreed upon, followed by 3D printing for final approval. Technical design and engineering tackled the challenges of constructing the icon using composites supplemented with steel armatures, all while ensuring it could be shipped from Florida to New York City within a standard van trailer. The project's success hinged on careful engineering, load testing, and precise field assembly.
Margaritaville Atlanta: Bringing Paradise to Centennial Park
One of our most recent collaborations with Margaritaville was the creation of an array of elaborate props and theming elements for Margaritaville Atlanta. Located at Centennial Park, Margaritaville Atlanta is nestled among some of the city's most prominent attractions, including the World of Coca-Cola, the Georgia Aquarium, and the SkyView Atlanta Ferris Wheel. This location, which opened its doors in June 2022, offers guests a tropical escape with two levels of seating overlooking downtown Atlanta, featuring a Tiki Bar, License To Chill Bar, and the 5 O'Clock Somewhere Bar.
Entech Innovative Engineering played a pivotal role in this project, providing technical design, engineering, fabrication, and installation for a variety of restaurant theming prop enhancements. These enhancements included an oversized Adirondack chair adorned with mounted parrots, an impressive 8-foot-tall realistic margarita glass complete with a salted rim and sipping parrots, flying parrots, paddleboard TV frames, a large Tiki entry, skinny Tikis, and other ancillary decorations. One of the standout elements was the oversized margarita glass, primarily crafted from high-density foam and meticulously painted to emulate the frozen drink. The installation of this colossal glass presented unique challenges due to its size and smooth surface, requiring the use of a mini-crane and a custom sling. These thematic elements enhanced the Margaritaville experience in Atlanta, reflecting our commitment to engineering excellence and innovation.
A Legacy of Collaboration with Margaritaville
Throughout the last two decades, Entech Innovative Engineering has been honored to provide a wide range of complex elements to various Margaritaville locations including restaurants, airports, and resorts. From the large Margaritaville blenders to other thematic elements, our team has played a crucial role in bringing the Margaritaville brand vision to life at countless locations.
As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, we also once again remember and pay tribute to the spirit of Margaritaville and the creativity of Jimmy Buffett. These collaborations have allowed us to blend our engineering expertise with the laid-back, tropical paradise ethos of Margaritaville, creating memorable experiences for Parrotheads and fans alike.
In the spirit of Margaritaville, we raise a glass to the past 30 years of innovation and look forward to many more years of creative collaboration and engineering excellence. Cheers to Jimmy Buffett, Margaritaville, and the journey ahead – Fins Up!
