Founders Festival Marks Opening of Chipola Music Village in Florida

(PRWEB) September 23, 2006 -- Almost four decades after the event that defined a generation, Atlanta-based Music Village Resorts will strive to capture both the atmosphere and experience of that three-day festival with a community built for artisans by artisans called Chipola Music Village in Marianna, Florida.

Chipola Music Village Resort is creating a true live, work and play eco-based community that is based around music and the arts.

"We envision creating a community of entertainment and a true artisans village where workshops, festivals, camps and multi-cultural and educational activities can take place," says Music Village Resorts developer/producer Donald Pickett, who initially conceived the idea in 2001. "It'll be an enjoyable year round experience."

Located just 50 miles outside of Panama City off Florida Highway 73, Chipola Music Village marks the first master-planned gated community of its kind and will include a proposed 165 home sites around amphitheaters, 150 cabin/villa sites, 140 RV ownership sites and will feature:

     * Equestrian center and horse stables
     * Dedicated camping areas
     * A water park with pool, slides and lazy river
     * 18-hole championship disk golf course
     * Performing Arts Center
     * Retail/office space (for non-franchise businesses only)

Since it's all about the music, Music Village Resorts plans to feature wide-ranging genres at the grounds including rock, pop, country, jazz, jam, bluegrass and symphony.

Beginning Thursday, October 5th, a four-day Founders Festival celebrating the launch of Chipola will take place on site and feature a variety of artists (see below for those likely to appear).

The Festival will give potential homesite and membership buyers the opportunity to view the actual site and experience first-hand what's in store.

"We're hoping our three outdoor amphitheatres -- ranging from 1,000 - 15,000 in capacity -- become a desired destination for both established and up-and-coming artists," comments Pickett, who estimates that their concert season will begin in the summer of 2007 with final build-out occuring in early 2010.

"With the completion of the Panama City International Airport occuring in 2009, our timing is perfect... the Chipola Music Village will be even easier to access as the airport will be centrally-located between Marianna and Panama City, only 25 miles away."

"Shortly after breaking ground on Chipola Music Village, we're going to begin agressively seeking and finalizing other locations for Music Village Resorts throughout the country," states Pickett. "As of now, we've got our sights set on such states as Alabama, California, Maine, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia, and are currently in negotiations with sites in most of those states."

Music Village, Inc. is a non-profit corporation with 100% of the proceeds generated from memberships to be invested back into the community.

Chipola Music Village will offer limited transferable memberships beginning at just $2,500.

All Music Village Resorts communities will offer a vast and beautiful selection of home sites and many ways to simply enjoy life, itself.

According to Pickett, "our goal is to cater to all those that enjoy music, not just a privileged few."

Reservations on home sites ($500 deposit) will begin at 2:00pm EST on Thursday, October 5th, 2006.

For more information, please view the websites at www.musicvillageresorts.com and www.chipolamusic.com.

FOUNDERS FESTIVAL Schedule (Thursday, October 5th - Sunday, October 8th, 2006 / *Tickets only $35 in advance)

Thursday, October 5th - The Wayne Wills Band, Former Grateful Dead keyboardist Tom "TC" Constanten, Bonobos Convergence

Friday, October 6th - Bill Summers and the Wade in the Water Tour (www.wadeinthewatertour.com) featuring the top New Orleans musicians

Saturday, October 7th - The Zac Brown Band, Tom "TC" Constanten

Sunday, October 8th - Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons, Zoso the Led Zeppelin Tribute Band, Abbey Road Live Beatles Tribute Band, Comic Charlie Grateful Dead Tribute Band

Artists "at large" during the event will include P. Nut Daniels and Bill Summers.

*Tickets available at www.inticketing.com and www.chipolamusic.com (price includes performance and overnight camping)
    
Contact and Membership Information
Donald Pickett
Developer/Producer
Music Village Resorts
P.O. Box 76797
Atlanta, GA 30358
Phone: (404) 255-6100
www.musicvillageresorts.com

Roy Topik
Gladiator Holdings
Director / Chipola Music Village
Phone: (404) 255-6100

Media Relations
Jeff Albright
The Albright Entertainment Group
Phone: (770) 664-5977

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