By Robin Rieger

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (CBS) - The Margaritaville party has already started in Atlantic city in anticipation of the May 2013 opening of Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville complex at Resorts Casino Hotel. The singer joined New Jersey governor Chris Christie and other officials on the boardwalk Tuesday for the announcement.

“The Jersey shore has the largest flock of parrot heads up and down the eastern seaboard, said Jimmy Buffett.

“With helping bring back a great beach town, we’re also giving a flock of migrant birds a nest to come to”.

Resorts is partnering with Buffett to add a Margaritaville themed section to the casino, a Five O’Clock Somewhere casino bar, a Margaritaville restaurant and landshark bar and grill on the beach – open year round.

It’s a $35 million project. Governor Christie says casinos are trying to increase non-gaming revenues. The gaming numbers were down ten percent in May from last year.

“We’re confident we’ll attract more and different types of people to Atlantic City to have some fun at a resort with a great beach behind us”, said Christie.

It looks like this could be one of those “if you build it they will come” moments. Parrot heads started lining up an hour before the press conference.

“He’s got so many followers in Jersey already and from surrounding states that you know it’s going to be real big,” said Jack Ward of Cliffwood Beach, New Jersey.

We asked Buffett fan Linda Mierzwinski of Egg Harbor Township if this would make her come to Atlantic City more often.

“Absolutely, absolutely,” Mierzwinski said. She has been to 23 shows and plans to see him next week at his Atlantic City concert and in Camden after that.

“Atlantic City has always historically been a great beach town. And needless to say, I kind of thrive in those kind of kind of communities,” said Buffett.