A hotel owner based in Honduras is making headlines by bringing back the Fyre Festival brand in collaboration with Billy McFarland. This revival takes the form of a unique pop-up experience set to take place at his picturesque island resort, marking yet another surprising chapter in the ongoing saga surrounding this infamous festival.

Heath Miller, a recognized former concert promoter from New York and the past manager of Webster Hall in Manhattan, has announced that he has reached a significant agreement with McFarland. Together, they plan to host a Fyre Resort Pop-Up event accommodating 300 to 400 guests at his hotel, Coral Villa Utila, situated on the beautiful island of Utila. This event is scheduled to occur from September 3 to September 10, attracting attention from all over.

Tickets for this pop-up experience are quite affordable. To gain access, guests simply need to book a room at Miller’s cozy 25-room resort, and a pass for the Fyre event is included in their stay. Rates begin at $198 per night for individual accommodations, $329 for couples, $399 for triple occupancy, and $449 for the resort’s spacious four-bed room, making it an attractive getaway for many.

Miller emphasizes that this September event is not being marketed as Fyre Festival II. He clarifies that tickets previously purchased for the original event will not grant access to the Fyre Resort Pop-Up. He envisions this pop-up experience as a more laid-back affair compared to the extravagant plans initially proposed for the Fyre’s comeback festival in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. Live entertainment is planned, although Miller admits he has yet to secure any notable talent, and the event will operate within a modest budget, avoiding a flashy lineup.

“This gathering isn’t designed for artists demanding exorbitant fees, such as $100,000,” he remarks. “For me, this event serves as a promotional vehicle for my hotel and aligns with my larger vision. I’m currently in the process of writing a book about my music career, which was intended to conclude last June after a performance by Jack Antonoff in Asbury Park. Now, it seems that Fyre will become the final chapter of my book.”

Miller believes that the notoriety surrounding the disastrous 2018 festival, which captured global attention when attendees arrived at a Bahamian island only to find that the promised luxurious experience was nonexistent, may prove to be the biggest attraction for this pop-up event.

“The Fyre Festival brand has certainly been tainted and carries a terrible reputation. However, in the end, this brand can generate publicity and create awareness in ways that even events like Coachella can’t match,” Miller states confidently.

Managing the hotel since 2019, a role he took over following his father’s passing, Miller shares that his father initially purchased the island resort in the 1990s. His concept for the Fyre pop-up is partly inspired by Sixthman, a company under Norwegian Cruise Lines that organizes music-themed cruises featuring artists like Lindsay Stirling, Joe Bonamassa, and comedian Nate Bargatze.

“Initially, my vision was to host fan club events and concerts here on Utila,” explains Miller. He aims to blend the allure of music with exciting activities like scuba diving and water excursions. He adds, “Fans are eager to connect with artists in unique and memorable ways while enjoying performances in exceptional settings.” He views the Fyre pop-up as a rare opportunity to validate this concept.

According to the terms of their agreement, McFarland retains full ownership of the Fyre brand, while Miller will take on the roles of venue manager and site host for the event.

Miller has already obtained the necessary permits and local approvals for the Fyre Resort Pop-Up. He expresses hope that the renowned festival brand will generate positive attention for Utila, an island that attracts scuba divers and snorkelers year-round. Visitors come to swim with sharks and explore the expansive Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, which stretches over 600 miles, despite the island not being as well-known as other Caribbean destinations such as Barbados, St. Lucia, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Miller acknowledges McFarland’s troubled history with the original Fyre Festival, particularly the catastrophic first edition in 2018 that left hundreds of attendees stranded on Grand Exuma Island. McFarland orchestrated the event, as noted by the FBI, convincing fans to invest thousands of dollars for luxurious accommodations that turned out to be emergency tents and gourmet meals that consisted of little more than cheese sandwiches.

After admitting to embezzling $26 million from investors during the event, McFarland served four years of a six-year prison sentence before being released in 2022. While in solitary confinement, he conceived the idea for a sequel to Fyre, hoping it would help restore his reputation. He explored various locations in the Bahamas and Mexico before settling on Playa del Carmen near Cancun. Ultimately, he engaged the Mexican company Lost Nights to produce the event, holding a press conference on March 27 with local officials to announce it.

Unfortunately, complications arose in April when city officials in Playa del Carmen declared that no permits had been granted for the Fyre Festival in the coastal town. McFarland attempted to reassure potential attendees by releasing images of permits he claimed validated the festival’s occurrence; however, he later canceled the event and reimbursed ticket holders. On April 24, McFarland announced his decision to sell Fyre’s assets and intellectual property while securing a deal with a streaming service to license the brand name.

Miller clarifies that McFarland still holds the rights to the Fyre name and has assembled a core team of about six individuals to assist him, including his long-time associate, Michael Falb.

“I am fully aware of Billy’s past, and I believe it’s crucial to maintain transparency about what transpired. I personally met with the mayor of Utila while securing the necessary permits for this event, even sharing documentaries about the Fyre Festival, including FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened and Fyre Fraud, both released in 2019, which detail the festival’s dramatic rise and fall,” Miller noted.

“Billy has his flaws, and one of his significant weaknesses is his tendency to trust people more than he should,” Miller reflects, adding that McFarland reminds him of his younger self when he was an independent concert promoter navigating New York’s nightlife scene, both for himself and for John Scher’s Metropolitan Concerts and later at Webster Hall. Miller recalls working with McFarland prior to the Fyre Festival when McFarland was operating the millennial VIP service, Magnises.

“He never left me in the lurch regarding payments — we always received what we were owed,” Miller asserts. “I analyze Billy’s missteps and ponder what I would have done differently had I been managing millions of dollars for such a significant event. It’s hard to say. What I can tell you is that Billy has a youthful spirit and genuinely wants to create the world’s greatest party.”

To purchase tickets and discover more about this exciting event, visit fyrehotels.com.