Creating ‘Naperitaville’: Phillip Schutt’s Tropical Escape in Suburban Naperville

For many, the idea of ‘Margaritaville’ from Jimmy Buffett’s iconic 1977 song often brings to mind the sun-drenched shores of the Florida Keys or a South Carolina beach. However, transforming a two-story, brick colonial home on Barkdoll Road in suburban Naperville into a tropical paradise was the unique vision of 65-year-old Phillip Schutt. A devoted Buffett fan, Schutt has poured years into creating his own escape, named ‘Naperitaville’, complete with surfboards, a handmade lobster trap, and a pirate skeleton lurking in a trash can.

Inside Schutt’s garage, there are over 90 items capturing this beachy, carefree lifestyle. Signs, some homemade and others purchased, carry messages like, ‘It’s 5 o’clock somewhere’ and ‘Sunny Drinks For Shady People.’ A yellow model plane with a seven-foot wingspan, reminiscent of Buffett’s ‘Hemisphere Dancer’ seaplane, hangs from the ceiling. His dedication extends throughout his home, from a coastal farmhouse-styled sunroom to a deck brimming with nautical decor. Beneath the deck lies a stone patio, a tribute to Charleston, South Carolina.

Schutt was first introduced to Buffett’s music in the late 1970s and early ’80s. ‘A friend introduced me to Jimmy Buffett, and it was back when we used sun maximizer, not sunscreen,’ Schutt recalls. ‘The beach life was appealing and fun, which Buffett’s music captured perfectly, making me a fan.’

Schutt’s passion for building came from his father, who lived through the Great Depression and had a knack for fixing things. ‘He’d often break something and make me fix it,’ Schutt shares. ‘That’s how I grew to love working with wood and seeing projects through to completion.’

“When it’s done, it almost seems anticlimactic,” Schutt reflects. “It’s dreaming about it at night that’s exciting. Figuring out the details is the best part.”

The construction of ‘Naperitaville’ began with a lifeguard chair to display a stuffed monkey, symbolizing Schutt’s past sales career. ‘My backyard faces Naper Boulevard. Sometimes there’s a monkey in a lifeguard chair,’ Schutt would tell people. ‘And they’d recognize my house right away.’

Over the years, Schutt has added countless items to his collection. Some remain, while others, like a giant handmade treasure chest, have been retired. His horse trough cart with wooden wheels does double-duty as a cooler during parties.

Schutt’s collection includes both homemade creations and intriguing finds, like the model plane he snagged after several eBay auctions. ‘I saw it in a liquor store and had to have it,’ Schutt notes. ‘After failing a few bids, I finally secured it with a $300 bid with my wife’s blessing.’

With all the items together, Schutt realized he’d created a whole coastal-themed environment, mirroring Buffett’s Margaritaville. Noticing the name Naperitaville shared the same number of letters and a central ‘T’ suitable for a palm tree design, Schutt was delighted by the symmetry.

While Schutt keeps ‘Naperitaville’ mostly private, only occasionally sharing videos online, the space provides him with the escapism he cherishes. ‘Jimmy Buffett’s music transports you to your happy place, and my home does that for me too,’ he explains, emphasizing the theme of finding joy and tranquility miles away from the ocean.