Grand Casino Biloxi
Encyclopedia
Grand Biloxi Casino Hotel and Spa is the name of a gambling establishment in Biloxi
, Mississippi
. It is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment.
This facility replaces the former Grand Casino Biloxi, which was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina
. At the time, the casino offered a 106000 square feet (9,847.7 m²) casino, two hotels with 975 rooms, and a 42000 square feet (3,901.9 m²) convention center
.
Currently, the casino features 800 slot machines and 35 table games.
Prior to 2005 this casino was a Caesars Entertainment
property. After the ownership change to Harrah's Entertainment
it was announced that this casino was being converted to the Horseshoe brand. But these plans were put on hold when Biloxi and the Gulf Coast were hit by Hurricane Katrina. The storm destroyed the barge on which the casino floor was located; the storm surge
swept the barge from the shoreline all the way across Beach Boulevard, nearly 500 feet (152.4 m) inward. On May 21, 2006, demolition crews imploded the beach-side hotel structure, leaving Harrah's with a clean slate for rebuilding.
After Katrina, the company announced that they will be re-opening the facility during Summer 2006, with a 35000 sq ft (3,251.6 m²) casino, a spa, and other amenities, but the facilities south of Highway 90 would take several years to complete. On August 17, 2006, the first phase of the rebuilding opened with a 495-room hotel and a new land-based casino.
The long-term plan for this property had been to construct what Harrah's (now renamed back to Caesars) called "a destination resort." Part of the expansion plans revolved around Caesars' purchase of the 18 acres (72,843.5 m²) that comprised the neighboring Casino Magic property. In May 2007, Harrah's announced the Margaritaville Casino and Resort
will be built on the site.
However, construction of that expansion ceased in 2008 due to economic concerns, and in January 2011, Caesars officials announced the termination of the agreement with Jimmy Buffett and his Margaritaville brand. A new Margaritaville Casino and Restaurant, not affiliated with Caesars Entertainment, will be constructed on a different location in Biloxi.
As of June 2011, Caesars has not announced any further plans for the partially-constructed expansion on the former Casino Magic property, and it is not known when or if construction will resume.
30.393015°N 88.865866°W
Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the population as 44,054. Along with Gulfport, Biloxi is a county seat of Harrison County....
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. It is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment.
This facility replaces the former Grand Casino Biloxi, which was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. At the time, the casino offered a 106000 square feet (9,847.7 m²) casino, two hotels with 975 rooms, and a 42000 square feet (3,901.9 m²) convention center
Convention center
A convention center is a large building that is designed to hold a convention, where individuals and groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers typically offer sufficient floor area to accommodate several thousand attendees...
.
Currently, the casino features 800 slot machines and 35 table games.
History
Caesars Entertainment
Caesars Entertainment may refer to:* Caesars Entertainment, Inc., the now defunct company that was Park Place Entertainment, Bally's, and formerly the gambling arm of Hilton Hotels, and purchased by Harrah's Entertainment...
property. After the ownership change to Harrah's Entertainment
Harrah's Entertainment
Caesars Entertainment Corporation is a private gaming corporation that owns and operates over 50 casinos, hotels, and seven golf courses under several brands. The company, based in Paradise, Nevada, is the largest gaming company in the world, with yearly revenues $8.9 billion...
it was announced that this casino was being converted to the Horseshoe brand. But these plans were put on hold when Biloxi and the Gulf Coast were hit by Hurricane Katrina. The storm destroyed the barge on which the casino floor was located; the storm surge
Storm surge
A storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones. Storm surges are caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean's surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea...
swept the barge from the shoreline all the way across Beach Boulevard, nearly 500 feet (152.4 m) inward. On May 21, 2006, demolition crews imploded the beach-side hotel structure, leaving Harrah's with a clean slate for rebuilding.
After Katrina, the company announced that they will be re-opening the facility during Summer 2006, with a 35000 sq ft (3,251.6 m²) casino, a spa, and other amenities, but the facilities south of Highway 90 would take several years to complete. On August 17, 2006, the first phase of the rebuilding opened with a 495-room hotel and a new land-based casino.
The long-term plan for this property had been to construct what Harrah's (now renamed back to Caesars) called "a destination resort." Part of the expansion plans revolved around Caesars' purchase of the 18 acres (72,843.5 m²) that comprised the neighboring Casino Magic property. In May 2007, Harrah's announced the Margaritaville Casino and Resort
Margaritaville Casino and Resort
For information about the defunct Margaritaville casino/hotel project in Atlantic City, New Jersey see Golden Nugget Atlantic CityThe Margaritaville Casino and Restaurant is a planned casino and restaurant in Biloxi, Mississippi in the United States....
will be built on the site.
However, construction of that expansion ceased in 2008 due to economic concerns, and in January 2011, Caesars officials announced the termination of the agreement with Jimmy Buffett and his Margaritaville brand. A new Margaritaville Casino and Restaurant, not affiliated with Caesars Entertainment, will be constructed on a different location in Biloxi.
As of June 2011, Caesars has not announced any further plans for the partially-constructed expansion on the former Casino Magic property, and it is not known when or if construction will resume.
External links
30.393015°N 88.865866°W