Grand Casino Tunica
Encyclopedia
Harrah's Casino Tunica, formerly Grand Casino Tunica, is a casino
and resort
located in Tunica Resorts, Mississippi
. It is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment. The casino offers a 140000 sq ft (13,006.4 m²) casino and three hotels with a total of 1,356 rooms. There is also an RV park
, the Bellissimo Spa & Salon, a convention center, and a 2,500 seat entertainment venue called the Harrah's Event Center.
Restaurants include '37 Steakhouse, the Paula Deen
Buffet (inspired by the famed Food Network
personality; formally opened on May 23, 2008, as a renovation of the former Grand Buffet), Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill, Fudruckers, Quiznos Express, Uno Express, and Dunkin' Donuts. All three hotels also offer room service, and the Terrace and Veranda Towers also offer a snack bar.
The Veranda and Terrace Towers are not connected to the casino, but located approximately ½ mile away. Complimentary shuttle service, which runs 24 hours a day, takes guests to and from the casino. The Casino Tower is located adjacent to the casino itself and is about 200 yd (182.9 m) away. There is a covered walkway in between the two. Shuttles also run to the RV Park.
celebrity chef Paula Deen
. Paula Deen's Buffet is reported to be the first celebrity chef-branded buffet at an American casino.
A Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill
owned by Scottsdale, Arizona-based Capri Restaurant Group Enterprises LLC opened in Harrah's in September 2010, replacing the former Replays bar and grill and Murano's Italian Restaurant.
reservations and in Mississippi.
In 1998, Berman and Grand Casinos, Inc., sold their Tunica
, and Biloxi, Mississippi
resorts to the gaming division of Hilton Hotels
, with the combined assets being spun off to create a new corporation called Park Place Entertainment (later renamed Caesars Entertainment
).
In 2005, Caesars Entertainment was acquired by Harrah's Entertainment
, which converted back to the Caesars Entertainment name in 2010. In the Tunica market, Caesars also operates Horseshoe Casino Tunica
and Tunica Roadhouse Casino & Hotel (formerly Sheraton). The three properties share management and player marketing operations.
.
With the sale of Caesars to Harrah's in 2004, the combined companies were forced to sell two properties to avoid owning five of the nine casinos in the Tunica market. The remaining Harrah's was sold, along with Bally's Casino Tunica
, to Colony Capital, and Harrah's was renamed Resorts Casino Tunica
.
34.855613°N 90.294544°W
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
and resort
Resort
A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company....
located in Tunica Resorts, Mississippi
Tunica Resorts, Mississippi
Tunica Resorts is an unincorporated community located in northern Tunica County, Mississippi, United States, north of the county seat of Tunica. The community was originally named Robinsonville, but the name was changed in 2003. Locals still refer to the town by this name. The community is situated...
. It is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment. The casino offers a 140000 sq ft (13,006.4 m²) casino and three hotels with a total of 1,356 rooms. There is also an RV park
RV park
A recreational vehicle park or caravan park is a place where people with recreational vehicles can stay overnight, or longer, in alloted spaces known as "pitches"...
, the Bellissimo Spa & Salon, a convention center, and a 2,500 seat entertainment venue called the Harrah's Event Center.
Restaurants include '37 Steakhouse, the Paula Deen
Paula Deen
Paula Deen American cook, cooking show host, restaurateur, author, actress and Emmy Award-winning television personality.Deen resides in Savannah, Georgia, where she owns and operates...
Buffet (inspired by the famed Food Network
Food Network
Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
personality; formally opened on May 23, 2008, as a renovation of the former Grand Buffet), Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill, Fudruckers, Quiznos Express, Uno Express, and Dunkin' Donuts. All three hotels also offer room service, and the Terrace and Veranda Towers also offer a snack bar.
Facility history
The casino itself was built in 1996. It is the largest casino between Las Vegas and Atlantic City, featuring a large poker room. The first hotel, Casino Tower, was constructed in 1997. It contains 148 rooms and 40 suites. The theme of the hotel is art deco. The second hotel, Veranda Tower, is more of a modern hotel, which was constructed in 1999. It contains 532 rooms and 36 suites. The largest hotel and final hotel completed, Terrace Tower, was completed in 2001 with more of a country inn-theme. It contains 563 rooms and 37 suites.The Veranda and Terrace Towers are not connected to the casino, but located approximately ½ mile away. Complimentary shuttle service, which runs 24 hours a day, takes guests to and from the casino. The Casino Tower is located adjacent to the casino itself and is about 200 yd (182.9 m) away. There is a covered walkway in between the two. Shuttles also run to the RV Park.
Renovations and name change
In October 2007, Harrah's officials announced that Grand Casino Tunica would undergo a $45 million renovation of its hotels and casinos, which included the resort being renamed Harrah's Casino Tunica. In addition, the company announced that the new Harrah's will feature a new buffet bearing the name of Food NetworkFood Network
Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
celebrity chef Paula Deen
Paula Deen
Paula Deen American cook, cooking show host, restaurateur, author, actress and Emmy Award-winning television personality.Deen resides in Savannah, Georgia, where she owns and operates...
. Paula Deen's Buffet is reported to be the first celebrity chef-branded buffet at an American casino.
A Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill
Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill
Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill is a restaurant and bar with multiple locations across the United States. The restaurant is named after singer Toby Keith and his #1 hit single I Love This Bar.-Current and future locations:...
owned by Scottsdale, Arizona-based Capri Restaurant Group Enterprises LLC opened in Harrah's in September 2010, replacing the former Replays bar and grill and Murano's Italian Restaurant.
Ownership history
Grand Casino Tunica's original owner was Grand Casinos, Inc., headed by Lyle Berman, a pioneer in developing resort-style casinos on Native AmericanNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
reservations and in Mississippi.
In 1998, Berman and Grand Casinos, Inc., sold their Tunica
Tunica, Mississippi
Tunica is a town in Tunica County, Mississippi, United States, located near the Mississippi River. Until the early 1990s the town was one of the most impoverished places in the United States, semi-famous for the particularly deprived neighbourhood known as "Sugar Ditch Alley", named for the open...
, and Biloxi, Mississippi
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....
resorts to the gaming division of Hilton Hotels
Hilton Hotels
Hilton Hotels & Resorts is an international chain of full-service hotels and resorts founded by Conrad Hilton and now owned by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton hotels are either owned by, managed by, or franchised to independent operators by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton Hotels became the first coast-to-coast...
, with the combined assets being spun off to create a new corporation called Park Place Entertainment (later renamed Caesars Entertainment
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...
).
In 2005, Caesars Entertainment was acquired by 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...
, which converted back to the Caesars Entertainment name in 2010. In the Tunica market, Caesars also operates Horseshoe Casino Tunica
Horseshoe Casino Tunica
The Horseshoe Casino Tunica is a casino resort located in Tunica Resorts, Mississippi. It was developed by Jack Binion, the son of Las Vegas gaming legend Benny Binion and named after his father's famous Binion's Horseshoe downtown gambling hall...
and Tunica Roadhouse Casino & Hotel (formerly Sheraton). The three properties share management and player marketing operations.
Previous Harrah's Casinos in Tunica
The current Harrah's is the third casino in Tunica Resorts to bear the name Harrah's. The first was located just off Casino Strip Blvd., several miles south of the former Grand, and was the first casino to open in that area. In 2000, Harrah's acquired the shuttered Southern Belle Casino, approximately 500 yards (450 m) away from the first Harrah's. The company operated both casinos as Harrah's for a short time, calling the second property "Harrah's Mardi Gras." Eventually, Harrah's sold the original property to Isle of Capri CasinosIsle of Capri Casinos
Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. is a gaming company headquartered in Creve Coeur, Missouri which operates casinos and associated entertainment and lodging facilities in the United States and abroad....
.
With the sale of Caesars to Harrah's in 2004, the combined companies were forced to sell two properties to avoid owning five of the nine casinos in the Tunica market. The remaining Harrah's was sold, along with Bally's Casino Tunica
Bally's Casino Tunica
Bally's Casino Tunica is a 238 room hotel and a casino with a rustic 19th century theme that is located in Tunica, Mississippi. The casino is owned by Colony Capital and operated by its Resorts International Holdings division...
, to Colony Capital, and Harrah's was renamed Resorts Casino Tunica
Resorts Casino Tunica
Resorts Casino Tunica is a 200 room hotel and a casino located in Tunica Resorts, Mississippi. It is one of three casinos located in the "Casino Strip" area, along with Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, Tunica and Hollywood Casino Tunica...
.
External links
34.855613°N 90.294544°W