Pearl River Resort
Encyclopedia
Pearl River Resort is a Native American
-run resort
located in Choctaw, Neshoba County, Mississippi. It is owned and operated by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
.
The resort includes two casino
s, Silver Star Hotel and Casino and Golden Moon Hotel; a Hilton Garden Inn
separate from the casinos; Dancing Rabbit Golf Club, an award-winning golf course
designed by Jerry Pate
; Geyser Falls, a water park
; and a spa
.
The resort's casinos are the only Native American gaming facilities in the state of Mississippi
. Before changes in casino regulations brought about in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
, the casinos were the only ones in the state not required to have all gaming take place on floating structures.
In January 2009, Tribal Chief Beasley Denson
announced that Golden Moon would face a partial shutdown, operating on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only. The tribe laid off 570 workers, all of whom were not tribal members.
Native 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...
-run 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 Choctaw, Neshoba County, Mississippi. It is owned and operated by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is one of three federally recognized tribes of Choctaw Indians. On April 20, 1945, the tribe organized under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. Also in 1945 the Choctaw Indian Reservation was created in Neshoba and surrounding counties...
.
The resort includes two casino
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...
s, Silver Star Hotel and Casino and Golden Moon Hotel; a Hilton Garden Inn
Hilton Garden Inn
Hilton Garden Inn is a chain of hotels trademarked by the Hilton Worldwide. Hilton Garden Inns are considered to be upscale mid-priced hotels that are designed for both business and leisure travelers. The hotel brand is similar to that of the Courtyard by Marriott brand, a key competitor...
separate from the casinos; Dancing Rabbit Golf Club, an award-winning golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
designed by Jerry Pate
Jerry Pate
Jerome Kendrick "Jerry" Pate is an American golfer.Jerry Pate was born in Macon, Georgia. He attended the University of Alabama, where he played on the golf team. Pate had a distinguished amateur career. He won the U.S. Amateur in 1974, and the following year he was a member of victorious U.S....
; Geyser Falls, a water park
Water park
A waterpark is an amusement park that features waterplay areas, such as water slides, splash pads, spraygrounds , lazy rivers, or other recreational bathing, swimming, and barefooting environments...
; and a spa
Spa
The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy. Spa towns or spa resorts typically offer various health treatments. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are...
.
The resort's casinos are the only Native American gaming facilities in the state of 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...
. Before changes in casino regulations brought about in the aftermath of 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...
, the casinos were the only ones in the state not required to have all gaming take place on floating structures.
Casino shutdown
The initial casino, Silver Star, has been popular since its opening in 1994. Hoping to expand its opportunities, the tribe built a more upscale casino, Golden Moon, directly across the road from the original casino, in 2002. Golden Moon features a sweeping, curving hotel structure that rises to a globe-shaped top. However, it has never been as popular as the Silver Star, and has been a drain on tribal earnings since its opening.In January 2009, Tribal Chief Beasley Denson
Beasley Denson
Beasley Denson served as Miko or Tribal Chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians from 2007 to 2011. He is the third person to become Tribal Chief since the tribe adopted its modern constitution....
announced that Golden Moon would face a partial shutdown, operating on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only. The tribe laid off 570 workers, all of whom were not tribal members.