Tunica Resorts, Mississippi
Encyclopedia
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 mostly between the Mississippi River
and U.S. Route 61
.
Tunica Resorts is, as the name implies, home to nine casino resorts. The use of the name "Tunica" by the resorts, despite the fact that since 1995 they were all located in Robinsonville and not Tunica proper, led to the name change to reduce confusion by tourists. Lacking the structure of an organized city or town, Tunica Resorts consists mainly of casinos and cotton fields, with few permanent residents living in the community. Despite this, Tunica Resorts historically has ranked as high as the third largest casino-gambling destination in the United States
, as measured by gaming revenue, behind Las Vegas, Nevada
and Atlantic City, New Jersey
. Its casinos attract gamblers mainly from nearby Memphis
, but also draw visitors from Mississippi
, Tennessee
, Arkansas
, Alabama
, Missouri
, Georgia
, Illinois
and Kentucky
. Recently, due to increased legalization of gambling in other states, Tunica places sixth in gaming revenue, after the Las Vegas Strip, Atlantic City, Chicago
, Connecticut
, and Detroit.
At one time, eleven different casinos were operated in the community. Treasure Bay Casino closed, and the Isle of Capri (originally the first of three Harrah's locations in the area) was bought by neighboring Sam's Town and used only for its hotel tower and parking garage.
s, convenience store
s and fast food
restaurants, along with an outlet-style shopping center and the community's oldest business, the Hollywood Cafe — a blues
club immortalized in the popular song "Walking in Memphis
" by Marc Cohn
in 1991. Small apartment complexes mainly occupied by casino workers are among the few dwellings found in Tunica Resorts. Outside of such structures — many built since 1990 — table-flat cotton
fields mark much of the area, as was the case before the casinos came. Indeed, the scene of high-rise hotels rising behind the cotton fields presents a peculiar visual contrast to the arriving tourist.
announced that the annual event would move to a new site in Tunica Resorts, on U.S. 61 across from the Tunica Visitors Center. The first fair on the new site was scheduled for 2009. However, mainly because of weather but also because of the poor economy, the fair was instead held at the DeSoto Civic Center
, and will continue to be until the new fairgrounds site is ready.
. Zoned schools include Robinsonville Elementary School, Tunica Middle School, and Rosa Fort High School.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
located in northern Tunica County, Mississippi
Tunica County, Mississippi
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,227 people, 3,258 households, and 2,192 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile . There were 3,705 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, north of the county seat of 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...
. 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 mostly between the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
and U.S. Route 61
U.S. Route 61
U.S. Route 61 is the official designation for a United States highway that runs from New Orleans, Louisiana, to the city of Wyoming, Minnesota. The highway generally follows the course of the Mississippi River, and is designated the Great River Road for much of its route. As of 2004, the highway's...
.
Tunica Resorts is, as the name implies, home to nine casino resorts. The use of the name "Tunica" by the resorts, despite the fact that since 1995 they were all located in Robinsonville and not Tunica proper, led to the name change to reduce confusion by tourists. Lacking the structure of an organized city or town, Tunica Resorts consists mainly of casinos and cotton fields, with few permanent residents living in the community. Despite this, Tunica Resorts historically has ranked as high as the third largest casino-gambling destination in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, as measured by gaming revenue, behind Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
and Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
. Its casinos attract gamblers mainly from nearby Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, but also draw visitors from 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...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
and Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. Recently, due to increased legalization of gambling in other states, Tunica places sixth in gaming revenue, after the Las Vegas Strip, Atlantic City, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, and Detroit.
Casinos
As of 2010, the town is home to nine casinos:- Bally's TunicaBally's Casino TunicaBally'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...
- Fitzgeralds Casino & Hotel Tunica
- Gold Strike Resort and CasinoGold Strike Resort and CasinoGold Strike Resort and Casino in Tunica Resorts, Mississippi is an MGM Resorts International resort located 20 minutes south of Memphis, Tennessee. In 2008, MGM Mirage made a large investment in Gold Strike Casino Resort and a commitment to the Tunica market with a multi-million dollar renovation...
- Harrah's Casino Tunica
- Hollywood Casino and Hotel
- Horseshoe Casino TunicaHorseshoe Casino TunicaThe 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...
- Resorts Casino TunicaResorts Casino TunicaResorts 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...
- Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling HallSam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, TunicaThe Tunica location of Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall is located in Tunica Resorts, Mississippi. Officially known as a riverboat casino because the gaming area is situated on a building built on barges that float in a pool of water linked to the nearby Mississippi River as required by state...
- Tunica Roadhouse Casino & Hotel (formerly Sheraton Hotel and Casino)
At one time, eleven different casinos were operated in the community. Treasure Bay Casino closed, and the Isle of Capri (originally the first of three Harrah's locations in the area) was bought by neighboring Sam's Town and used only for its hotel tower and parking garage.
Infrastructure and housing
The community is remarkable in that there is little infrastructure other than that which adjoins the casinos. Businesses other than the casinos include a small number of motelMotel
A motor hotel, or motel for short, is a hotel designed for motorists, and usually has a parking area for motor vehicles...
s, convenience store
Convenience store
A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
s and fast food
Fast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
restaurants, along with an outlet-style shopping center and the community's oldest business, the Hollywood Cafe — a blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
club immortalized in the popular song "Walking in Memphis
Walking in Memphis
-Cher version:"Walking in Memphis" is the first European single by American singer-actress Cher from her twenty-second studio album, It's a Man's World. It was released in the end of 1995 by WEA. The song was performed in some shows in Europe, and in her tours since the Do You Believe? Tour.-Song...
" by Marc Cohn
Marc Cohn
Marc Craig Cohn is an American folk rock singer-songwriter and musician.- Personal life :Cohn was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from Beachwood High School in Beachwood, a Cleveland suburb. He then attended Oberlin College....
in 1991. Small apartment complexes mainly occupied by casino workers are among the few dwellings found in Tunica Resorts. Outside of such structures — many built since 1990 — table-flat cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
fields mark much of the area, as was the case before the casinos came. Indeed, the scene of high-rise hotels rising behind the cotton fields presents a peculiar visual contrast to the arriving tourist.
Mid-South Fair
In May 2008, the board of directors of the Mid-South FairMid-South Fair
The Mid-South Fair is a fair that was held for many years held in Memphis, Tennessee, every year in late September and early October. It is now held in neighboring northwest Mississippi. It hosts many shows and attractions, as well as different types of rides and concession stands...
announced that the annual event would move to a new site in Tunica Resorts, on U.S. 61 across from the Tunica Visitors Center. The first fair on the new site was scheduled for 2009. However, mainly because of weather but also because of the poor economy, the fair was instead held at the DeSoto Civic Center
DeSoto Civic Center
The DeSoto Civic Center is an 8,400-seat multi-purpose arena in Southaven, Mississippi. It was built in 2000. It is home to the Mississippi RiverKings, a team in the Southern Professional Hockey League....
, and will continue to be until the new fairgrounds site is ready.
Fire department
Tunica Resorts is protected by the North Tunica County Fire Protection District, a career fire department that was created in 1997. The department's equipment includes a 100 foot (31 m) Platform ladder truck (T-405), an Engine (E-4), and a Squad (S-4) which is staffed with a Fire Captain and five Firefighter/EMT's. Tunica Resorts has a class 7 insurance rating.Government
Beginning in 2007, some Tunica Resorts residents have tried to incorporate their community into a separate town government, rather than exist under the jurisdiction of Tunica County or move toward annexation into the town of Tunica. If Tunica Resorts incorporates, the new town government would be a direct beneficiary of casino tax revenue, enabling construction of municipal government offices. Depending on population and revenue growth, fire and police stations, libraries and other public infrastructure could be other likely additions.Education
Residents are a part of the Tunica County School DistrictTunica County School District
The Tunica County School District is a public school district based in Tunica, Mississippi . The district's boundaries parallel that of Tunica County.-Schools:*Rosa Fort High School...
. Zoned schools include Robinsonville Elementary School, Tunica Middle School, and Rosa Fort High School.