Harrah's Casino Tunica
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Gambling, Hospitality |
| Predecessor | Grand Casino Tunica |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Defunct | 2014 |
| Fate | Closed and demolished |
| Headquarters | Tunica Resorts , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Casino, Hotel, Spa, Event Center |
| Owner | Caesars Entertainment |
Harrah's Casino Tunica, previously known as Grand Casino Tunica, was a casino resort located in Tunica Resorts, Mississippi, under the ownership of Caesars Entertainment. The complex included a casino, three hotels totaling 1,356 rooms, an RV park, Bellissimo Spa & Salon, a convention center, The Willows sporting clays facility, and the Harrah's Event Center with seating for 2,500 guests.
Facing a downturn in patronage, Caesars declared in March 2014 that Harrah's Casino Tunica, along with its associated hotels, golf course, and event venue, would cease operations. The casino permanently shut its doors on June 2, 2014, and was demolished by August 2015. By December 2020, the three hotel structures remained intact but were no longer in service; the golf course and event center had been left unused. Caesars leased one of the hotels and its parking area to an auction firm specializing in live farm equipment sales.
In 2021, redevelopment initiatives for the site were unveiled, featuring concepts such as a water park and golf amenities.
Grand Casino Tunica (1996–2007)
Constructed in 1996, Grand Casino Tunica held the distinction of being the largest casino between Las Vegas and Atlantic City and was renowned for its extensive poker room. It was physically connected to the Harrah's Casino Hotel, which offered 148 rooms including 40 suites. Approximately half a mile away by a lakeside location were two additional hotels: the Veranda Resort Hotel with 532 rooms and 36 suites (opened in 1996), and the Terrace Hotel & Spa providing 563 rooms and 37 suites (opened in 1999). A free shuttle service operated around the clock to connect these properties.
Initially owned by Grand Casinos, Inc., led by gaming innovator Lyle Berman, this company focused on developing resort-style casinos on Native American lands as well as in Mississippi. In 1998, Berman and Grand Casinos divested their Tunica and Biloxi resorts to Hilton Hotels' gaming division, which subsequently spun off these properties as Park Place Entertainment (later rebranded as Caesars Entertainment).
In 2005, Harrah's Entertainment acquired Caesars Entertainment, adopting the Caesars name again in 2010. Within Tunica, Caesars managed three casinos—Horseshoe Casino Tunica, Tunica Roadhouse Casino & Hotel (formerly Sheraton), and Grand Casino Tunica—under unified management and marketing strategies.
Harrah's Casino Tunica (2007–2014)
In October 2007, Harrah's announced a $45 million refurbishment project for Grand Casino Tunica’s casino and hotel facilities, rebranding it as Harrah's Casino Tunica. This upgrade introduced Paula Deen's Buffet—the first buffet branded by a celebrity chef at an American casino—which was later renamed in 2013 following Deen’s departure from Food Network.
September 2010 saw Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill open at Harrah's, operated by Scottsdale-based Capri Restaurant Group Enterprises LLC. It replaced the previous Replays bar and grill as well as Murano's Italian Restaurant within the casino.
Previous Harrah's Casinos in Tunica
This establishment marked the third Harrah's-branded casino in Tunica. The original opened in 1993 near Casino Strip Boulevard and was designed by Steelman Partners. In 1996, Harrah's purchased the nearby closed Southern Belle Casino and briefly operated it under the name "Harrah's Mardi Gras." The original property was later sold to Isle of Capri Casinos, who ran it as "Isle of Capri Tunica" before ultimately closing it.
Following Harrah's acquisition of Caesars in 2004, regulatory requirements mandated selling two properties to avoid holding five out of nine casinos in Tunica. Consequently, Harrah's sold both Harrah's Mardi Gras and Bally's Casino Tunica to Colony Capital, with Mardi Gras being renamed Resorts Casino Tunica.
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- Casinos established in 1996
- Hotels completed in 1996
- Mississippi hotels
- Harrah's Entertainment
- Former riverboat casinos in Mississippi
- Casinos located in Tunica County, Mississippi
- 1996 establishments in Mississippi
- 2014 closures in Mississippi
- Demolished structures in Mississippi
- Buildings torn down in 2015
- Defunct casino hotels in Mississippi