Harrah's Entertainment has teamed with
singer Jimmy Buffett to develop a $700 million gaming project in
Biloxi, Miss.
With a name
inspired by one of Buffett's hit songs, the Margaritaville Casino
& Resort will be developed on 46 acres of land south of U.S.
Highway 90 here at the site of the Grand Casino and Casino
Magic.
Construction is
slated to begin this summer, with an opening projected for spring
2010.
"I have always
considered myself a 'Gulf Coast kid,' " said Buffett. "I was born
there, grew up there and jumped on a stage for the first time
there, before hitting the road. I have seen the world, traveled to
distant shores, written a few songs and lived a few tall tales
along the way, and now it is good to be coming back
home."
Plans for the
property include a 420-room hotel; a 100,000-square-foot casino
floor; 250,000 square feet of retail space; and 66,000 square feet
of meetings space.
"Along with Jimmy
Buffett, we plan to develop the next generation destination resort
on the Gulf Coast," said Gary Loveman, chairman, chief executive
officer and president in a statement. "This project of more than
$700 million dollars is vital to supporting the rebirth of
Mississippi's tourism industry."
The
Margaritaville resort will be one of the largest, post-Hurricane
Katrina development projects in Biloxi.
To contact the reporter who wrote this article, send e-mail
to Michael Milligan at [email protected].