Tunica, Mississippi--Who's been?

A.Diva · #1 03-25-2011, 01:41 PM

Harrah's is trying to lure me there for a weekend trip.

Just under $300 for 3 nights, including air fare.

HailCorduroy · #2 03-25-2011, 01:51 PM

It's not bad, but it's no Vegas. You can tell they're planning on a lot of growth as there are clusters of casinos spread out over a few miles with a lot of emptiness between them. I live in Nashville, so it's just a 4 hour drive for a fun weekend getaway.

Jeff K · #3 03-25-2011, 02:25 PM

Prior to the casinos moving in, Tunica used to be one of the (if not THE) poorest counties in Mississippi. They've turned it around big-time. They get some top performers coming in as well.

About a year ago, I went to an 80th birthday bash for Bobby "Blue" Bland at Sam's Town Casino. Great show. In addition to Bland, they had B.B. King, Bobby Rush, Clarence Carter, Latimore, Shirley Brown, etc. But they always have good musical acts coming in, and there are a whole bunch of different casinos.

**jmattbassplaya** · #4 03-25-2011, 02:35 PM

It's definitely no Vegas. Even as a kid I could tell just how small the place was. But even so, they do manage to have a lot of fun performers come through the area on a regular basis, and my parents and their friends always had fun at the casinos (although none of them are big gamblers). For less than $300, it could definitely be a fun trip if you could score some tickets to a good show.

A.Diva · #5 03-25-2011, 02:39 PM

Thanks guys! Appreciate the feedback. Calling them now.

And Jeff, now that I "e-know" you, don't be surprised when my sis and I show up on your doorstep for Beale Street Music Festival.

fhm555 · #6 03-25-2011, 02:52 PM

Another good thing about Tunica, if you are a fan of delta blues, is Clarksdale is only about 40 miles soutwest of there. If you want to see a current version of the real deal, start with dinner at Ground Zero then get a local cab to take you to some of the local clubs. Clarksdale is lousy with converted storefronts with the windows painted black and local blues acts on stage inside, or just hang at Ground Zero. They have good local acts as well, but more polished and not the gin-u-ine article gutbucket you will find elsewhere in town.

HailCorduroy · #7 03-25-2011, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.Diva

Thanks guys! Appreciate the feedback. Calling them now.

And Jeff, now that I "e-know" you, don't be surprised when my sis and I show up on your doorstep for Beale Street Music Festival.

That freaked me out a little bit cause my name is Jeff too.

Jim Campbell · #8 03-25-2011, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.Diva

Harrah's is trying to lure me there for a weekend trip.

Just under $300 for 3 nights, including air fare.

i used to run thru northern ms,a lot,and the advent of gambling money in the nineties was really apparent.....the tin roofed shacks were being replaced by lush golf courses,and the local governments were running out of county roads to pave....the local markets with coolers full of live crickets were going the way of the dodo and i guess by now seven elevens and strip malls are everywhere....

Jeff K · #9 03-25-2011, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.Diva

Thanks guys! Appreciate the feedback. Calling them now.

And Jeff, now that I "e-know" you, don't be surprised when my sis and I show up on your doorstep for Beale Street Music Festival.

Ha ha! Yeah, that's coming up soon. When I was a younger man, I used to go every year. Now that I'm old and cranky, I can hardly stand the crowds and hordes of puking kids.

You'll probably be able to find me sitting on my porch drinking cans of PBR while guarding my lawn...

Dr. Cheese · #10 03-25-2011, 11:23 PM

My wife is from Arkansas which is next door. Tunica has a ton of casinos, and remember, Memphis is just 20 minutes up Highway 61.

**jmattbassplaya** · #11 03-25-2011, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

My wife is from Arkansas which is next door. Tunica has a ton of casinos, and remember, Memphis is just 20 minutes up Highway 61.

20 minutes? It's a good hour or more depending on where you're wanting to go.

Dr. Cheese · #12 03-25-2011, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

20 minutes? It's a good hour or more depending on where you're wanting to go.

I say half an hour at the most if the weather and traffic is good. Remember, the casinos are not actually in Tunica, but actually a few miles north of the real town.

That said, you are the local, maybe I tend to get there when it's easy to make good time.

**jmattbassplaya** · #13 03-26-2011, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

I say half an hour at the most if the weather and traffic is good. Remember, the casinos are not actually in Tunica, but actually a few miles north of the real town.

That said, you are the local, maybe I tend to get there when it's easy to make good time.

Haha it's possible

I haven't been in years so I may very well be mistaken.