Tunica MS anyone?

Wife and I will be in Memphis early next year and it is possible that we could make a jaunt down to the casinos. Anyone have an opinion about which ones are the best?

I went this summer to Gold Strike and loved it.

Quote: odiousgambit

Wife and I will be in Memphis early next year and it is possible that we could make a jaunt down to the casinos. Anyone have an opinion about which ones are the best?

If I ever actually write my trip report to Tunica from a few weekends ago (I've been working 6 days the past three weeks, and frankly, my days off have consisted of sleeping and doing laundry), you'll see my opinions...

But in a nutshell, if you're a Harrah's/Total Rewards player, you'll probably find most enjoyment out of Tunica Roadhouse's hotel. They are entirely suites with some really nice digs. The VP there is full-pay or near full-pay (although not all machines, so you'll have to make sure you're on one that is). The games are, well, okay, although they did have $3 craps with 20x odds. Dealers are usually surprisingly good, despite the fact that the place caters to the low-end market. It's a LOT of fun though.

Hollywood Casino is also really nice, but I haven't stayed there for a long time, and if Penn National screwed with this property the way they did Hollywood Lawrenceburg and some other ones, I wouldn't expect the deals to be quite as good.

I know I'm in the minority, but Gold Strike is my least favorite casino... the dealers are the surliest of all (think near Bellagio surly) and the new and improved lighting is worse than before. Horseshoe still offers great gambling values (single deck BJ, 3:2, with about as favorable rules as you'll find these days), but the hotel is mediocre.

Do NOT stay at Harrah's. I was extremely disappointed with the Veranda hotel.

Tunica isn't my favorite place, everybody who works in the
casinos moves in super slow motion.

Thanks for the replies, would you agree to skip Sam's Town? Not sure we will make it to any, but might.

Quote: EvenBob

Tunica isn't my favorite place, everybody who works in the casinos moves in super slow motion.

That's a Southern thing maybe. We could be in the mood for that.

A lot of the dealers in Florida praise the Gold Strike but I found out they used to work there.

Wherever you go, its a place where you get your meals and rooms comped ... but be sure to ASK for a meal comp after you've played for awhile. Its the style in Tunica. Comps go to Squeeky Wheels.

Quote: odiousgambit

Thanks for the replies, would you agree to skip Sam's Town? Not sure we will make it to any, but might.

How long do you have while you are down there? If you have a couple of days, it's worth a walk through. The gaming is mediocre at best, although it's one of the few casinos that's still housed on two floors (Grand, Resorts, Roadhouse, and Fitz all are basically on one floor now; Gold Strike still has poker upstairs).

The thing about Sam's Town is that it appeals to a very specific demographic; ages 40+. As a man under 30, I find the atmosphere to be less exciting than all the others. It's a bit more subdued, and the parking is kind of atrocious. You either park in a far away garage (at least for Tunica), or on the ground with a bit of a walk up some stairs and across a nice little pond. The dealers, generally, are very good, and they do have single and double deck, although all BJ rules are the worst you'll find in the area.

If you only have a short time, my PERSONAL must-do list is:
1) Horseshoe
2) Roadhouse (They are next to each other, so it's very easy to hit both)
3) Hollywood
4) Gold Strike
5) Harrah's
6) Fitz (I was really surprised by this place on my last trip. It used to be a dump, and now it's kind of nice)
7) Resorts
8) Sam's Town
9) Bally's

The only one you SHOULD skip is Bally's. This place is a train wreck and a half.

Quote: Tiltpoul

How long do you have while you are down there? If you have a couple of days, it's worth a walk through. The gaming is mediocre at best, although it's one of the few casinos that's still housed on two floors (Grand, Resorts, Roadhouse, and Fitz all are basically on one floor now; Gold Strike still has poker upstairs).

The thing about Sam's Town is that it appeals to a very specific demographic; ages 40+. As a man under 30, I find the atmosphere to be less exciting than all the others. It's a bit more subdued, and the parking is kind of atrocious. You either park in a far away garage (at least for Tunica), or on the ground with a bit of a walk up some stairs and across a nice little pond. The dealers, generally, are very good, and they do have single and double deck, although all BJ rules are the worst you'll find in the area.

If you only have a short time, my PERSONAL must-do list is:
1) Horseshoe
2) Roadhouse (They are next to each other, so it's very easy to hit both)
3) Hollywood
4) Gold Strike
5) Harrah's
6) Fitz (I was really surprised by this place on my last trip. It used to be a dump, and now it's kind of nice)
7) Resorts
8) Sam's Town
9) Bally's

The only one you SHOULD skip is Bally's. This place is a train wreck and a half.

I mostly agree, with the following exceptions:
1. The train wreck that is Bally's can be entertaining. It's good for people watching, and the observation of ineptitude can be enjoyable in some circumstances.
2. While I enjoy and appreciate Roadhouse's surprising gaming value, I can't handle the pumped-in fake wood smell (at least, I hope that's fake...it's overpowering).

Tunica?

(From my 2002 blog...)


On the way home, I stop to throw cubes at a few casinos near Tunica, Mississippi.

This is a shot of the Helena bridge over the mighty Mississippi river, and it
always scares the %^&* out of me every time I drive over it. FACE YOUR FEAR!!
The second shot is taken from the levy, with the Isle of Capri Casino behind
it, just over the river.

mvc-001xb.jpg 2002 12 10 5:12:14 PM
mvc-003xb.jpg 2002 12 10 5:17:38 PM

I stay at Sam's Town East Tower in a jacusi suite and get on a very hot roll on
the "Never-Ever Craps" table, winning over $400.00 and paying for most of the
trip. So, seeing this sign, I jump in and go for a helecopter flight. This is only
the second time I've been on one, and the first time in over 35 years.

mvc-004xb.jpg 2002 12 11 3:34:44 PM
mvc-005xb.jpg 2002 12 11 3:35:02 PM
mvc-006xb.jpg 2002 12 11 3:35:20 PM
mvc-007xb.jpg 2002 12 11 3:36:28 PM

Pilot: Darren
Objective: Photos of the casinos from the air
Duration: 4 minutes
Price: $42.50

Fitzgeralds...

mvc-008xb.jpg 2002 12 11 3:40:24 PM
mvc-009xb.jpg 2002 12 11 3:40:32 PM

Gold Strike...

mvc-010xb.jpg 2002 12 11 3:40:48 PM
mvc-002xc.jpg 2002 12 11 3:41:26 PM
mvc-003xc.jpg 2002 12 11 3:41:36 PM
mvc-007xc.jpg 2002 12 11 3:42:30 PM

The Horseshoe, Sheraton, etc...

mvc-004xc.jpg 2002 12 11 3:41:54 PM
mvc-005xc.jpg 2002 12 11 3:42:02 PM
mvc-006xc.jpg 2002 12 11 3:42:12 PM
mvc-008xc.jpg 2002 12 11 3:42:48 PM

The bridge is lot scarier than the chopper.

Once again, the Chevy Astro Van does well and the CB radio lets me jam with the
truckers on the 14 hour drive from Tunica back to Livonia. Its now 13-Dec-2002.
So, I just drove to Albuquerque and back, then Tyler, Texas and back... hmmm...
Vegas for x-mas???

I enjoyed Horseshoe a lot (And not just because I won $250 playing 3-6 limit poker, which is a ton)

Sam's Town had a fun little charm.

I think Roadhouse is the one that had a meth lab in one of the hotel rooms...

How long has there been a bridge at Helena? I'm thinking the Memphis bridge was "it' in days past.

Thanks to all for the info, the list in particular is great!

Quote: odiousgambit

How long has there been a bridge at Helena? I'm thinking the Memphis bridge was "it' in days past.

Thanks to all for the info, the list in particular is great!

That bridge scares the living shit out of me every time I cross it. Its STRAIGHT UP as you approach it, it gives me the willys because I have this recurring dream (nightmare, I guess) about being way way up on a bridge somewhere, climbing up towards the top and it keeps getting more and more steep until I loose my balance and then when I'm slipping, I get this visual... floating backwards and upwards, higher and higher, until I get an absolutely clear image of this painting... got to find it off the web...

here



That Helena bridge has been there a long time, as you can tell just by looking at it.

I often fly to Tunica and then drive to Shreveport (Bossier City) and back. There is one more bridge you can take to get to Bossier and back a few miles down hwy 69. The next one is in Vicksburg:

The AmeriStar casino in sight of the bridge and that is my cat Flick and my RV and my flat tire.

Quote: discflicker

I often fly to Tunica and then drive to Shreveport (Bossier City) and back. There is one more bridge you can take to get to Bossier and back a few miles down hwy 69. The next one is in Vicksburg:

There is a bridge at Greenville, on US 82 and US 278, near Harlow's casino, but I'm not familiar with hwy 69. Is that another designation for that same road?

Some day I'm going to have to make a loop around Louisiana and check out all of the state's casinos (the ones with table games) that I haven't been to yet. Thus far, I've only been to the three in the general vicinity of New Orleans: Harrah's, Boomtown, and Treasure Chest.

Quote: Doc

Quote: discflicker

I often fly to Tunica and then drive to Shreveport (Bossier City) and back. There is one more bridge you can take to get to Bossier and back a few miles down hwy 69. The next one is in Vicksburg:

There is a bridge at Greenville, on US 82 and US 278, near Harlow's casino, but I'm not familiar with hwy 69. Is that another designation for that same road?

Some day I'm going to have to make a loop around Louisiana and check out all of the state's casinos (the ones with table games) that I haven't been to yet. Thus far, I've only been to the three in the general vicinity of New Orleans: Harrah's, Boomtown, and Treasure Chest.

YES GREENBERG, you head West, you pass this huge river complex on the right, and then you turn South under this old railroad tressle, and head towards I-40, but on the way you need to stop at a little DQ wanna-bee for any food in the 4-hour stretch between Harlow's and I-40. BTW, Harlow's was just opening up when I was there last, but it did NOT look like it would do any good, the parking lot was empty.

If you can make it to Lake Charles, you will find a couple of real gems and from there you can go back up North to Bossier. It all wonderfull and the food is awesome... just say etoufee'! Watch out for the gators at night.

marty

My wife and I go to Tunica about every 2 months. We mostly play blackjack. Last trip we stayed at the Roadhouse and were very pleased with the room. Spent most of the time at the tables at the Roadhouse and the Horseshoe. Limits for doubledeck were a little high ($25) at the Goldstrke. We also liked Harah's- $15 double deck tables on weekdays.

We used to like the Fitz, since it had many $10 doubledeck tables open, but it seems to have gone downhill in the last 12 months. The rooms at the Fitz are sparse.

We have also stayed at the Goldstrike. The rooms were ok.

I am a runner and my wife likes the gym. Right next to the Fitz is a nature park that was good for my morning run along the Mississippi River. The Horseshoe has a nice gym which we used as guest at the Roadhouse (both owned by Harrah's).

There are generaly two doubledeck tables at Hollywood. We have never played at Sam's town, since there is generally only 1 doubledeck table that is either full or $25. Bally's generally has two doubledeck $10 tables.

There is nothing else to do in town but gamble. No shopping, restaurants, movies, or shows. We can only take about 2 days before either our gambling money or patience wears out.

Good Luck- Welcome to the South.

Does Harrahs (or whatever they are named today) still run those junket flights into Tunica?
I think that would be far more convenient than the flights into Memphis.

I trust its still the same story on comps: you get comped for everything but you have to ask, they don't offer.

Quote: bandito9918

Good Luck- Welcome to the South.

Tunica is for the hardcore gambler. In the summer,
you think you're going to die from the humidity. You
wonder why people live there on purpose. Just walking to
your car from the hotel you'll be soaked thru in
sweat, and you just showered 15min ago. Why bother.

Hollywood hotel-room argument turns fatal for Mississippi couple with three year history of domestic abuse and drug problems. She was stabbed to death, he was tasered by police and charged with murder. One and two-thirds kids.
No indication if gambling losses provoked the argument or not.

To Gephyrophobiacs, Bridges Are a Terror