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Water Park, Youth Sports Complex Planned in $140M Tunica Resort

A convention center, hotel, water park, and youth sports complex are planned in Robinsonville, Mississippi in a $140 million project in Tunica County. 

The project will redevelop the former Harrah’s Tunica Resort, which closed in 2014. It will feature:

• two separate hotel towers totaling 1,168 guest rooms

• a 50,000 square-foot convention center

• a 20-acre waterpark

• a youth sports complex

• an 18,000 square-foot spa and salon

• a 100-acre private lake with fishing and boating opportunities

• a 37,000 square-foot adult fun center

• a sporting clay and hunting center on 750 acres

• an RV park with 200 spaces

• a boardwalk with dining, retail, and live music entertainment venues

• an 18-hole golf course being renovated by Rees Jones

The project is expected to be complete in late summer 2022. Developers expect it will employ more than 650 people.  

“This property is truly one-of-a-kind, and we believe adding an amazing water park and other family-friendly amenities will enhance our guest’s experience and create a destination for all age groups in this region and beyond,” said co-developer Tom DeMuth, managing director of Summit Smith Development.

The project is led by Tunica Hospitality & Entertainment. The resort will be managed by Aimbridge Hospitality of Plano, Texas.

Water park plans include a lazy river; DownUnder drop capsule slides, a concessions area, two swim-up bars with tables and benches, restrooms and locker rooms, raft bowl slide, shallow sunning area with spray features, kids slides, floatable walk area, water volleyball area, water basketball area, flow rider area with bleachers, and more to be added at a later date.

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Food & Drink Hungry Memphis

Harrah’s Tunica To Rebrand Paula Deen’s Buffet

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  • npr.org

Caesars Entertainment Corporation, parent company of Harrah’s Tunica, issued a statement this morning announcing it has “reached a mutual agreement with Paula Deen Enterprises (PDE) not to renew the two companies’ business relationship.”

Harrah’s Tunica opened Paula Deen’s Buffet in 2008. Deen appeared at a ribbon-cutting to unveil the 560-seat restaurant designed to look like Deen’s home in Georgia.

According to the statement, the Tunica buffet and three other of the company’s Deen-related businesses will be “rebranded.” It appears that the Paula Deen Buffet has already been removed from the Harrah’s Tunica site.

Full statement below:

Caesars Entertainment Corporation, Paula Deen Enterprises Agree Restaurant-Licensing Contracts Will Not Be Renewed

LAS VEGAS — June 26, 2013 — Caesars Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: CZR) announced today it has reached a mutual agreement with Paula Deen Enterprises (PDE) not to renew the two companies’ business relationship. Caesars operates Paula Deen-themed restaurants at four of its properties. Caesars intends to rebrand the restaurants in the coming months.

“While we appreciate Paula’s sincere apologies for statements she made in her past that she recently disclosed during a deposition given in response to a lawsuit, after thoughtful consideration of their impact, we have mutually decided that it is in the best interests of both parties to part ways at this time,” said Jan Jones Blackhurst, executive vice president of communications and government affairs for Caesars Entertainment.

Related:

John Branston on Paula Deen and Tunica

Buffet Be Not Proud

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Food & Drink Hungry Memphis

Barbecue Fest: Shuttle Service

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Harrah’s Tunica is providing a free shuttle service between downtown and the Fairgrounds during Barbecue Fest.

Louis and I hopped on at Beale and 2nd this morning around 11:30 a.m.