I'm going down to spend a few days in Memphis. Never been to Tunica but I'll probably take a day trip down there? I'll likely only go to one casino....and recommendations?
I'm going down to spend a few days in Memphis. Never been to Tunica but I'll probably take a day trip down there? I'll likely only go to one casino....and recommendations?
I was there many moons ago, and spent quite a few more days there than I intended. I had originally just planned to day-trip and maybe try a buffet. I went to the Grand and LOVED the buffet, with all that southern and Cajun food. On my way back out, I noted that they were wheeling in dozens of brand new Odyssey machines. These were the ones that had a whole bunch of banking games installed. I knew that for every game, there was a point at which the accumulated bonus made the game +EV. I hung around until those machines were installed, and I vultured the crap out of them for three solid weeks, making over $300 a day. After that, word had apparently filtered out, and the other APs started gathering. But for three weeks, I had the whole play to myself, and blackened catfish and jambalaya at the buffet! Those were the days. The Grand is now a Harrah's property. BOOOOOOO.
Ain't much worth playing in Tunica these days. Sam's Town has .25 9/6 JOB. That's pretty much it. Sam's does have an operational buffet (apparently still serving, even with Covid). That might be a good place to check out.
I wouldn't be able to escape Memphis--I would eat BBQ until all I could manage would be to wander around in a rib-induced food coma.
Thanks - I like Sams Town in Vegas so maybe that's a good call. I'll check it out
If The Rendezvous in Memphis is open and running it used to be the best. Been years, though, since I've been in Memphis. Edited to say the Rendezvous is the best barbeque. Not a casino. Sorry.
Tunica casinos are mostly grouped in twos-threes, so you can visit one or more without driving a lot. I never played tables at any of them, just VP. Sorry I can't speak about table play at any of them.
Fitzgeralds is separate from the rest but might be a play for you. Their buffet is very good and easy to get a freebie for on the spot. Look for the grilled asparagus, though it was MIA our last few times there. It has a loud party atmosphere but not so loud as to be distracting. Really, seemed more popular than the rest.
The Grand closed years ago. It was way apart from the rest. Was something...The Grand? Then sold to Harrah's, then eventually closed. Maybe it opened again but I doubt it. Tunica as a whole was/is dying a slow death.
Gold Strike, Horseshoe, and the third one (can't recall...it changed several times) which may be closed now are elbow to elbow, easy walk between Gold Strike and Horseshoe. Gold Strike is an MGM property, Horseshoe a Harrah's property. I don't know if Gold Strike still has a breakfast buffet, but they used to and it was fair. Horseshoe has traditionally had the best buffet anywhere, but they did away with the breakfast when we were still going there. But the lunch and supper were still very good. BTW, IMO Harrah's ruined the Horseshoe as far as "gaming", which was our favorite property in the world for a long time. Their steak house which was excellent may still be good.
Then there is Hollywood and Resorts side by side, with Sam's Town across the street. I thought Sam's town was dwindling last time there. Didn't care at all for Resorts. Hollywood is OK, the biddies I went with liked it but it didn't do much for me.
Actually, you might look to see if Isle of Capri is open, closer to Memphis, just across the Mississippi River bridge. We liked it there, machines were looser, it seemed. Decent buffet.
Oops, I don't know if Tunica has opened any buffets.
There was one more, but I think it is long ago closed down.
Candy
Actually you could check out 'the Isle' first since you have to pass by it anyway. If it is open.
Thanks - I might end up hitting up more than one.
I'd skip it. It has been eight to ten years since I have gone. I used to go at least twice a year. The state of Mississippi has obviously decided they don't want gambling in this area.
The best casino was The Grand. Harrah's spent a fortune renovating the boat, the hotel was already nice, and closed it shortly thereafter. It was then torn down to avoid port fees. For years, the best casino for low rollers and VP players was the Sheraton. They killed it when they remade it into the Roadhouse and a few years later it was permanently closed and destroyed to avoid the same port fees.
The Resorts is closed. Hollywood had to auction off most of their memorabilia in Bankruptcy. Bally's is closed.
I still have a friend who went twice a year up until two years ago. He always stayed at Sam's Town. The casino was one of the smaller ones, but they were friendly with comps. He said as of two years ago they closed the entire second floor and the buffet was only open on weekends which leaves the only open restaurant as the snack bar most of the time.
Most of the local restaurants that catered to gamblers are closed because there was no longer enough business to keep them open. Overall, it is a very depressing place to visit as everything is in decline. As others have mentioned you have to get in a car to drive from one casino to next other than the Horseshoe and Gold Stike. If you are set on gambling while in Memphis, I'd try Southland.
Well, I didn't realize the Isle of Capri is now a Harrah's property. Still a play since it is much closer to Memphis. You spend another 45 minutes driving to Tunica, actually Robinsonville.
Lordy, I was there when the real Tunica opened, 40 yrs ago?. Splash, Lady Luck, The President, Ballys. Splash was the first. Folks stood in a long line to pay $10 to get in. Fire regs limited the number who could enter at at time. They ran free buses from Little Rock which included the steak buffet, a fabulous steak. They had to start charging for the bus ride when (low income) folks took it just to get the buffet, little if any gambling.
Those casinos ran for a couple of years, eventually dismantled (The President literally sailed away to somewhere else) when the Vegas-style hotel casinos opened in Robinsonville, still referred to as Tunica. I'm telling you it was a rockin' out area, properties as nice as Vegas, all busy. The highway from Memphis was one lane (well, one each way) for several years, bumper to bumper until they finally expanded it.
I suspect Tunica eventually bankrupted the low roller customer base, as the area was very poor, except of course for the "planters". I mean, how much money can you lose until you lose it all if you aren't making it up? I heard rumors that even some of the wealthier land owners went belly up from gambling in Tunica, suicides, etc. Maybe true, maybe not. When Southwest Airlines came to Little Rock with their cheap fares (like $29 round trip...those were the days) I'm sure that drew a lot of Tunica customers to Vegas. Vegas was comping like crazy at the time as well. My theory, might be wrong. Plus, Southland opening a casino (only dog racing for decades) had to be a death knell for Tunica.
A lot of Tunica memories, before our eyes turned to Vegas.
I visited Southland on my last trip. They were in the process of adding table games which I presume they have now. It was ok but nothing to make a destination out of. I suspect Tunica will be the same but I want to knock it off my bucket list.
I'll take some pictures around Memphis and post. Looking forward to Gus' Fried CHicken and Central BBQ.
