Boyd closing in Mississippi

It's not Las Vegas news, but I thought readers might like to know that Sam's Town Tunica is permenantly closing on November 9.   It used to be a fun trip for us, but that was a long time ago.   

Unsurprising. That market has been miserable for a long time. Tunica's customer base has dissolved with all the new casinos now populating the Mid-South. Not worth a trip.

I spent last Sunday night at the Fitz. The casino was almost empty by 7. They might have had 10 cars in the hotel parking lot at 8 AM Monday. The lady at the front desk was rude to me and to the 2 prior guests. 

The bed was rock hard. Tunica was safer than staying in Memphis.

Many years ago, I found myself in Memphis on business and on Saturday, I decided to drive down to Tunica. I was amazed at how rural, and how obviously poor, the area east of the river was along Hwy 61. I turned west where I thought I should--there was no signage--and stopped at a junction to get gas and ask directions. The attendant told me to keep driving down the same road and "look for two niggahs." Confused, I asked him to repeat his instructions, and he said, "Yeah, 'bout a mile, look for two niggahs, then turn left."

I shrugged and drove on. What had that guy been saying? Look for two black people standing by the side of the road? That made no sense. Surely, they wouldn't always be there?

And then I came to a T-intersection. There were two black people standing on the right side of the road. Upon closer examination, I saw a bus stop sign, so their presence there made some sense, but...how could the gas station guy possibly know that?

Then I saw a small sign, on a post only about four feet tall: "Tunica," with a left-pointing arrow. Oh. The gas guy had actually been saying "Look for Tunica" in Southern (as opposed to English) and evidently didn't know the word "sign."

Every time I travel to the South, several weird things happen.

Living in Nashville, I've been going to Tunica for the last 35 years.  First to Sams Town, until Boyd screwed the rewards program and than to Horseshoe .  Still go to Horseshoe, as they take good care of me.  Horseshoe is very busy on weekends and actually not too bad during week. Hotel fills up pretty good on weekends.  One of the best Binons Steak house I've been to, but the other food options suck (and are double points). 

Kevin, shame on you for the racial slurs, even if you changed the spelling.  I'm guessing that you intended to look like the hero for pointing out what your ears heard the attendant say, but you only made it a bad look for you, IMHO.

Candy

I was in the deep-ish South. It wouldn't have been the first time I'd heard that taboo word--more like the 500th.

I did NOT make any kind of "racial slur." I was very surprised to hear the attendant say what I thought was such a slur, partly because it made no sense in context.

Don't reflexively react like that. It cheapens rightful reactions to ACTUAL slurs.

Those absolutely were racial slurs by the attendant.  Surprised you repeated them. 

But, then, I failed my own duty: 

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."  Proverbs 15:1

"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry."  James 1:19.

My apologies for a harsh reply.

Candy

Candy...my point was, I thought that it was a casual racial slur by the attendant, but it really wasn't. I just heard "Tunica" through the thick, syrupy curtain of a Southern accent, and then what I saw at the junction "confirmed" for a moment what I hadn't believed I'd heard.

I used to get and maybe still get free junkets for two to Tunica (and Biloxi,AC) with Caesars. Never been able to make it work.