Casino Resorts, Museums, Golf & Tennis, Shopping and More; Tunica Is Alabama's - and America's - Best Value for Action-Packed Get-Aways

Casino Resorts, Museums, Golf & Tennis, Shopping and More; Tunica Is Alabama's - and America's - Best Value for Action-Packed Get-Aways

TUNICA, Miss., March 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Alabama travelers are big winners in Tunica as "The South's Casino Capital" rolls out the welcome mat to millions of gaming tourists who are looking for a new casino resort destination while the Mississippi Gulf Coast rebuilds.

Visitor statistics are on the rise in Tunica as travelers, including large numbers from Alabama, discover Tunica's southern hospitality, warm welcome and numerous things to see and do. And the Tunica tourism industry is working hard to keep Mississippi's tourism industry thriving while the Gulf Coast recovers from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

"We believe we have a strong obligation and responsibility to help the State of Mississippi rebuild its tourism industry by welcoming former Gulf Coast vacationers to the Tunica experience while the Coast recovers," said Webster Franklin, president and CEO of the Tunica Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Tunica has become an exciting entertainment destination with several new attractions in addition to our nine casino resorts that give the vacation traveler more to see and do than ever, all at a great value."

Tunica has become the largest and fastest-growing gaming and entertainment destination to be found between Las Vegas and Atlantic City. With more headline entertainment than anywhere else in mid-America, plus nonstop gaming at nine world-class casino resorts and much more, Tunica -- located just 30 minutes south of Memphis, Tenn. -- has also become a new hot spot for golf, tennis, history and heritage.

Considering that Tunica and the Mississippi Delta are the legendary home of The Blues, Tunica's tradition for entertainment and celebration of blues music is clearly natural. Many of the world's top performers are familiar faces at the multimillion dollar showrooms in Tunica, including headliners such as Faith Hill, Ray Romano, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Eddie Money, En Vogue, B.B. King, Tom Jones, Joan Rivers, Chris Rock and Kansas -- to name only a few. Each casino offers live entertainment nightly, and all offer free musical entertainment with stages on the casino floor.

In addition, Tunica's nine world-famous casinos -- Bally's, Fitzgeralds, Gold Strike Casino Resort, Grand Casino, Harrah's, Hollywood Casino, Horseshoe Casino, Sam's Town, and Sheraton Casino & Hotel -- and more than 14,000 slots and 400 table games make it easy to see why Tunica is called "The South's Casino Capital." Tunica also offers more than 6,300 first-class hotel rooms and suites, with over 40 restaurants offering fine dining, sumptuous buffets and regional cuisine. Other amenities include health clubs, day spas and sparkling pools.

There's easy access to Tunica, too. Tunica is an easy drive via interstate and four-lane highway from locations across the Mid-South. Plus, there's access by private or charter jet aircraft to Tunica's new airport, and commercial air service to Memphis also provides convenient flights to Tunica from points across the Southeast and United States.

So Much New To See & Do

The new Tunica RiverPark on the Mississippi River is a $26 million award- winning center with the Mississippi River Museum, outdoor observation platform, harbor, aquarium and walking trails. Visitors can see the Mighty Mississippi up close, with spectacular views of the river like no other location in the Mississippi Delta. There's also the new Tunica Queen, a classic riverboat that offers daily excursions along the Mississippi River. The sophisticated yet natural park setting and museum showcase the life of the river as it has evolved over time. Rising Tide author John Barry served as a consultant on the museum's exhibits.

Outdoor Recreation - Golf, Tennis & More

Outdoor recreation is abundant in Tunica. Tunica National Golf & Tennis Club, a new $12 million tournament-level, 18-hole championship golf course along with a premier tennis facility and clubhouse, is located right in the heart of Tunica's casino resort area. Many pro and amateur golf and tennis events are scheduled here throughout the year, providing up-close sports action for fans of all ages. Designed by Mark McCumber and Associates of Jacksonville, Fla., one of the world's leading golf course architects, Tunica National Golf Course features 212 acres of dramatic landscaping. The tennis facility features four indoor clay courts with the South's only Hydro-Grid Har-Tru surface. The club, which is open to the public, also has an 8,000- square-foot clubhouse with a restaurant and pro shop. Tunica National is located in the casino resort area, between Casino Center and Casino Strip, and bounded by U.S. Highway 61 North and Old Highway 61.

In addition to Tunica National, visitors can also indulge in a round of golf at Tunica's other two championship courses. The Cottonwoods Golf Course at Grand Casino, designed by Hale Irwin, offers gentle rolling fairways, three lakes and landscaped cart paths. Cottonwoods is a 7,000-yard challenge for seasoned players, and offers a sense of fun and adventure for the novice. River Bend Links at Casino Strip Resorts has a Scottish links feel, curving around strategic knolls and bunkers. Designed by Clyde Johnston, River Bend will give discriminating golfers a true test of their game.

There's also Tunica's "golf with a shotgun," or sporting clays at The Willows, one of the finest clay shooting clubs in the nation. With hunting and fishing year round, plus water skiing on Tunica Cutoff Lake in the summer, guests can easily be tempted to add a couple of days to their itineraries.

History and Heritage Itinerary

In addition to Tunica RiverPark museum, travelers interested in the history of the region have a full slate of historical museums and sites to visit in Tunica. An itinerary featuring the cultural heritage of the region might begin at the Blues & Legends Hall of Fame at the Horseshoe Casino, a must for anyone who is a fan of contemporary music. The Hall of Fame traces the history of the Blues from its Mississippi roots to worldwide appeal today. On display are exhibits and artifacts from John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, B.B. King, Eric Clapton and many more, as well as exclusive guitar and harmonica collections. Also, Hollywood Casino is home to the Mid- South's largest collection of movie memorabilia. Movie fans shouldn't pass up a chance to explore the casino resort with its authentic costumes, unusual props, and expansive movie set reproductions.

From there, the next stop is the Tunica Museum, with its artifacts from the days of Native Americans and the Spanish explorers, to the rich agricultural tradition and Delta Blues heritage, through the arrival of Las Vegas-style casino gaming. Following that, history buffs will want to see the Veterans Memorial in picturesque Downtown Tunica, a new memorial honoring veterans who gave their lives for the United States during wartime's hard fought battles.

Shopping, Spas and More

In between excitement on the casino floor, museums and outdoor activities, save time for shopping, because each casino resort property has elegant gift and sundries shops, many with Mississippi-made products. There are also more than 20 factory outlet stores located in the Casino Factory Shoppes, including Gap, Nautica, Kay-Bee Toys, Zales Jewelers, Wilson's Leather and Bass Shoes. New shops are opening all the time, so don't forget to check Tunica's web site (http://www.tunicamiss.com/ ) to see if your favorite outlet store has arrived. Then take the short drive to downtown Tunica to antique and specialty shops in charming turn-of-the-century buildings.

Visitors will need time to relax before an evening of gaming and headline entertainment, and Tunica's spas are the winning choice. Guests may choose among four luxurious spas, which offer an array of services from facials, to therapeutic massage, herbal wraps and whirlpool baths.

A popular day trip for Tunica's guests is a visit to Memphis, where Graceland and Beale Street are among the must-see attractions.

Easy Accessibility

Tunica is located only 30 minutes south of Memphis, near the intersection of Interstates 40 and 55 and within close proximity to Memphis International Airport. Visitors who travel by air now have more transportation options. The Tunica Airport's new runway, which opened last year, is accommodating charter and corporate jets daily, giving visitors the opportunity to land just minutes away from the casino resorts.

Often described as the Tunica Miracle, this destination welcomes more than 10 million visitors annually to its nine world-class casino resorts, with more than 6,300 new hotel rooms, over 40 restaurants, championship golf, outdoor recreation, museums, outlet and antique shopping, and much more. For travel information, please visit the Tunica website at http://www.tunicamiss.com/ or call Tunica at 1-888-4TUNICA.

Source: Tunica Convention & Visitors Bureau

CONTACT: Claire Pittman, PR Manager of Tunica Convention & Visitors
Bureau, +1-662-363-3800, or +1-888-488-6422, or cpittman@tunicamiss.com ; or
Laura Newman of Combs & Company, +1-501-664-3000, or lnewman@combsco.com , for
Tunica Convention & Visitors Bureau

Web site: http://www.tunicamiss.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information about Tunica's casino resorts, entertainment and other attractions, plus a variety of photos, visit the Tunica website at http://www.tunicamiss.com. Images are available for downloading, or we can provide you with additional photography from our photo library.

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