Biloxi Mayor Frustrated with Idle Casino Project

The mayor of Biloxi aired out some frustration on Wednesday over the Margaritaville Casino project that’s sat idle for two years:

“I think Margaritaville is through — at that location,” Holloway said during Breakfast with the Mayor, sponsored by the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce at the Donal Snyder Community Center.

Last week, he talked with John Payne, the central division president of Harrah’s Entertainment, who told him the company is not in negotiations with any investors, Holloway said.

The mayor said he is frustrated when he reads that Harrah’s is buying properties when the project in Biloxi has remained idle since 2008.

Asked what’s going to happen to the metal skeleton on the site, Holloway said Harrah’s would “probably knock it down. I don’t know what else they can do with it.”

LuAnn Pappas, vice president of marketing and non-gaming operations at Harrah’s Grand Biloxi Casino, said that isn’t planned.

“Our position on that property remains the same,” she said. “We continue to maintain that site as we evaluate options.”

First announced in 2007, original plans called for a $700 million resort with 798 rooms, a full-service spa, a pool/deck area with cabanas, bar and tropical landscaping, all on 46 acres of land south of U. S. Highway 90 (view artists rendering).