Courtesy Margaritaville Casino
Margaritaville Casino
Biloxi, Mississippi
A popular Gulf Coast gaming destination, Biloxi welcomes its newest casino in May with the opening of Margaritaville Casino. With a theme based on Jimmy Buffett’s legendary beach anthem, the casino aims to combine traditional gaming with a laid-back atmosphere.
“What’s going to be very unique about this property is that when you walk in, the back is all windows, so you look over the Back Bay,” said Kay Day, the casino’s director of marketing. “We’re really bringing the outside in and the inside out. We want to be fun and easy.”
The 26,000-square-foot gaming area will have 820 slot machines, as well as 18 table games. The complex will also have the signature Margaritaville restaurant, with features such as the volcano waterslide.
The staff also plans to incorporate lots of indoor and outdoor entertainment into the visitor experience. Stilt walkers — fixtures at Buffett concerts around the country — will entertain guests at the casino’s entrance. And regional musical acts will perform at the Landshark Bar, an outdoor lounge overlooking the bay.
The special touches are all part of an effort to brand the property according to the tropical flair associated with Margaritaville and Buffett.
“We’ve got lots of palm trees and murals all over the walls that incorporate the Gulf Coast,” Day said. “We’ve got lime light fixtures and a bar inside the restaurant called Five O’Clock Somewhere.”
www.margaritavillebiloxi.com
L’Auberge Casino and Hotel
Baton Rouge,
Louisiana
Developers are hard at work putting the finishing touches on L’Auberge Casino and Hotel in Baton Rouge, which is scheduled for a Labor Day opening. Built on a 575-acre site overlooking the Mississippi River, the property will showcase the area’s nature and culture.
“Our architect has done a fabulous job in designing this property rooted in Louisiana culture, the river and our fish camps,” said vice president of marketing Kim Ginn. “You see about seven fireplaces throughout the property. There’s a lot of stone and a lot of deep, rich colors. And we have little touches of red to play on the name of Baton Rouge, which means ‘red stick.’”
The 12-story hotel will have 206 guest rooms and a rooftop swimming pool that overlooks the river. The casino will be attached to the hotel by an enclosed walkway. Once inside the casino, visitors will have their choice of 1,500 slot machines, 50 table games and a private poker room with seven tables. Upstairs, an events center will hold up to 1,600 people for concerts.
The property will have four restaurants, including a buffet called Bon Temps and a sports bar that pays tribute to Louisiana athletes. The fine-dining restaurant, called Eighteen, will feature fresh seafood and steak.
