Does Tunica offer any... (Clarksdale, Magnolia: casino, living in, restaurant)

[darylwi]

Yes, the WPT is in Tunica a lot. Tunica is doing well in the gambling industry but for now, that's all it has. It is possible for it to grow more, but then it would become for all intensive purposes a suburb of Memphis. So it appears that Memphis should be doing more to attract visitors to its city and then Tunica can be a side step for interested people.
I've never been to Branson, and I've been to Gatlinburg, but I wouldn't consider either a national tourist destination. It's more on the lines of a destination for people who know about them. I always suggest Gatlinburg, but you'd be surprised at the people who know nothing about east TN. National destinations include things like the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, NYC, Orlando, etc. Las Vegas might be included but only because it does have a lot more to offer (especially pitched in with the grand canyon and lake mead). It is a whole major city as opposed to just Tunica (the casinos).

[Pearlbob]

I don't know what else Memphis can do to attract visitors, let alone visitors who are only coming because of gambling in MS. I don't think Tunica will ever grow that much, not much more than it is now. A few nice restaurants outside of the casinos would be good. But you have to admit...most people who go there are driving for the night. On weekend nights, it's almost like rush hour coming down from Memphis!

It's close enough to Memphis to make it easy for locals (here) to travel down, or visitors for a day. Memphis has a huge international airport, so they aren't going to make the Tunica airport any bigger, why bother? But it's still far enough from Memphis that it's never going to be a suburb....there's a ton of farmland in between. I think it's pretty perfect, really...far enough away that people feel it's a special trip, yet close enough that you can drive home at the end of the night. If it was too much bigger, too much more to do - it would become a headache for local-ish people who truly love to go down there and gamble in a relatively peaceful casino environment.

[Sam I Am]

I'll agree with you there, pearlbob...in all the times we've been to Tunica, not a hint of trouble. There had been a set of grifters just arrested once before we were there, and I recall some incident where a casino got held up a couple of years ago? I dunno, I don't keep a watch on it...

I will say the casinos that have concerts probably have the best seating in the world...those are very small venues. If you get a chance to see someone you really like there it's a really personal experience. We saw Tony Bennett a couple of years ago and Ray Charles that same year...very interesting and cozy, probably only 500 people in the whole place.

[Pearlbob]

It really is a nice area. Sometimes I wish that it was more elegant and glitzy like Vegas, but then it wouldn't be as calm. I like the fact that even on Saturday nights, you can find casinos with little crowd where you can sit at a table game without waiting or having people hound over you. Usually you can get a free drink in little time from a waitress, or just sit down at a machine. And unlike Vegas, there are very few people who bring kids, thus no screaming children running through the lobbies and hotels. The buffets might not be spectacular, but come on. It's a buffet. It's hard to make gourmet food when you have 5003 options and you're trying to please everyone.

[kentuckydad95]

I want to know what the attraction is to Memphis. I have been there numerous times and I just don't get it. The place seems seedy to me and crime ridden. I didn't even want to think about running out of gas in the Graceland area. Are people still moving to Memphis? I know they used to have the largest metro area in TN, but has been long passed by Nashvegas.

Anyway, back to Tunica. Yeah, the buffet sucked that we ate. I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned it, but what is the best non-buffet restaurant in Tunica? BTW, that buffet was lousy and wasn't that cheap either. Whatever happened to the cheap buffets?

[Pearlbob]

There's no such thing as "cheap buffets" anymore in casinos. Tunica is probably by far the cheapest you can get. Go to Vegas and see what "cheap food" you get on the strip

Your attitude is pretty bad - maybe you need to nix the vacation to Tunica? You don't like the hotels, you don't like the restaurants, you don't like the buffets, you don't like Memphis....why come? Maybe you should try Atlantic City instead.

Originally Posted by kentuckydad95

I want to know what the attraction is to Memphis. I have been there numerous times and I just don't get it. The place seems seedy to me and crime ridden. I didn't even want to think about running out of gas in the Graceland area. Are people still moving to Memphis? I know they used to have the largest metro area in TN, but has been long passed by Nashvegas.

Anyway, back to Tunica. Yeah, the buffet sucked that we ate. I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned it, but what is the best non-buffet restaurant in Tunica? BTW, that buffet was lousy and wasn't that cheap either. Whatever happened to the cheap buffets?

[DanBev]

We stayed at the Horseshoe and room was very nice,real comfortable beds.Slots were fun and o'k.We are totally recreational.We found no negatives in Tunica even took boat ride,unlike in CT. Oct. 07 we made our usual visit to Mohegan Sun,slot choices lousy,etc.will never return.I think casinos get greedy and know they have endless line of suckers.We are thinking about Imperial Palce in Biloxi again,maybe will find same situation as CT on return.We will ck negatives.

[kentuckydad95]

DanBev, I keep hearing good things about the Horseshoe, so I may check it out. I know I didn't do too well with their slot machines, but do many people do well with slots?

Maybe I worded the question wrong. Let me be more clear. What is there to do that is fun and safe in Memphis? The places I have been through in Memphis are seedy and rundown. The Graceland area did not seem to safe. What is the best side of Memphis/safest?

I had one buffet in Tunica and yes, it sucked. It was also confirmed by another poster that the same buffet indeed...sucked. I am not sure about the restaurants, so once again I will ask, what is the best non-buffet restaurant in Tunica in your opinion?

I hope I was more concise this go-round.

[Pearlbob]

I guess I'm not used to adults using the word "sucked" to describe something. It seems so irrational.

Graceland is not in a good area of Memphis. If that's the only area you've seen, then you have not seen Memphis. Memphis has world reknowned attractions, like the Civil Rights Museum, Rock and Soul Museum, the zoo, Pink Palace, Brooks Museum, Mud Island, Sun Studios, South Main Arts District, Botanical Center, Beale Street, and the dozens and dozens of high-end restaurants and lounges downtown.

Not to mention the high-end shopping in east Memphis, Collierville, and Germantown.

Are you talking about non-buffet restaurants in the casinos? (Tunica is the city about 15 miles south of the casinos, they have some tiny restaurants there.) Gold Strike has a good steakhouse, and I believe Horseshoe does as well.

[aiangel_writer]

Originally Posted by kentuckydad95

Look all, I am sorry I put down MS. I did not know that there were still so many problems in that state. Yes, I have been through one end of MS to the other and there may not be a ton of things to do, but like I said, the people are friendly. As for Tunica, I am not a high roller. I just wanted a room that was nice...pleasing on the eyes and modern. I looked online and most of the resorts will only let you book the "basic" rooms online and I have to ask why? If I wanted a suite, why not let me book one online? I know that every suite in Tunica cannot be booked on a Monday and Tuesday night. (We like to go during off peak times.)

And as for Tunica themselves, someone mentioned that Harrah's let's most of their resorts get rundown and I tend to agree. The one in Metropolis, Ill (50 miles north of me) has a new hotel, but the casino is seedy and not much fun. Although, one one side note, the ENTIRE CASINO is smoke-free because of the entire state of Illinois being smoke-free. The place was nearly dead the last time we went there, so if you are a non-smoker, you could benefit from this info.

And as for TimtheGuy, I have created enough turmoil on here already and I will not get into a shooting match on which place has the most posh hotels, Louisville/Lexington or Tunica. You may be right about the suites in Tunica, but like I said, I cannot seem to book one online.

You will be more apt to get a nice suite during the week than on the weekend. Casino's in general do not book their suites in order to have a place for VP's and such to stay if they suddenly show up. I learned this after many a day trying to make reservations for the Beau in Biloxi.

Ask for the VP section and ask what days are more apt to have the suites and what time is the best time of day to arrive to have the best shot. Casinos are not hotels, so the gamblers come first and the hotel part is second. I don't like it either, but that is how it was explained to me. Hope that helps..

Oh, and if you want to go somewhere very nice, try the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, it ranks up there with the best of 'em. I know, I've stayed there and they had a 50 million overhaul after Katrina. Just expect to pay almost 400 per night for a suite. Oh, and they do not have coffee pots in the rooms, you can ask for one, or order expensive room service.

On another note....we have stayed at the Drury (sp) in Southhaven and liked it. They renovated recently and are pretty decent places to stay.


And, I have stayed at the Mariott in Georgetown KY and while it was nice, no more nicer than many of the hotels around here.

OH, one more thing. Check out Tupelo, they have some really nice hotels and are only a couple hours away from Tunica. New upper end hotels with nice rooms....