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An artist’s rendering shows the Grand Soleil hotel and casino. The hotel will have 124 rooms. The hotel and casino are scheduled to open in the summer of 2008.
Grand Soleil set to open summer '08
Published Tuesday, December 11, 2007
NATCHEZ — A grand lobby with a glass entrance will greet casino-goers, according to images the Grand Soleil hotel and casino, formerly Emerald Star, released Monday.
Ramps will lead from the lobby at the parking lot to the boat.
The companion hotel, on top of the hill at the former site of the Ramada Inn, will have 124 rooms.
The slab and foundation work for the hotel were finished last week, Marketing Director Baxter Lee said.
Images of the hotel plans should be released in the next month or so, he said.
The casino parking lot is under construction, and one of two retaining walls is nearing completion.
“It’s a very exciting time for us,” Lee said. “As the project nears completion, things are beginning to take shape and look like the vision we’ve had.”
Construction on the hotel and lobby building should start soon after the holidays, he said.
“We’re anticipating opening the hotel and casino at the same time hopefully early in the summer of 2008,” Lee said.
Construction of the hotel foundation and the casino parking lot has been on schedule, Lee said.
“The weather has been good for our contractors, and the river levels have been good to do the work, he said. “Everything’s working out nicely.”
The Grand Soleil will be the second casino to locate in Natchez. The existing Isle of Capri casino and hotel are just upriver, and Lane Company has plans to locate a casino under Roth Hill.
“Our philosophy is for Natchez to grow as a destination,” Lee said. “We’re going to have to work together with whoever’s here. If it’s us and the Isle, or us, the Isle and Lane, as long as we work together, we believe Natchez will grow as a destination.”
Emerald Star — Natchez, LLC, the development company building the Grand Soleil, has plans to market the casino and hotel beyond the Miss-Lou, Lee said. Marketing will begin before the buildings are finished, he said.
Comments
Posted by buttercup26 (anonymous) on December 11, 2007 at 12:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
oooohhhh yea!! wonder if it will have an inside or outside pool?? we REALLY like those heated indoor pools! haha.. oh i can't wait!! i NEW PLACE TO CHECK OUT IN NTZ!! i'm going to start saving money now! haha!
and i got a gut feeling ya'll guys can hang the idea of the isle working 'together' (nicely) on a coat rack some where.. i just don't think that's happening.. lol!! ya'll got this in the bag!! oh i'm soo ready to hit the slot machine! (i don't know how to play the card tables or i would've said that)
Posted by Morticia (anonymous) on December 11, 2007 at 6:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I will teach you buttercup. Then we can lounge at the pool afterwards sipping exotic drinks with umbrellas while we count our millions!
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on December 11, 2007 at 7:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I must admit, this new casino looks nice. But I hope, I REALLY hope that you all realize that casinos are built so nice thanks to the money they TAKE from people!
As my husband says when he refers to slot machines.."anything that will take on the world with its back against the wall is a dangerous thing"
Please be careful...the beauty of this place is built with hard earned money that tons of people LOST to the casino.
They are there to MAKE money, to TAKE your money, and lots of it...please be careful!!!!!!
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on December 11, 2007 at 7:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You can play the same games on the computer the difference is you don't lose your money. Humans what a waste of $3.00 worth of chemicals. If we only had a brain, odds are never with the player.
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on December 11, 2007 at 8:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have some ocean front property in Arizona, any of you gamblers interested?
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on December 11, 2007 at 8:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
lol at beammeup.
I work too hard for my money to gamble wih it!
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on December 11, 2007 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wont be going.
I hear people saying, I won 200 dollars on the boat...so I asked one person how much they spent to win that money.
They said they lost 300, then hit a lucky streak. and they say this with great pride (???)
Do they not realize that they came out a LOSER ..NOT a winner?
Do the math! Geeze.
They actually LOST a hundred bucks, yet somehow they think they won..go figure.
Posted by bvemt (anonymous) on December 11, 2007 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I've been to many of the casinos around the state. Every time a club that I'm affiliated with has a conference they have it at one of the casinos. Of all the times I've been to the casinos I've only put about $40 total in the slots. What I really enjoy about going to the casinos and the casino hotels are the $6 bottle Cokes, the $8 cup of Starbucks coffee, the $15 hamburger and stale fries at the sandwich stand in the lobby. They only have 6 channels on the TV in the rooms (can't have you spending time in your room watching tv! That's time away from the tables!). Even if you don't gamble, they are such a wonderful, luxurious place to go spend your money!
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on December 11, 2007 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The picture shows 4 people in the parking lot. My guess 1 is a mugger. 1 is a prostitute and the other 2 are elected officials
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on December 11, 2007 at 10:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
YA'LL ARE CRAZY PEOPLE, but I love ya. Keeps my funny bone oiled. That's about the only bone working in true fashion now-a-days. Love it. Why can't we have a bingo site in Natchez? Now that's my idea of fun. Wonder if this casino will sponsor Texas Hold'em? Luv dat too.
Posted by murph1 (anonymous) on December 11, 2007 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
im so ready for the poker room that way i dont have to drive to vicksburg to win! the boat is hard to beat but the people that play poker arent. haha
Posted by cynthiafleming (anonymous) on December 11, 2007 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is JUST entertainment...use some self control and it remains entertainment. Too much of ANYTHING (even dessert) can be bad for you but it is awesome to have a CHOICE...don't want to take the risk, just don't go there. And please, play responsibly if you do go.
Posted by stateofnatchez (anonymous) on December 11, 2007 at 11:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yippeeeee!! More pawn shops, check cashing holes, "for sale" signs and concealed weapon permits.
Posted by protectthebluff (anonymous) on December 11, 2007 at noon (Suggest removal)
Yep, the crackhead is missing on the picture.
Yeah NEW place to check out in Natchez ! Taxes will increase, crimes rates too ! GREAT !!! Let's put some more concrete on the bluff ! I have a dream : a giant casino in the middle of the homochitto forest, slot machines on the Trace ! with outside pools haha for buttercup26 (who is, by the way, a genius !). Why not a Forks of the road casino ???
Posted by firered (anonymous) on December 11, 2007 at 12:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hey put an indoor pool there at that forks of the road casino and me and buttercup will be there!
Posted by protectthebluff (anonymous) on December 11, 2007 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Okay firered, and I'll get you some coupons for the new taco bell they will open in the fort rosalie !
Posted by Morticia (anonymous) on December 11, 2007 at 1:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Natchez - your one-stop antebellum home, gambling boat, horse-drawn carriage ride, and fork in the road tourist destination spot. Now all someone has to do is stick a fork in it because I think we are done. Hey ladies, don't forget me at the indoor pool. Will they have an all-you-can-eat buffet too?
Posted by funbustours (anonymous) on December 11, 2007 at 3:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If I'm still here, I will most definately be going. I "love" going to casino's, I'm not AT ALL ashamed to admit it, I can afford to go - - and, yes, I go and play with my Not-so-Hard earned money....( everyone does not work hard for their money). I enjoy working and I enjoy playing....that's life.
Poor Natchez Miss. does not have a lot of entertainment arenas for adults and I think it will be just great!
Casino's are just a form of entertainment for those who care to partake. If you don't like it, just as some say above, just don't go. But, spare us the casino-bashing. It sounds immature. Because as we all know, each and every one of us do "something" a little too much, be it drinking, eating, posting, talking, smoking, whatever....the trick is not to over indulge....so everyone get a grip and don't be so critical...man !
So, everyone who enjoys gaming, I think this new one will be a welcome addition for us. Certainly, will put a frown on the Isle, since they've had the monopoly for so long. I bet they'll loosen up their slot some when the new boat comes :- }
Posted by buttercup26 (anonymous) on December 11, 2007 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
YES!! the way this casino is looking... maybe it will have enough room for like a few shows?? you know, like a singer or two to come through.. lol!! or those people that put on plays?? (you know swinging around in the air looking all pretty with all that fabric and stuff) I LOVE GOING TO THOSE SHOWS DOWN HERE!! (i feel 'sassy' and in the 'city' when i get all prettied up to go to the casino for 'dinner and a show') lol! I LOVE NATCHEZ AND ALL OF THE BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC THINGS.. but let's face it.. those 'WONDERS' ARE NOT PAYING THE BILLS FOR NATCHEZ... now are they? i don't won't to come home one day after being away from it for soo long and i see nothing but OLD RAN DOWN VACANT BUILDINGS! B/C THE 'ELDERS' HAVE 'SPOKEN' and they say no-no on keeping NTZ. up to date!! i plan on coming home one day! and i want a home to come back too!! :)
and why does it have to be TACO BELL in ROLASIE? let's put a CHUCKY CHEESE IN IT! MY KIDS WOULD HAVE A BLAST AND LEANR ABOUT THEIR HOME TOWN HISTORY AT THE SAME TIME! LOL! (HUGE JOKE!) I'M IN A GREAT MOOD I GOT MY PRESENT EARLY! AND I JUST CAME BACK FROM SHOOTING IT!! ;)
Posted by djarum_black (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 2:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't give a you-know-what about the bluff, and you know.. that's mostly due to having the bluff, the antebellum homes, and the preservation of a dying over-extended plantation area shoved down my throat over and over again, while I barely eked out a living in this supposedly WONDERFUL place to live.
I'm glad to see ANYTHING that'll bring more people and more jobs into town. The Garden Club HAD its turn and ran everything out of town that hired local people. Forget all that mess.. we should be grateful for every business that moves in.
Posted by MSnative (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 8:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Like most "economic development" deals supposed to come Natchez...I'll believe the Grand Soleil when I see it.
It appears that the Charles Cato who is the main "partner" in this deal, has sued the following the other partners in Federal Court in Florida, namely - Emerald Star Casino, natchez LLC, Big River Enterprises, LLC, William J. Bayba, Lake of the Torches Development Corporation, and Richard Lindsley.
I won't even speculate on just why this falling out has happened, but doesn't it normally take several years to settle a lawsuit in the Federal courts system? The case Number is 8:2007cv01408 and it was filed on August 9. 2007, in the Florida Middle Federal District Court. Just go to http://dockets.justia.com/docket/court-f... and read on. (fyi - i originally found this info. on www.ldfnews.com - the website of the Wisconsin tribe who invested in this deal -- looks like the tribe members are upset about it too).
It's hard to imagine such a big project ever materializing when the main guys are at each others throat. What's worse is that we'll just get stuck with a half completed project on the river that doesn't result in a single new job!
Posted by buttercup26 (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 12:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
((djarum_black)) THANK YOU!! i thought i was the only one that saw the 'high almighty' 'garden club' in that light!
Posted by Baracuda (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 11:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm looking forward to a new Poker Room coming, I only hope it stays for a long time. They always seem to be closing them. I enjoy playing and meeting new people. The one thing I would like to see is at least one table for us smokers. You can smoke everywhere in a casino but the Poker Room. I know some of you are thinking just quit smoking. They don't tell people they can't drink and they are the ones that could have an accident when they leave. Just like for them to have a table for those of us who want to play and smoke.
Posted by buttercup26 (anonymous) on December 18, 2007 at 12:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
we also need a bingo hall!! driving to summit is just to long of a trip! lol!
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