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photo by Marcus Frazier
Business officials and employees walk through the Grand Soleil hotel lobby Thursday afternoon. The hotel had its soft opening Sunday, Nov. 8, with a benefit for the Natchez Children’s Home.
Grand soleil rooms, lounge now open
Published Friday, November 14, 2008
NATCHEZ — Fresh flowers, colorful hues, modern, art plush carpets, spectacular views and stylish accoutrement all spell out the final, finished product.
The double frosted glass doors etched with the signature sunburst emblem of the Grand Soleil have been opened for business.
Marketing Director Baxter Lee said the hotel is not currently open 100 percent.
“This is just a soft opening for the hotel and bar,” he said.
Lee said the official grand opening and ribbon cutting of the hotel will be Dec. 11 during the Natchez-Adams Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours.
To come later this month is the Vue restaurant, which sits closest to the edge of the bluff and shows off a view of the Mississippi River.
Guests have already begun to check into the variety of different rooms offered at the new hotel.
Rooms are available in standard or one-room, two-room, or Jacuzzi suites, and all include thick carpeting, colorful adornments and standard amenities such as a refrigerator and a television.
The parking lot awaits full paving and landscaping is on the way and the pool is yet to be filled. But all are minor details that just need to be ironed out, General Manager Wendy Grandin said.
It’s the view and the decorating scheme — delicate chandeliers and curtains, sconces, floor lamps — that have been getting the notice.
“We’ve gotten a wonderful response from the public,” she said. “The impressions of our guests so far have been raving.”
The hotel also has a large meeting space and a portion of the restaurant can be sequestered off for meeting purposes.
The two other hotel buildings that sit on either side of the main building have subsequent opening dates.
“We are now working on the west building,” Grandin said.
Grandin said the 28-room hotel should open within the next 30 days.
The 30-room east building is planned to open by the end of the year.
As far as casino construction, Lee said the railroad bridge that has been under construction is complete.
The bridge is an overpass that will allow traffic to pass below the railroad to the casino boat on the water’s edge.
The projected opening date for the casino is spring 2009, Lee said.
Comments
Posted by ProNatchez (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 6:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is going to take an awfully long time to pay back $36,000,000.00 with just 28 hotel rooms and a bar. Looks like the Chippewa will be on the warpath soon. Arrows will be flying. People getting scalped. Gonna be nasty.
Tony Scudiero says the Isle Of Capri has nothing to worry about. You know, I believe him.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 6:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wonder how long it will take for someone to get busted for smoking pot in the rooms?
Metro...gather your guys around the control center and map out your plan.
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 6:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So this whole thing is illegal????
Posted by buttercup26 (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 7:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
not when the ntz. officals want it, it's not. c'mon ((ntzmom)) you know all this already... :)
Posted by ProNatchez (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wish N.D. had not removed the top comment. I thought it was good stuff.
Yep. They will be counting coup in Natchez.
Posted by HappyAppy (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 8:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Looks like some of you need to go reread this artical. I count up a total of 58 room yet to open, west building has 28 rooms and the east 30, plus the rooms that are open and ready for occupancy in the main part.
As for the other racist remarks made all I can say is grow up...
Posted by HappyAppy (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh, and NO I do not work for them, I just read befor I post.
Posted by aak1972 (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
debwe, If the venture fails will it personally affect you. Did you loan them the money or do you work for them. Why all the complaints.
Posted by ProNatchez (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 9:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
HappyAppy. I can count. There are 28 rooms open. They may not complete the other 30 if they don't have the money. Don't count chickens before they hatch.
As for racist comments, I see none. I am part Cherokee.
Debwe. You have every right to be upset. I hope your people are warm and well fed this winter.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anyone know the answer to a rumor I heard about the restaurant? I heard the local folks will not be allowed to eat there....that it is ONLY for the guests of the Hotel and the Casino folks.
How is that possible?
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have seen restaurants like that sayitloud. You have to present your room key before you can get seated. Also the swimming pool, lounges, etc are only for those staying at the hotel.
Posted by USMC0811 (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ProNatchez I don't see how you can post the negative posts about your own people. Coming from an ancestry mixed with Native Americans and African Americans I find your first statement very appalling! How in the world could you be Cherokee making loose statements like that. You should be proud but you are truly not so drop it from your name. Shame on you for that comment even if it wasn't mean spirited. By all means am I not lashing out at you, I'm just merely trying to reach out. Good Day
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks free...the pool and lounge make sense to me but not the restaurant....rude. That may hurt them in the long run.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I totally agree say, the one I know of is in Memphis and the hotel stays full but Natchez is a different story altogether.
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 4:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would think they would open the restraunt to all so they can make money, but if they want to keep the trash out I would understand too. Its not rude, its just how they want to run their business.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 5:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Natchez could ALWAYS stand a new restaurant!
BRING IT ON
Posted by ProNatchez (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 6:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
USMC0811. I said what I meant and meant what I said. If it was my family that was out $36 million, I would want blood. Don't tell me you would not feel the same way if it were your family.
I hope this turns out right for the Lac du Flambeau people. They do not deserve to be taken to the cleaners.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 7:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with you Pro...I for one am sick of seeing innocent being being taken advantage of to do nothing but line someone else's pockets .
Posted by VillageIdiot (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 7:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who in their right mind would patronize such a facility?
Posted by Natchezbear (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 11:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
O.M.G!
I'm sorry guys I just took a ride up to this new hotel. I was SHOCKED ! As I turned off the very dark hwy the little hotel at the bottom of the hill is still a construction site and pitch black in the night as I looked up the hill I could see no substantial lighting. What I could see was so much mud, slop and gravel I thought part of the hill must have let go. I was sorry I drove my Towncar up there I should have taken my truck. Then when I got to the top there was NO road just loose gravel to help get you through the pot holes to what was left of the old parking lot and there wasn't much. Too the left was a new very small parking lot that was non accessible and obviously still under heavy construction. To the right was the old building re-vamped. I expected lighting and glitz it seemed the sun on the front doors was the only glitz. I did not go in, I drove to the back through stacked building materials and construction vehicles. I looked for the beautiful old Plantation in the back and would not venture any further.SPOOKY at night! Why did these people open , even soft open? What kind of clientele are staying there now and why are they there...... The Bar? I'm surprised someone doesn't get hurt and sue.
I feel very sorry for the Indians .....My 1/8 Cherokee blood started to boil as I tried to leave with out damaging my car. Natchez lost its local tribe many moons ago, I wish the LDF people could come here themselves and start a reservation and run a Casino themselves, I'm sure they could do a better job with the money ( I love Marksville a class A act). I expected Some construction ,but this was ridiculous. I know many of the employees and they are good people and hard workers. Who ever is the engineer of this train wreck needs to get it together...and quick! I am a Casino hound I spend way too much time in casinos anyway, but I was very disappointing. I was so excited we were getting a new one now I have serious doubts it will ever happen. Maybe it will look better by the light of day. I won't go back till its safe and casinos comps start flowing. That's why I'm a casino hound The COMPS The GLITZ and The GAMES.
Posted by presby (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 11:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What they need is Ronnie Cox playing and they will have a good crowd.
Posted by presby (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 11:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Any remark that makes sense or doesn,t make sense,that fits or does not fit is still a racist remark in the USA now. Anything you say to someone that feels like it was a racist remark says it,s racial. What about the Indians that were slaughtered by the thousands and made to live on land that we shoved them on,how come you don,t hear all the racial baloney from them??
Posted by presby (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 11:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No one can make a remark about anybodys race. But Richard Pryor made a movie and called blacks names that would make any sailor blush and the blacks laughed right along with him...strange...to me...but what do i know
Posted by presby (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 11:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That don,t count you have to be black in Natchez. No matter how much torture or humilitaion the Indians in America went through. They are mostly a forgetten people who lived and let live.
Posted by presby (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 11:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What about the Natchez Indians whose land was stolen? What don,t they have a casino?
Posted by presby (anonymous) on November 14, 2008 at 11:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Location: The Natchez were among some of the last native American groups to live in the area which is now known as southwestern Mississippi.
History: There is some archaeological evidence that indicates that the Natchez culture began around 700 AD and lasted until the 1730s. This is when the tribe was involved in a war with the French. The Natchez language seems to be related to the Muskogean language family. This indicates that the Natchez probably developed from earlier cultures in the Lower Mississippi River Valley.
I,m sure we paid them a fair price for their land before KILLING them.
Posted by ldfnews (anonymous) on November 15, 2008 at 2:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great post Natchezbear! Thanks for checking things out and confirming all our suspicions. I hope they leave your post up for all to see.
32 million dollars can really do wonders, don't you think? Well there is another 2.5 million on the way so maybe the parking lot might be safe next time you check it out.
If you can, contact us at ldfnews@gmail.com.
Thanks again for all you people down there rooting for us. I hope more of you go check out the hotel and please let us know what is happening.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on November 15, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
you know historically the gambling business has it's roots in organized crime.......
has anything changed?
this sounds like a real mess, I feel for the indian tribes involved......
but you know, if the indians wouldn't give in to the temptation of making quick/easy money by getting in the gambling business, they wouldn't bring this down on themselves, seems to me???
play with snakes, you will get bit
if the indian tribes have such vast resources, why not put them to use in more constructive ways??
I see gambling as a looser for everyone in the long run
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on November 15, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Presby,
read your history
The Natchez attacked the Spanish and killed a few Spaniards at Fort Rosalie,
then later, I think it took about ten years for the Spaniards to come back, the Spaniards almost totally wiped out the Natchez in retaliation........
but I agree, it is beyond me why folks couldn't live together back then
I have explored around the area of the Natchez INdian Village mounds and St Cath Creek, such a beautiful stretch of land, the creek is wide with a nice gravel bottom, the woods rich with deer , squirrel - it's easy to imagine the Natchez thriving there..... how sad that they are not still here.
I wish the Native American Indians would shake loose from the evils of fast money and not be corrupted, like in Philadelphia, MS..... it seems to me that the tribes are being taken for a ride and distracted from a better way of life. Maybe I'm wrong. I hope so. There are other casinos like that all around the country now. I was reading about one in New Mexico, and they also do outfitting for elk hunts, trying to sell the Elk for $10,000 each. Crazy!!!
Posted by ProNatchez (anonymous) on November 15, 2008 at 2:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I checked out the ldfnews site. Some informative reading there. Also some infighting between tribal members who aren't happy with there leadership. Reads a lot like the comments on this newspaper website.
Intertaining to say the least. Most of them seem like good folks.
Posted by ldfnews (anonymous) on November 15, 2008 at 9:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just so you can see how bad we are getting ripped off.....
http://www.ldfnews.com/state/2007TaxRetu...
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on November 15, 2008 at 10:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If I was part of this tribe, I'd gather up a bunch of my people and come down here for a visit after construction. I'd bust up in that casino and hotel/restaurant expecting top-notch, free service for as long as I wanted to stay. After all, it's the LDF's ...invested in with the tribe's money. Turnabout is fair play.
I pray for the best for this tribe.
Posted by presby (anonymous) on November 15, 2008 at 10:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What,s a soft opening,,,? Is that like a best interest plea in court??
Posted by Natchezbear (anonymous) on November 15, 2008 at 11:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Spanish did not come until 1779 after the french occupation 1716 -1763 (who wiped out the Natchez 1729-1731) and the English Occupation 1763-1779, The Spanish were here 1779-1797until Americans raised the first flag on Ellicott hill 1798. Carolyn Vance Smith wrote a wonderful book "Illustrated Natchez" tells all. Then last year, James Barnett wrote "The Natchez Indians A history till 1735" the most in depth ever written.
As for Indians and easy money........They have been wronged by white settlers since the very beginning. Now they are given special privileges like land based casinos and sovereign nations....Cuddos to the Indians.
Posted by presby (anonymous) on November 15, 2008 at 11:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That,s not the part i was talking about,how come when people up north get flooded out and you hardly hear a peep out of them. When Katrina hit New Orleans,they wanted to give every minority living there a million dollars..why would we pay able bodied people to sit on their rears and draw our tax money that we earned.??
I,m talking about all Indians all over the US that were massacared. What about their civil rights and their cut of the welfare pie?? We never hear about their rights being violated. The people up north rebuild and the ones in New Orleans scream bloody murder,but they weren,t working anyway.
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