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What is this?
Grand Soleil sells docked boat
Published Tuesday, November 10, 2009
NATCHEZ — The boat is gone, but the plans for the Grand Soleil to open a casino in Natchez are not.
Grand Soleil’s Attorney Kent Hudson confirmed that the casino boat, which has been docked at the Adams County Port since February 2008 while the company’s other, land-based developments were being completed, had been sold.
“It was sold by the company because the company has no plans to utilize it in the casino development anymore,” Hudson said.
Instead, the company plans to take advantages of changes made to the Mississippi gaming code following Hurricane Katrina.
“Since Katrina, the Mississippi gaming commission changed the rules and now allows casinos — even on the Mississippi River — to be built in proximity of river,” Hudson said.
Gaming law allows for casino structures to be built on pilings over the river, but it requires that the gaming portion of the casino be over the water.
The decision was ultimately that under no circumstances would the casino use the boat, Hudson said.
“(The boat) was just antiquated, and as far as the new rules are concerned it is much more expensive to maintain (a boat) over the long run with the flux of the river and the apparatus required to get the people on it,” Hudson said.
A sophisticated hydraulic lift was being designed to help keep the boat level when the river rose and fell.
“With anything that convoluted, it is hard to maintain,” Hudson said.
The non-boat-based casino would eventually pay for itself after a few years, Hudson said.
“Besides, no one wants to have the last riverboat on the Mississippi River,” he said.
At one point, casino officials had said the boat, which was largely an empty shell, would be completely renovated.
Comments
Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 11:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They ran their whatever but i still wonder about what Rentech is gonna pull.
Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 11:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They will mutter something else in a few more weeks that make no sense.
Posted by Natchezbear (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 1:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Show has only just begun.......and it won't be over till the Fat Lady Sings..............
Posted by speakup (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 1:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
it just ant gonna happen folks.
Posted by juju (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 1:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What next, 'Cirque de Soleil?'
Posted by pbnj (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 1:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
“It was sold by the company because the company has no plans to utilize it in the casino development anymore,”
That's French for They're Broke and needed the money.
Posted by Beyond (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 6:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Plan on paying any local contractors with your newly acquired cash infusion?
Posted by snatchez (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 6:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Boy the lies still flow up there on the hill. Wonder if the port was paid in full by the casino. I bet the Port took a part payment due to the good old boy thing in Natchez. Did they then pay the back taxes owed? The supervisors should protect the citizens if the port was not paid in full for storing the boat.
Posted by grungebob (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 7:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
With little modification that hotel would make a great recreation facility - with video poker and slots.
Just rig a canopy over the pool and its indoors - a few space heaters and its good year round.
Bingo Thursdays.
Book lots of live entertainment, and don't bother paving the parking lot.
Just change the name to Bleaker St.
It could work.
Keep dreamin'.
What's Rentech?
Posted by Natchezbear (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It seems to me that if back taxes are owed, banks are owed, and Contractors are owed.....Hasn't someone put a lean against all assets the casino holds. This place has been operating....pretending to be a casino for several years. There's no way they made payroll off of the income from the rooms and restaurant and bar. It takes casino income to support an operation like this. There is still a stench in the air coming from that side of town......and it's not IP cranking up again. I've been saying it on here for several years there needs to be an investigation. Where is the Indians money,Heads need to roll on this one or other scammers will setting up shop thinking Natchez is a easy place to rip folks off. Does anyone care? If they didn't pay thier taxes each and every citizen has been stolen from in Natchez!
I still think the Indians need to come down lay claim and open a reservation style casino on the bluff. Who's to say that some of the Natchez Indians didn't migrate up to Lac du Flambeau and assimilate? I think that an Indian reservation would be a welcome endeavor for Natchez. The taxes collected would be the greatest asset to Natchez........
Posted by snatchez (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
natchezbear, i would say that the Indians are either stupid or corrupt to let this happen to their money. I do not see any mortgages to the Indians so did they lend money on good faith? Something smells about the Indians and it is not IP.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm with Natchezbear...where is the Indian's money? Don't they have a say in this? They have a HUGE investment in this deal so why do we never hear what their opinion is? (Natchez Demo........please find the Indians ask them. That would make a nice front page story.) They've already been down here (I know once) to check things out and they were devastated. This is not the 1800s all over again. Or does history repeat itself over and over and over???? Oh, that's right...that's what sells tickets.
Posted by Tazgirl39120 (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 1:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Looks like to me they (the city) wants to turn Natchez into a little New Orleans. Another casino is ok but it takes money from people more money than it will employ workers.
Seem to me the ABO does not look at what will happen to Natchez in the near future. Crime is already out of control now you want to put another casino in town and on land ???????????. Bet there wiil be no additions to the police department with the money gained or raises.
Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 2:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Build it and they will come .... Isn't that the Natchez way?
Posted by Natchezbear (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 2:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All will come out in the wash. The Indians are getting their proverbial "Indians in a Row".It is true that one casino probably draws mainly on the locals and a few tourist, but two or three casinos would make Natchez a gamblers destination. Thank God Butch has four laned the rest of the ways into Natchez.Our bridge is part of the key ....opens up 1/3 of La to us as a gambling market.Employment is not the only benefit to a casino.The more tax base the more city and county jobs could be saved or reinstated. Casinos provide their own security.Taz girl Natchez already is a little New Orleans like it or not . It always has been, the difference is we still have small town charm and appeal. Don't let your "rental properties" sit vacant because your afraid the "tenants" are going to tear them up......
Posted by grungebob (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 2:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All the tribe's money is in wampum, which has a very low exchange rate. Obviously, the indigenous haven't learned much about real estate since Manhattan, but still believe all pale faces and buffalo soldiers are as dumb as Custer.
"With anything that convoluted, its hard to maintain". I assume Hudson is referring to the casino fairytale, but its hard to tell since his office no longers bursts into flame when he lies.
Posted by Nativeson (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
“Besides, no one wants to have the last riverboat on the Mississippi River,” he said.
I would like to have the last riverboat on the Mississippi River
Posted by steve_o (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 5:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For a pretty informative article go here
http://ldftv.com/?p=213
Posted by Natchezbear (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 6:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks steve O very imformative...............
Posted by suzee971 (anonymous) on November 11, 2009 at 6:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think that the hotel is just cursed. If you look back over the past 15 years or so, there has been nothing but bad luck for whomever has run it.
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