by Walter Thomason 

Much like Las Vegas and Atlantic City, Tunica Mississippi went through a rags to riches transformation when casino gambling moved in and became a major source of business and commerce. 

Where cotton fields and wood shacks once abided, nine casinos now flourish and one of the most popular of these is Hollywood Casino Tunica.

Located 35 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee in the Casino Strip area, this facility consists of a 494-room luxury hotel, a casino with 54,000 square feet of gaming space, an RV park, an adjacent golf course, and many other amenities which make it a complete destination resort.

 
Part of the expansive selection of slots at Hollywood Casino Tunica

The hotel features a five-story tower that overlooks the casino floor and an eight-story tower next to the pool.  It offers 24-hour room service to all of its standard rooms and 57 luxury suites, plus guests enjoy an indoor swimming pool and hot tub, as well as an outdoor sundeck and gift shop.

 
An aerial view of Hollywood Casino Tunica

Adjacent to the hotel is the RV Park, which offers 123 full hookup spaces with cable TV and telephone, shower and laundry facilities, and a picnic area with a golf course view.

Also adjacent to the property is River Bend Links, an 18-hole golf course designed by Clyde Johnson where guests are invited to challenge the lush Bermuda-grass fairways and Scottish-style links while enjoying breathtaking views of the Mississippi Delta.

In keeping with its name, the facility boasts one of the largest collections of Hollywood movie memorabilia in the South. Authentic costumes and props are displayed throughout the property: the DeLorean car from Back to the Future, Elvis Presley’s race car from Spinout, the Harrier jet from True Lies, and last - but definitely not least - a six-ton scale model of the Titanic.

Just a small collection of the movie memorabilia on display at Hollywood Casino Tunica

Hollywood Casino Tunica offers numerous fine dining experiences. The Fairbanks Steakhouse was voted best in Tunica by Casino Player magazine readers, and was honored with prestigious DiRona Awards and International Hospitality Awards. Their outstanding wine list has made it an “Award of Excellence” winner by Wine Spectator magazine for six years in a row!

The Epic Buffet, which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, is designed to look like a movie studio backlot. The 268-seat eatery offers international, continental, and local fare on its varied menus.

Another good dining choice, the Hollywood Diner, is open 24 hours a day and features 1950's flashback decor, plus a wide range of food selections.

Two of the bars also offer unique features. The Safari Bar resembles a jungle movie set complete with lions and elephants, and a massive tree tangled up with a World War II fighter plane. The Box Office Bar has a nautical theme, where Bruce the Shark makes his home above the bar. Both bars are open 24/7.

 
Fairbank Steakhouse offers an award-winning fine dining experience

Conventioneers will also find what they need at this hotel, highlighted by a 14,000-square-foot ballroom with full catering service for 1,200 attendees.

Then there’s the casino, and what a casino it is! With over 54,000 square feet of gaming space, it was recently voted Best Overall Tunica Casino, Best Reel Slots, Best Video Poker, and Best Blackjack by Casino Player and Strictly Slots magazine readers. 

Thirty gaming tables feature blackjack, 20X odds craps, Roulette, Caribbean Stud Poker, Three Card Poker, and others.  The Poker Room offers Texas Hold’em, Seven Card Stud, and Omaha, and has both high stakes and tournament play. 

Fine accommodations, good food, excellent service, Southern hospitality, and a great casino – Hollywood Casino Tunica has it all.