Grand Casino Gulfport

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Grand Casino Gulfport was the name of a gambling establishment in Gulfport Mississippi. It was owned and operated by Harrah's Entertainment. Prior to its destruction by Hurricane Katrina, the casino had two hotels with a total of 1,000 rooms, and a 90,000 square foot casino.

[edit] History

Prior to 2005, Grand Casino Gulfport was a Caesars Entertainment property. After the ownership change to Harrah's Entertainment, the company announced that this casino would be converted to the Harrah's brand. But before that could take place, the property was largely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. While most of the hotel facility remained intact, the casino barge was washed ashore during the hurricane and partially blocked Beach Boulevard (U.S. Highway 90), the beachfront's main roadway. In an effort to clear the road, the casino was imploded on September 21, 2005.

In December 2005, Harrah's announced that the site and any remaining assets were being sold to Gulfside Casino Partnership, the owners of the adjacent Copa Casino, the Grand's neighboring competitor whose own casino barge was swept into the Grand's parking lot by Katrina. The Copa Casino Gulfport, which had been located in a berth at the Mississippi State Docks, and had no hotel of its own, will use the Grand site for its own post-Katrina expansion plans.