Gold Strike Tunica

Not to be confused with Gold Strike Resorts.

Gold Strike Tunica (formerly Circus Circus Tunica) is a casino hotel in Tunica Resorts, Mississippi, 20 minutes south of Memphis, Tennessee. It is owned by Vici Properties and operated by Cherokee Nation Businesses.

Gold Strike Tunica
Location	Tunica Resorts, Mississippi
Address	1010 Casino Center Drive
Opening date	August 29, 1994; 29 years ago (August 29, 1994)
Theme	Luxury
No. of rooms	1,258
Casino type	Riverboat casino
Owner	Vici Properties
Operating license holder	Cherokee Nation Businesses
Previous names	Circus Circus Tunica
Renovated in	1997, 2009, 2010
Website	goldstrike.com

Casino

In 2008, MGM Mirage made a large investment in Gold Strike Casino Resort and a commitment to the Tunica market with a multimillion-dollar renovation and remodeling project. The upgrade, which took two years to complete and is the largest in the casino resort's history, included all of Gold Strike's 1,133 oversized rooms and 125 suites, the conference and convention center, the Atrium Café, the Courtyard Buffet and the high-limit gaming and lobby areas. The resort also includes Chicago Steakhouse restaurant, which has won several awards including the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence; a spa and salon; the 800-seat Millennium Theater; and 50,000 square feet (4,600 m²) of gaming space with 52 table games and more than 1,400 slot machines.

At 31 stories tall, Gold Strike Casino Resort is one of the most recognizable buildings in Tunica and towers above all other structures.^[1] When built, the gold tower was reported to be the tallest building in Mississippi.^[2][3]

History

Circus Circus (1994-97)

The casino was originally opened by Circus Circus Enterprises (later Mandalay Resort Group) as Circus Circus Tunica on August 29, 1994. The building, resembling a circus tent, did not house a hotel.

Gold Strike (1997-present)

Due to a 50% decline in operating income in 1997, Circus Circus began to renovate the property, adding a 1,200-room tower hotel and other features including a theater. The casino was rebranded as the Gold Strike Casino Resort and given a more upscale theme. The total cost for the remodeling was estimated to be $125 million.^[4] The Gold Strike's 31-story hotel tower was the tallest building in the state of Mississippi at the time of its opening, providing stark contrast to an area of the state previously devoted mostly to agriculture.^[2]

MGM Mirage (later MGM Resorts International) acquired Mandalay Resort Group, including the Gold Strike, in 2005. In 2009, the resort underwent another multimillion-dollar renovation during which time the property remained opened.

Ownership of the Gold Strike, along with many other MGM properties, was transferred to MGM Growth Properties in 2016, while MGM Resorts continued to operate it under a lease agreement.^[5] Vici Properties acquired MGM Growth, including the Gold Strike, in 2022.^[6]

In 2023, MGM Resorts sold the operations of the Gold Strike to Cherokee Nation Businesses, the business arm of the Cherokee Nation, for $450 million.^[7][8]

References

1. Joe Bob Briggs, "The Vegas Guy: Gold Strike Casino/Tunica", United Press International, July 23, 2002.
2. David L. Langford, "Casinos put Mississippi Delta county on the map", Associated Press in The Cincinnati Enquirer, April 11, 1999.
3. Stephanie N. Mehta, "Legalized gambling lifts a depressed town", Fortune, March 15, 2007.
4. . 2010-02-04. Archived from the original on June 10, 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
5. "MGM Growth Properties LLC announces closing of initial public offering and full exercise of underwriters' option to purchase additional shares" (Press release). MGM Growth Properties. April 25, 2016. Retrieved 2022-05-08 – via PR Newswire.
6. Eli Segall (May 2, 2022). "Casino landlord Vici closes $17B buyout of MGM Resorts spinoff". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
7. Kyle Massey (June 10, 2022). "Cherokee operator buys Gold Strike Tunica, prepares Arkansas project". Arkansas Business. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
8. "Cherokee Nation Businesses completes acquisition of Gold Strike Casino Resort" (Press release). Cherokee Nation Businesses. February 16, 2023. Retrieved 2023-02-16 – via BusinessWire.

External links

• Gold Strike Casino Resort

34°50′47″N 90°19′57″W / 34.84635°N 90.33255°W / 34.84635; -90.33255