Tribe opens second casino

Monday, Aug. 26, 2002 | 11:02 a.m.

PHILADELPHIA, Miss. -- The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians reached another milestone in its Pearl River Resort development today with the opening of Golden Moon Hotel & Casino.

The $177 million Golden Moon includes 572 hotel rooms, of which 100 are suites; an indoor-outdoor pool; several restaurants; and a meeting area with space for 250 people to dine.

The casino includes 90,000 square feet of gambling space, with more than 17,000 slot machines and 56 table games, said tribe spokeswoman Creda Stewart.

"I think people are going to be wowed and amazed this is in Mississippi," she said. "I've been in most casinos in the country, and there's nothing like it."

The Golden Moon is located across from the tribe's other land-based casino, the Silver Star.

Pearl River Resort includes the two casinos, Dancing Rabbit Golf Club, a variety of musical entertainment venues, a spa, more than 20 restaurants, a water theme park and other attractions.

The Choctaws plan to invest $25 million more in the resort at the 285-acre Lake Pushmataha to build a white sand lagoon and beach club, a wellness center, a 10,000-seat amphitheater, a landscaped labyrinth, a 250-room hotel and a memorial to Choctaw war veterans.

That phase of development is expected to be completed in about two years.