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For six years, the Isle of Capri Casino and Resort has provided recreational opportunities and economic prosperity to Coahoma County.
The casino, 777 Isle of Capri Parkway, Lula, is the largest employer in Coahoma County and third largest property in the company.
The Isle, which averages 20,000 customers a week, offers more than 1,400 slot machines, 27 table games, 480 hotel rooms and an indoor outdoor pool.
Jose Oakley, vice president and general manager, said the casino is currently in the middle of a remodeling project, which will cost more than $5 million.
The largest part of the effort is the renovation of Calypso's Buffet, a renovation costing $3.4 million.
After the buffet is completed, the Coral Reef side of the casino will be renovated to give it a more soothing, tropical feel, Oakley said.
Coinciding with that will be a remodel of the rest rooms and the installation of a day spa, he said.
Dining and Entertainment
Reggie Burt, senior marketing director, said the new Calypso's Buffet will be totally different than any other Isle property.
"Sixty five percent of the food will be cooked in front of you," he said. "There will be a lot of contact. It will be a very fun environment."
The buffet, which will open Labor Day weekend, will offer a variety of foods and unique desserts, Oakley said.
"We are going to offer an exhibit kitchen where chefs will cook in line for you," Oakley said. "We will feature seafood (salmon, frog legs, shrimp, etc.) and handmade pizza."
New desserts include Bananas Foster, Cherries Jubilee and an ice cream slab, he said. Other features will include a rotisserie grill, fry bar and large salad bar.
The casino also offers Farradays' Restaurant for fine dining and Tradewinds Marketplace for stop and go traffic.
Oakley said the casino will also be taking a new look at entertainment, offering weekly concerts and sporting events.
"We want to offer boxing on Wednesday nights, country western on Thursday nights, rhythm and blues on Fridays and vary Saturdays," he said.
Previously, the casino had large events, but on a sporadic basis, Oakley said.
The first big attraction to come to the Isle will be comedian Vicki Lawrence ("Mama's Family") Sept. 9.
"We are really geared towards the local audiences and corridors - Oxford, Cleveland and Clarksdale in Mississippi and Little Rock, Stuttgart, Marianna and Helena, Arkansas," Oakley said.
Oakley said recreation is also high on his agenda of improvements to the casino.
"We would love to do a joint package with the county for a golf course," he said. "It's something that has been talked about."
Oakley said plans are currently underway to build a 30-spot RV park and day spa.
Burt said new additions are part of an overall effort by the casino to capitalize on tourism.
"We want to take advantage of the word resort," he said. "A day spa would give you an opportunity to get your hair, nails or toes done and massages. We are also looking into an RV park and gas station."
Jerry Morgan, an executive host for the casino, will once again offer hunting and fishing packages in the near future, Burt said.
Employment and Economy
According to many, the casino has also been a great community partner, providing both employment and tax revenue.
According to the July 2006 issue of the Delta Business Journal, the casino employs approximately 900 people, many from Coahoma County.
Coahoma County Administrator Hugh Jack Stubs said the casino has been a substantial benefit to the county budget.
"They are the largest taxpayers in the county," he said. "Gaming fees in this past year's budget were $3.6 million. We're not meeting that, but it will be over $3 million."
Stubbs said the casino has also provided great economic impact by way of employment.
"The impact of the jobs they created has been significant," he said.
Charles White, coordinator for the Coahoma Community College Workforce Development Center, said the center has helped trained many of those employees.
"We do a lot of pre-employment training, which lasts between 5-10 days," he said. "The Isle of Capri makes an effort to hire people from our training program."
White said the center has worked with the Clarksdale WIN Job Center in placing many applicants.
"The casino interviewed 80 people on Thursday and will make 32 perspective hires," he said.
Burt said the casino goes by the motto "Be Best for Our Community," offering nearly $250,000 in community development during Fiscal Year 2006.
Ron Hudson, executive director of the Clarksdale Coahoma County Chamber of Commerce, said the casino is a major sponsor of events, such as the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival, Delta Jubilee and Fridays at the Stage.
"They are a good corporate sponsor and they contribute significantly to the county through the tourism tax," he said. "Their payroll is significant. They bring a good number of tourists into Coahoma County."
Stubbs said the casino pays more ad valorem taxes on real and personal property than nearly any other entity in the county.
Those funds go to a number of places, including area schools, road and bridge projects and general fund projects.
Each area school district (Coahoma County School District, Clarksdale Municipal School District, Coahoma Agricultural High School District and Coahoma Community College) receive about $32,250 off the top.
Pauline Rhodes, Coahoma County Schools superintendent, said any money received from the casino is appreciated.
"It all goes to help fund our schools," she said. "MAEP (Mississippi Adequate Education Plan) has not been fully funded for the last several years.
"We've had to go into our reserve funds to just supply the district with basic needs," Rhodes said. "Any money we get from the casino is certainly a help."
Whether providing recreation or finances, the Isle of Capri Casino and Resort in Lula has made a home in Coahoma County.
For more information, contact the Isle at 662-363-2250 or visit:www.isleofcapricasino.com.
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