I just spoke with my mother about how things are going in Biloxi. She went out on a schooner this weekend along the Biloxi coastline and said that the devastation is still hard to believe. The only large landmark that looks normal is the Biloxi Lighthouse. The big hotels are still standing, but many windows are still missing and the bottom floors are still mostly wiped out.
Most, if not all, of the casinos were built along with a hotel. Some of the hotels are in good enough shape to have already opened or be opening soon. Many of these hotels are initially reopening a small casino inside the hotel. Later, they will build new casinos on land.
The Imperial Palace is probably in the best shape. The hotel is currently housing a lot of the FEMA personnel. They plan to open a small casino inside the hotel on December 20th. That’s December 20th, 2005. I was amazed to hear that they could be ready that quick. The Isle of Capri is hoping to reopen on December 31st.
Treasure Bay Casino probably won’t be operating for at least 6 months and The Grand in Biloxi at least a year. The Grand might not rebuild in Gulfport, and instead focus on their Biloxi operation. The Beau Rivage may not reopen for 18 months. Casino Magic is the only casino I know of that is seriously considering not coming back at all, though there are a couple more casinos that I haven’t heard anything about.