Tunica Tip Sheet ~ Feature Story Ideas

Looking for story ideas? Explore the many new attractions visitors are discovering in Tunica, one of America's newest and fastest growing gaming resort destinations. The following are a few ideas to get you started.

"The Tunica Miracle," an Economic Development Success Story - Business writers will be intrigued by the incredible success story that Tunica has become. It's the story of an impoverished Delta farming community that rose from one of the poorest counties in the nation to providing more than 5% of the state of Mississippi's current budget.

Discover the Great Outdoors - Outdoor recreation is abundant in Tunica. By this fall, the new Tunica National Golf & Tennis Club will open right in the heart of casino country. This tournament-level, 18-hole championship course was designed by Mark McCumber and Associates, one of the world's leading golf course architects. Tennis facilities will include four indoor clay courts and six outdoor courts. In addition, two more championship courses - Cottonwoods and RiverBend Links - offer challenging courses to golf fans. Then there's "golf with a shotgun," or sporting clays, at The Willows, one of the finest clay shooting clubs in the nation. To complete the outdoor experience, guided hunting or fishing trips are available, offered by one of several experts who can provide the ultimate adventure.

For the History Buff - Travelers interested in the history of the Mississippi Delta region have a full slate of historical museums and sites to visit in Tunica. Start with the new Tunica Museum, with artifacts from the days of Native Americans and Spanish explorers, to the rich agricultural tradition and Delta Blues heritage. Then visit the new Veterans Memorial on the historic town square in downtown Tunica. Don't miss the Blues & Legends Hall of Fame at the Horseshoe Casino, an extensive tribute to the names and sounds that gave the Blues its international fame. In addition, opening in September will be the new Tunica RiverPark that includes a museum and interpretive center, highlighting the history of the Mississippi River and the Delta. Continue to Downtown Tunica to see the beautifully restored courthouse and newly dedicated Veterans Memorial. This historic part of town is the scene of many area festivals and events.

Experience the Majesty of the Mississippi River - By September 2003, an exciting new attraction, the Tunica RiverPark, will open. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience the majesty of the Mississippi River like nowhere else in the country. It's a one-of-a-kind interactive way to get up close to the Mighty Mississippi and understand the role the river has played in our national heritage. Tunica RiverPark features an extensive interpretive center with outdoor observation platform, harbor, marina, aquarium, walking trails and a 400-passenger sternwheeler, the "Tunica Queen," which offers excursions along the river.

Drive The Blues Highway - Tunica is right on U.S. Highway 61, popularly called "The Blues Highway," where a uniquely American music form was born right out of the fertile soil of the Delta's cotton fields. From Memphis' Beale Street blues tradition to the historic city of Vicksburg, the Delta Blues grew out of tiny juke joints along Highway 61 where Robert Johnson and dozens of others performed. Today, museums in Tunica as well as in Clarksdale, Miss., and Memphis preserve that history in unforgettable, interactive exhibits.