Business

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009

Proposed casino getting master plan

A company that created plans for 40 casino projects, Downtown Disney and the Fort Lauderdale River Walk, is designing a master plan for Diamondhead Casino in Hancock County.

EDSA was contracted in September to choose the best site for the casino and other amenities on the 404-acre property in Diamondhead, said Deborah Vitale, president of Diamondhead Casino Corp.

“It will be a casino resort, entertainment center, business complex,” she said.

Diamondhead Casino has been working for about 10 years to find a partner to build and operate a casino on the site. With such a large property, she said Diamondhead Casino can offer amenities other casino resorts can’t provide. It will also be water-themed to make the best use of the site.

“This is a special location so we’ve been very careful not to sell it short,” she said. The property is just off the Diamondhead exit of Interstate 10 and fronts the interstate and the Bay of St. Louis for about two miles.

“We’ve always wanted something that would enhance the value of the community,” she said. EDSA was selected because of the firm’s experience with themed waterfront development.

Vitale said the Diamondhead plan will be done by the end of the year and once officials in Hancock County are satisfied the plans will be presented to the Mississippi Gaming Commission. In October, the Hancock County Planning Commission approved the special use exception through December 2010 and required that a master plan be submitted before any additional extensions are granted.

Diamondhead Casino remains in discussions with investors who are interested in developing the casino resort, Vitale said. A recent letter of intent with Casinos Austria International Holding expired because of the economy, but Vitale said in the latest Diamondhead Casino update the company remains interested in the project.