Roller coasters near the beach? Big Play wants to add 2 to their entertainment venue
A bumper car ride already is under construction and now two roller coasters are part the latest expansion plans at Big Play Entertainment Center.
RW Development, the company that owns the entertainment center at the corner of U.S. 90 and Veterans Avenue, was represented by Terry Moran at Biloxi Development Review Committee Wednesday.
Moran said the larger roller coaster is a $1 million ride and is designed vertically to save space.
“It’s not huge but it’s expensive,” he said. “It will be a nice attraction.”
The large slide and Tilt-a-Whirl rides already in place on the concrete slab will be moved south and east to make way for the new roller coaster, he said.
A smaller roller coaster will be placed nearby in an area with no trees, he said. Moran said a new pad would be built for the smaller ride, although that work already was done before Wednesday’s meeting.
Members of DRC told Moran they needed more detailed plans that show how tall the roller coaster will be, how it will be fenced in and where an access road will be located so an aerial truck can get to the site if the ride stops with people on it.
Moran said the owners also plan to expand the building that houses the arcade and laser tag at Big Play.
A gentleman’s club to the north of the building was demolished last year after the owner of that business died. RW Development bought the property and now has room to enlarge the building.
The play park spans both sides of Veterans Avenue and includes bowling, mini golf, go-karts and several other attractions.
Moran said more parking will be added in the future near the expanded arcade and at the corner of U.S. 90 and Veterans.
But the owners of RW Development continue to focus on building a casino on the site, he said.
“This thing is a lot more intricate than a little theme park,” Moran said.
This story was originally published February 14, 2022 at 5:50 AM.
