Walk down memory lane and see the most iconic Coast casino signs over the last 30 years
The Hard Rock guitar is the most iconic sign of any Mississippi Coast casino and although Hurricane Katrina played it hard, the sight of that giant red instrument still standing amid the gray rubble in 2005 displayed the strength of South Mississippi.
At 112 feet, it set a new world’s record for the largest guitar. It cost $1.9 million and weighed 95,000 pounds as it was set on a foundation 90 feet deep. More than a mile of neon was used to light the sign and 175 gallons of paint was applied.
“They looked like Mardi Gras floats as they came down U.S. 90 last Thursday,” the Sun Herald reported on July 14, 2005, as two of the eight pieces of the Hard Rock Casino guitar sign arrived to change the Biloxi skyline.
“Kojis & Sons Signs of Bunkie, Louisiana., designed and installed the sign, a replica of a Peavey Electronics’ HP Signature Series guitar,” the Sun Herald reported. The design and construction took 23,146 hours and it was assembled over five days as the crew worked around Tropical Storm Cindy and finished before Hurricane Dennis arrived.
The designer said he wasn’t worried about storms because the sign was built to withstand 180-mile-per-hour winds.
Six weeks later Katrina hit. The sign was damaged but it stood. It was restored, along with much of the resort that never got its grand opening before it was destroyed by Katrina’s force.
The resort was rebuilt and officially opened on “lucky” 7-7-07 as dignitaries and celebrities smashed guitars under the huge sign in a Hard Rock tradition.
The guitar sign since has since been refurbished and converted with 6,000 linear feet of Dynamic RGB programmable LED lights.
The Hard Rock guitar is just one of the casino signs ingrained in South Mississippi history. For 30 years, these symbols of good luck lit up the night sky or enticed residents and tourists alike.
Hope and Love support Coast
Fifteen years after Hurricane Katrina, “Hope” and “Love” written in lights across Biloxi casinos during the coronavirus shutdown in 2020 gave those stuck at home for two months encouragement that this, too, would pass.
“A new addition to the night sky,” Mary Cracchiolo Spain, regional director of public relation for MGM Resorts International, wrote as she sent a photo of the word HOPE and a heart stretched out in lights across the entire front of the Beau Rivage.
Scarlet Pearl and Harrah’s Casino towers also spelled out messages of support, and several of the casinos went blue with the rest of the world in support of healthcare workers.
Signs with no words
The biggest sign of all came in the summer of 1992, when a pair of 1880s riverboats — Diamond Lady and Emerald Lady — completed a week-long trek down the Mississippi River from Iowa. As they reached Biloxi on July 19, 1992, they were met with an impromptu flotilla of fishing, charter and pleasure boats as they reached Biloxi.
Two weeks later, the casino opened with a blast of steam whistles from the two boats.
“It gave you chills if you were there,” said Rich Westfall, who rode the riverboats from Iowa and worked at the casino until 2008.
Other symbols over the years at Coast casinos have been a $4 million, glow-in-the-dark Asian Dragon of Good Fortune at Lady Luck Casino in Biloxi that breathed fire and roared, a coiled snake at Palace Casino Biloxi and the colorful parrot that hung from the side of Isle of Capri for many years.
When the Isle was transformed into the Golden Nugget Casino Biloxi, the Hand of Faith, — the largest known golden nugget in the world — was moved from Las Vegas to be on display in Biloxi. The nugget is a shiny 61-pound gem.
Casinos old, new and never happened
The past 30 years in the Coast casino history have been a story of openings and closings, celebrations and disasters, beauty and struggle.
Gone or with new names are Lady Luck, the President, the Casino Magic casinos, the Grand casinos, Imperial Palace and even the Isle of Capri.
Many of the changes came after Katrina reshuffled the casinos along with the signs and symbols.
The mermaid and the pirate ship at Treasure Bay are “sunk,” replaced with fountains and fire.
Casino Magic Biloxi is now Margaritaville Resort Biloxi. The Grand in Gulfport is Island View Casino Resort and Casino Magic in Bay St. Louis has evolved to become Hollywood Gulf Coast.
Dozens of casinos proposed over the years never went beyond the pretty picture stage.
Sports betting has brought younger customers and new excitement to the Coast casinos.
The landscape has changed and how the game is played, but some of the signs and symbols remain constant.
Flowers fill the atrium at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino with color. Lava Links volcano blasts fire for those playing golf at Scarlet Pearl Casino and South Mississippi casinos, their staff and customers will continue to celebrate wins and stay strong when stormy weather comes.
