Old oak trees cut to make way for South MS beach hotel. Here’s why it happened
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Biloxi approved tree removal for a new hotel after city arborist evaluation.
- Two unhealthy oaks were cut, while six protected trees will be preserved onsite.
- Tree removal drew backlash due to lack of public notice and weekend timing.
Residents are upset that an old oak tree was cut down to make way for a new hotel at the beach in Biloxi.
The removal of the trees is something that’s been discussed for about a year, since the developer of a Home 2 Suites by Hilton went to the city to get permission to build a 100-room hotel at 612 Beach Blvd., across from the beach.
It’s the site of the former Church of the Redeemer, and the four-story hotel will be on a platform to raise it and the swimming pool above any storm surge.
The Hurricane Camille memorial at the site was relocated to the Coast Seafood Industry Museum.
The city was adamant that most of the protected trees remain, especially the legendary “Ring in the Oak” tree at the front of the property near the highway.
“Books have been written about the Ring in the Oak and it will be protected,” Biloxi Community Development Director Jerry Creel said at the time.
On June 21, a large oak tree at the back of the property was cut down.
Why was this “very large and apparently healthy live oak tree” removed, JP Collins, a digital product designer, asked in an email to the Sun Herald. ”Other hotels and construction projects have been able to work around existing trees, so why not this one?” he asked.
What’s the story?
“There were eight protected trees on this site, and from the beginning we made it very clear to the developer that the ‘Ring in the Oak’ tree was not to be harmed,” Creel said.
The hotel that originally was to be constructed on the east side of the property was moved to the west side to save four protected trees along Bellman. Creel said the trees would have compromised access by the city fire trucks.
“Two live oaks are being removed, but six of the eight trees will be saved,” he said, “and mitigation will require the replanting of four protected trees on the site, or payment of mitigation funds into the tree bank.”
An oak tree at the front of the property was in very poor shape and had to be removed to create an entrance off Beach Boulevard in a location to avoid the “Ring in the Oak” tree and its root system, he said.
“The oak tree in the rear looked beautiful from a distance, but a closer examination revealed that it was hollow and had other issues as well,” Creel said.
The two trees being removed were the ones in the poorest health, he said.
“This was confirmed by the ISA and TRAQ Certified Consulting Arborist that I brought in to evaluate the trees,” he said. Trimming the tree would have left only the trunk, and piles that will be driven for the hotel would have damaged or destroyed the root system, he said.
Protect the trees
Creel said Biloxi looks for ways to save as many protected trees as possible, but the tree ordinance allows owners to develop their private property provided they try to save many trees and provide the required mitigation.
When a proposed project goes to Biloxi’s Development Review Committee, the city arborist works with the developer to make sure the structures are in the best location to save as many trees as is possible, Creel said. A representative from the city’s tree committee attends the meetings and the agenda is posted on the city website on the Friday before the Wednesday morning meeting.
Some residents want more.
Collins asked why there was no public notice posted before the tree was removed and why was it cut on a Saturday when no city official or department was available.
This story was originally published June 23, 2025 at 4:16 PM.
