On August 1, the Golden Nugget Biloxi, which started out as the Isle of Capri Casino in 1992, turned 22 years old. The riverboat was the first casino in Mississippi and the Southeast. It was made up of two 1880s riverboats, Diamond Lady and Emerald Lady, that floated down the Mississippi River from Iowa, reaching Biloxi on July 19, 1992. At 10 a.m. sharp on Aug. 1, 1992, the casino opened with a blast of the steam whistles from the two boats moored at Point Cadet.
Rich Westfall, who rode the riverboats from Iowa and worked at the casino until 2008, said the name Isle of Capri came from the Isle of Caprice, a tiny island 14 miles off the coast from Biloxi. In the 1920s and 1930s it had a casino. Westfall said the Isle’s Caribbean theme “turned out to be a winning formula for us.”
Isle of Capri executives helped create or promote Cruisin’ the Coast, Smokin’ the Sound and major fishing tournaments. The casino also teamed with Casino Magic and Golden Nugget to brand that part of East Biloxi as “Casino Row” and entice customers with “Park once, play all three,” to compete with the opening of the new Beau Rivage Casino.
Big jackpots included $13.7 million won on a quarter Jeopardy progressive slot. Hurricane Katrina destroyed the Isle’s barge; afterwards, planners from around the country held charrettes at the Isle with local leaders to determine the best way to rebuild the Coast.
The Isle was sold to Landry’s in 2012. Since then the new owners invested $100 million to update and expand the property. Many of the original Isle employees still can be found working at the Golden Nugget.
