The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is a federally recognized, self governing Indian tribe with approximately 8,900 enrolled members most whom live on or near the Tribe’s reservation in east-central Mississippi. The tribal government is responsible for providing its members with education, health care, job training, housing, police and fire protection, tribal courts, utilities and other community infrastructure. Tribal members reside in seven non-contiguous communities dispersed over 30,000 acres in Mississippi.

Under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988, federally recognized Indian tribes are permitted to conduct gaming operations on certain Indian lands subject to the negotiation of a compact with the State in which the facility will operate.

The Tribe and the State of Mississippi entered into a compact in 1992, which was approved by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. The compact authorized full Class III gaming on the Choctaw reservation. This authorization is not subject to a term of years and will continue unless mutually terminated.

. History of The Pearl River Resort at Choctaw, Mississippi 

On November 16, 2000, the Choctaw Resort Development Enterprise Board announced that the existing Silver Star, the Choctaw Town Center, the Dancing Rabbit Golf Club, and its expansion plans for the Silver Star, for The Golden Moon Hotel & Casino and for a recreational lake will now be called “The Pearl River Resort at Choctaw, Mississippi.”

The resort will ultimately encompass over two square miles and will be designed and marketed as a multi-day visit resort destination where guests will be able to enjoy a variety of gaming, entertainment and recreational activities without having to travel from place to place in their cars.

To date, the investment in The Pearl River Resort includes The Silver Star, Dancing Rabbit Golf Course, the new Town Center and the new parking garage is $200 million. Over the next two years, the Tribe will invest an additional $300 million to expand the Silver Star, construct the new Golden Moon Hotel & Casino and develop a 300 acre recreational lake and related amenities.

The Silver Star opened in 1994 and has expanded its facilities on a number of occasions to meet increased demand. The Silver Star originally opened with 100 hotel rooms and 1,339 gaming positions. With five major expansions between October 1994 and December 1997, the Silver Star has increased its size to:

• 498 hotel rooms, including 89 suites contained in a 12-story high hotel and casino structure of 518,000 square feet. approximately 85,000 square feet of gaming space with approximately 3,100 slot machines, 82 table games and 12 poker tables.
• Approximately 30,000 square feet of meeting and convention space, which also serves as a 2,000 seat live entertainment and sports/boxing venue with four skyboxes.
• The Silver star hosted 18 shows in 2000 and has featured such performers as Willie Nelson, Bill Cosby, Sinbad, Wayne Newton and Randy Travis.
• Approximately 2,960 parking spaces, 1,070 of which are located in a 360,860 square foot parking garage, which opened in November of 2000.
• Six restaurants with a total of 881 seats—with the number one restaurant in the State of Mississippi “Phillip M’s” serving Continental Cuisine.
• Six lounges, three retail stores, a swimming pool, a full service spa, and a complete fitness facility for men and women.

The Silver Star draws approximately 3.3 million visitors per year and has an active Players Club membership. 2,400 full-time and part-time employees are required to operate the Silver Star Hotel & Casino. Boyd Gaming operated the Silver Star Hotel and Casino from its opening in 1994 until February 2000The Tribe negotiated a buyout of Boyd’s operating agreement that concluded at that timeThe cost to the Tribe for this buyout was $72 million.

On October 12, 1999, the Choctaw Resort Development Enterprise was created to operate the Silver Star Hotel and Casino and Dancing Rabbit Golf ClubUpon completion of the Golden Moon, the Enterprise will operate that hotel as well as most other elements of the Resort.

Dancing Rabbit Golf Club is located adjacent to the Silver Star on 700 acres of property just west of the casino on Highway 16. The first course, The Azaleas, had its Grand Opening in April 1997. It features a course length of 7,128 yards from the championship tees. Par is 72. The second 18-hole course, The Oaks, opened in June 1999. Its course length is 7,076 yards from championship tees. Par is 72.

Both courses were designed by renowned golf course designer Tom Fazio and PGA great Jerry Pate. Both courses were designed to showcase the terrain’s natural beauty. Over five miles of meandering streams come into play on over half the holes on the Azaleas course.

The Clubhouse, which opened in 1997, was designed by Dick Diedrich, AIA, and Historical Replications and decorated by J. Westerfield Interiors. The home-styled clubhouse features a Pro Shop, a restaurant, full locker facilities, and eight luxurious guest rooms complete with whirlpool baths, king-size beds and spectacular views. Dancing Rabbit is ranked #37 by Golf Magazine in its “Top 100 Courses You Can Play”. Included in Golf & Travel’s “Top 100 Modern Courses”. Rated #20 in Golf & Travel’s “Top 40 Resorts”. Distinguished as one of eleven “Hidden Gems” throughout the world in Feb. 2001 issue of Golf & Travel magazine.

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Choctaw Town Center

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Component Descriptions

Community Retail Center—A retail center comprised of traditional Community retail tenants such as a grocery store, dollar store, and hardware store among others.

RD & E District—A mixed-use development that will include specialty retail tenants, restaurants, apartments, condominiums, and hotels. Buildings will range from two to four stories with retail and restaurants on the 1st floor and residential units above.

Office Park—A corporate office park that will provide rental space for offices and service businesses such as insurance companies, lawyers and financial consultants. The office park is also planned to include an employee childcare center.

Retail venues will include boutique-style space as well as kiosk vendors.

The intent is to offer a product mix that is completely unique to the area aimed at attracting new visitors to the Resort, while, at the same time, offering another shopping venue for existing customers.

The first unit of this Phase II is targeted for opening in summer, 2002. It will be one of four phases of 10,800 sq. feet total.