Biloxi

Biloxi is a city in Harrison County, on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. It's well known for its beaches and casinos, though one casino and the beach are still in repair. It is also home to Keesler Air Force Base, most of which is not open to the public.

Travel to Biloxi - Visa Requirements

Flights and airtickets to Biloxi

The closest major airport is Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport [1]. Further access must be by car. Keesler AFB does not provide transportation to the public, and is not a space-availble gateway.

By car

Access to Biloxi is primarily by Interstate 10. It is between New Orleans and Mobile.

Buses to Biloxi

Greyhound [2] provides full service to Biloxi.

Tours and Getting around Biloxi

By car

Like most American cities, personal vehicle provides the best travel options. Main roads are Interstate 10 across the north, US-90 along the beach, and I-110 connecting them and crossing the sound. Taxis and local bus service are available, but still somewhat unreliable.

History

An area across Biloxi Bay from the city, called Old Biloxi, was first visited by French explorer Pierre LeMoyne d'Iberville in 1699. The explorer, who was looking for the mouth of the Mississippi River, was instructed by the King of France to claim the coastal region. D'Iberville sailed into Biloxi Bay with a small group of men and established Fort Maurepas and a similar colony on the east shore, now the site of Ocean Springs. The word Biloxi means "First People" and was the name of a local Native American tribe met by d'Iberville and his men when they explored the land. Since its discovery, eight flags have flown over the city including the French, English, Spanish, West Florida Republic, Mississippi Magnolia, Confederate State, Mississippi State, and that of the United States.

In 1719 Fort Louis was founded on the site of the present-day city, which served as the capital of French colonial Louisiana from 1720 to 1722. In 1783 Biloxi was taken over by the Spanish, who merely collected tariffs, while the area retained its strong French influence. The Spanish maintained their rule until 1810, when a rebellion occurred and the area was seized by American insurgents. At that time, Biloxi became part of the Republic of West Florida. Although petitions for statehood were denied, the Biloxi region became part of the Territory of Orleans (which had been part of the Louisiana Purchase). Two years later, in 1812, Biloxi became part of the Mississippi Territory. In 1814 a British attempt to capture New Orleans failed, but the British remained on nearby Ship Island until 1815. Finally, on December 10, 1817, Mississippi became the twentieth state of the United States. Biloxi Established as a Resort During the 1820s Biloxi became a popular summer resort for New Orleanians wishing to escape their city's heat and yellow fever epidemics. Biloxi was incorporated officially in 1838. The city grew as families and their servants flocked to the area, which by 1847 had become the most important of the Gulf Coast's resort towns. By the middle of the nineteenth century even more people came for the ostensible healing powers of the waters, and for the balls, outings, and hunting events that enlivened the social scene.

At the time of the Civil War, Union troops took over nearby Ship Island and carried out a blockade of the gulf. Citizens protected the city from invasion by the Yankees through the threatening appearance of fake cannons, which were really only logs planted in the sand. Mullet fish, called "Biloxi bacon," saved the local populace from starvation in the war years. The first fish cannery opened in 1881, and the city's seafood industry quickly developed. By 1900 Biloxi was termed the "seafood capital of the world." Polish, Austrian, and Acadian French soon came to the city to work in the industry, adding their own cultural influences. Tourism flourished and more hotels were built to accommodate the visitors, many of them from the Midwest, who came to escape the harsh northern winters.

During the early twentieth century, the city grew and new developments included electricity, a street railway system, and telephone service. During the 1920s a paved highway was built along the beach, and more hotels were constructed as tourism increased. In 1928 the world's longest seawall, which spanned 25 miles of Biloxi's coastline, was dedicated. The 1930s saw the decline of the area's seafood industry, but a new boom took place during World War II when Biloxi was chosen to be the site of a new air force base.[3]

Biloxi tourist attractions and sightseeing

Few of the attractions are still closed due to severe damage in the 2005 hurricane season.

• Beauvoir, Jefferson Davis Home is a museum and home of the president of the Confederate States of America.

Biloxi city tours

Many attractions are still closed due to severe damage in the 2005 hurricane season. Except for limited stretches, most beaches in the area are closed. Some small stretches near the intersection of I-110 and US-90 are open, but most access to water is limited or prohibited due to storm debris in the water.

A list of casinos below are open full facility.

• Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, 875 Beach Blvd, (888) 567-6667/(228) 386-7111, fax (228) 386-7414, [4]. This is a completely redesigned 85,000 square foot casino with 93 table games; 2,100 slot machines; and a 16-table, two-tiered poker room.
• Boomtown Biloxi, [5].
• Grand Casino Biloxi, [6].
• IP Hotel and Casino, [7].
• Isle of Capri Casino Resort, 151 Beach Blvd, (800) 843-4753/(228) 436-4753, fax (228) 436-7804, [8]. Was the South's first casino. It has two floors of casinos, a live poker room, over 30 tables and slot machines.
• Palace Casino and Resort, [9].
• Treasure Bay Casino and Resort, [10]. Open, but still in construction.
• Hard Rock Casino Biloxi, [11].

Biloxi souvenirs and shopping

• Edgewater Mall [12] contains nearly 100 stores and a food court.

• Edgewater Village is across from the mall and contains a few stores that are open. Most stores are closed and are still in repair.

Biloxi Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

There are a number of restaurants in downtown Biloxi such as cafes, seafood, and fine dining.

Biloxi nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs

• Village Sports Pub - 2650 Beach Blvd, Edgewater Sq, 228-388-7007. It is the largest sports pub in the Deep South. They have a large game room with pool, darts and foosball. They also have the largest selection of beers and over 90 televisions that show every sports game on at the time.

Biloxi cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels and lodging

Many locations are closed or may not be able to provide reliable service. The traveler should verify availability ahead of time.

• Ramada Limited-Biloxi Beach, 1768 Beach Blvd, +1 228-432-1997, [13].
• Ramada Limited Ocean Springs, 8015 Tucker Road, +1 228-872-2323, [14].
• Isle of Capri Casino and Resort, 151 Beach Blvd, +1800-843-4753, Isle Casino Hotel Biloxi.
• Imperial Palace Resort (open), 850 Bayview Ave, Tel: 228-436-3000
• Best Western Oak Manor (brand new, built after Katrina), 886 Beach Blvd, Tel: 228-435-4331
• Howard Johnson Express 10226 Rodriguez St, Tel: 228-396-2110
• Air Force Inns - Keesler
• Econo Lodge - rebuilt after Katrina
• Beau Rivage Casino and Resort - Beach Blvd.
• Wingate by Wyndham Biloxi, 12009 Indian River Road, ☎ (228) 396-0036, [15].  

Get out

• Destin is a couple of hours east on I-10
• Pensacola is about an hour east on I-10
• New Orleans is about two hours west on I-10
• Mobile is under an hour east along I-10
• Abita Springs, LA, home to the Abita Springs Brewery, just under two hours to the west, along I-10.
• McHenry, is about 30 mins. north in the heart of De Soto National Forest on U.S. Highway 49.

This page was last edited by Wikitravel user Huttite. Based on work by wats1262@bellsouth.net, David, Jordan Mills, Ryan Holliday and Todd VerBeek, Wikitravel user(s) Texugo, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others. - Content on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 license