Page 20 - Jackpot Magazine Tunica ~ December, 2024

Crystal Sky
Crystal Sky casino-based travel center grand opening set for Dec. 19
LOUISVILLE, Mississippi — The Choctaw Resort Development Enterprise (CRDE), owned by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, has announced the Dec. 19 grand opening of its latest casino property, Crystal Sky, in Louisville, Mississippi.
Crystal Sky joins CRDE’s other casinos in Mississippi: Bok Homa Casino in Sandersville and Golden Moon and Silver Star casinos at Pearl River Resort.
The grand opening event will take place at 11 a.m. and celebrates the unveiling of an 18,000-square-foot facility that features a casino with 150 slot machines, a sportsbook lounge, a family friendly restaurant and 3,000 square feet of retail space. It will also include fueling stations for commercial and passenger vehicles.
Crystal Sky is located at 1320 S. Church Ave in Louisville, which is situated about 30 miles southwest of Starkville and 30 miles northeast of Pearl River Resort and Philadelphia, Mississippi.
The name “Crystal Sky” draws inspiration from the nearby tribal community in Winston County. The community, known as Crystal Ridge, shares part of its name with the travel plaza.
When unveiling the name of the new casino/travel plaza, Chief Cyrus Ben talked about what it means to
the area and its people. “This endeavor isn’t just about
bricks and
mortar; it’s
about weaving
connections.
Crystal Sky will not
only serve travelers passing through, but will also uplift the Louisville/Winston County area and honor the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.”
It was during an April 2023 groundbreaking ceremony for the travel plaza that Ben unveiled an innovative contest.
As part of the contest, tribal members
were invited to submit their suggestions for the plaza’s name, reflecting the spirit of the community and the natural beauty of the surroundings.
The response to the request to name the plaza was overwhelming, with 258 entries pouring in. After extensive rounds of voting and consideration, the
winning name emerged – Crystal Sky.
The final decision on the name was made collaboratively by the Tribal Council and
CRDE board members.
Tribal member Dachelle E. of
Louisville had the winning submission, which captured the essence and vision of the property. As a token of appreciation, it was announced that Dachelle would receive a cash prize in recognition of her creativity and contribution to the community.
20 JACKPOT! MAGAZINE • December 2024
THE SOUTH’S LARGEST GUIDE TO GAMING & FUN • www.jackpotmagazine.com