Wastin' Away Again. . .

From The Clarion Ledger:

BILOXI — Construction is under way on the $700 million Margaritaville Casino & Resort on the Biloxi beach.

Casino giant Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. announced in May its plans to open the casino and resort with songwriter Jimmy Buffett. Construction began Monday.

Buffett, the chief “parrothead” known for his lazy-day beach songs such as “Margaritaville” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” said he grew up on the Gulf Coast and as a native of Pascagoula, Miss., was a survivor of storms himself.

“It demonstrates our commitment to the market and the Gulf Coast and will create another reason for tourists to visit Biloxi,” said Karen Sock, senior vice president and general manager of Harrah’s Grand Biloxi Casino.

The resort is scheduled to open in 2010.

Instead of tall buildings, the resort will spread out along the beachfront from the Casino Magic property to the Grand Biloxi. Two pedestrian overpasses will cross U.S. 90 and connect Margaritaville to Grand Biloxi.

Casino Magic will be renovated with 378 guest rooms and a new spa and salon.

Grand Biloxi has an additional 494 rooms and Margaritaville will include a 420-room hotel with an outdoor shopping village, casino, meeting and convention space, ballroom and restaurants.

There has to be a joke in there somehwere.