Discover Tunica: Blues, the Delta and culture

Tunica brings together blues history, insights into the county’s past, Delta landscapes and sporting activities. If you’re planning a hotel stay, you can compare your priorities: Would you like to explore music and regional history, spend time outdoors, or plan for golf and events? The attractions and activities offer different ways to do so.

Explore the Delta on foot and from the river

At Tunica RiverPark, the Mississippi River Museum and the EcoTrail offer different perspectives on the Delta. The museum has four freshwater aquariums with live turtles, gar and fish. Visitors can encounter aquatic life in an exhibit, while the EcoTrail focuses on wetlands and Delta forest.

The EcoTrail includes 3.1 miles of unspoiled Delta forest. Its wetlands are home to deer, foxes, squirrels, beavers, turtles, snakes and birds. Walkers, runners and cyclists can use the trail, as can leashed pets. A river cruise aboard the Tunica Queen offers a different perspective, with views of the Delta from the river.

Old Highway 61 is also relevant to cyclists: the Great River Road Bike Trail reaches the Tunica County line along this road. The Highway-61-Blues-Trail marker in Tunica identifies U.S. Highway 61 as the “Blues Highway.” It also points to the original route, which ran immediately west of the marker and is now called Old Highway 61. These two references make the road relevant both as a cycling route and in connection with blues history, without implying that they describe the same route.

Blues, history and architecture

The Gateway to the Blues Museum and Visitor Center uses interactive exhibits and artworks to explain how the blues originated and the influence Tunica and the Delta had on the genre. It is located on Highway 61 North; staff there answer questions about Tunica, gaming and blues. If you plan to rely on this assistance, check the latest visitor information before your visit.

The Tunica Historic District offers another perspective on architectural history. Its architecture includes residential, commercial, public and religious buildings dating from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century. The Tunica County Museum focuses on the county’s history and shares it through exhibits, educational programs, research and collections. The two places offer different emphases: the District showcases a range of building types and eras, while the museum explores the region’s history through several forms of engagement.

Mound Builders Interactive adds another historical perspective, guiding visitors through a life-size model of an ancient Native American burial mound. The “Hardface Clanton” Blues Trail marker commemorates African American entrepreneur Harold “Hardface” Clanton (1916–1982). He ran a thriving business there that involved gambling, illegal liquor sales and blues music. The marker connects music history with a specific person and his business activities at the time.

Golf and tennis

Golf enthusiasts can compare two courses by their distinct features. Tunica National’s golf course was designed by Mark McCumber, and its tee boxes have six markers. River Bend Links is a par-72 course measuring 6,900 yards, with a Scottish links design. Golf tournaments are also held at River Bend Links. When comparing them, the focus is on design and tee markers at Tunica National, and on par, length and course layout at River Bend Links.

The Tunica National Tennis Center has four climate-controlled indoor courts. If you want to make a sport the focus of your plans, you’ll find specific options here: golf courses with their own described features, and a tennis center with several indoor courts.

Events in Tunica

The Tunica Rivergate Festival is an annual weekend event featuring art, music and competitions. The 2026 edition includes a BBQ competition; the food program may vary from year to year. If you’d like to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates for your year of travel in advance.

The Tunica Arena & Expo has 48,000 square feet of climate-controlled arena and exhibition space. Events held there include horse shows and rodeos. The festival and arena offer different event highlights: a weekend of art, music and competitions on the one hand, and horse shows and rodeos on the other.

Discover more destinations: Banks, Dundee, Tunica Resorts, Adams County, Quitman County, Jones, Clay, Lee.

Go to the main travel overview: Mississippi.