Miss. hotel to reopen half its rooms after hurricane

A Mississippi hotel damaged by Hurricane Nate will reopen half its rooms Sunday.

Margaritaville Resort Biloxi spokesman Cono Carana tells news outlets that the storm damaged elevators and escalators.

Hotel officials estimate $7.5 million in damage.

Carana says two elevators will be repaired, and the hotel will reopen 170 rooms. Its restaurants, rooftop water park and large entertainment center also will be open.

Margaritaville opened 16 months ago after the remodeling and expansion of the former Casino Magic Biloxi that had been closed since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Neighboring casinos south of the beachfront U.S. 90 on the east end of Biloxi all reopened Sunday after the hurricane made landfall.