Supervisors Grant Resort Status to Roundabout Oxford in Unconventional Approval
Oxford, Lafayette County – A Groundbreaking Decision
The Lafayette County Board of Supervisors has taken a break from tradition by unanimously endorsing a state-required resort status for Roundabout Oxford RV and Water Resort. The decision represents a major shift in the local governing board’s attitude towards granting resort status within county lines.
Resort Status: A Prerequisite for Serving Alcohol
In Mississippi, state law stipulates that only restaurants or establishments within city limits are permitted to sell alcohol for consumption. However, county-based businesses that primarily serve tourists are eligible to apply for a “resort status” from the Department of Revenue, entitling them to serve alcohol on premises. The initial step in this application process involves securing approval from the local governing board.
About Roundabout Oxford
Roundabout Oxford is an RV and Water Resort under construction on nearly 85 acres of land located off Highway 6 West and County Road 105. The resort project, spearheaded by Developer Jay Hughes, aims to facilitate onsite alcohol consumption while prohibiting the retail sales of alcohol under its proposed arrangement. The unique proposition by the developer is likely to prevent guests, either staying in their own RVs or rented cabins, from leaving the resort property in the manner attendees might after a traditional event, such as a wedding.
Better Days Ahead for Patrons
As per the approved proposal, future patrons of Roundabout Oxford can look forward to enjoying a frozen daiquiri or their preferred beverages while floating around the aptly-named ‘Swayze River.’ The Supervisor’s unprecedented decision to grant the resort status request breaks the local board’s past tradition of rejecting such requests, citing potential additional burdens on the Sheriff’s Department deputies.
Mississippi Department of Revenue Holds Final Say
Despite local board’s consent, the final approval of resort status hinges on the decision by The Mississippi Department of Revenue. As per current regulations, the Department of Revenue has the power to contest or uphold approvals or rejections of resort status from the local board.
A Curious Case of Resort Status Approvals
While the Supervisor’s endorsement causes a ripple in the board’s earlier unwritten policy, it isn’t altogether unpreceded. Back in 2018, the board approved a request by the University of Mississippi to designate certain campus areas as ‘resort’ areas. Beyond this singular case, every other similar request that has been presented to the board has invariably been denied.
The future of Lafayette County’s tourism-based establishments and their ability to serve alcohol now hangs on the Department of Revenue’s forthcoming decision. The granting of resort status to Roundabout Oxford can very well turn a new page in the county’s approach towards approving such requests.
