By Tricia McAlvain
The City of Diamondhead became a reality on February 6, 2012. After following along the focused path of improvement, advancement, and growth Diamondhead is now a pristine suburban coastal city in southeastern Hancock County, Mississippi located just over 50 miles northeast of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Diamondhead is more than just an exit on the interstate. This more than 12 square mile city is beautifully built, maintained, and full of more than 80 miles of roads, 2 kayak trails, 3 pools, multiple landscaped parks, a bird sanctuary, and outstanding business owners and families. One can speak like Gulf Coast locals to know the following: Take exit 16 going north to the "front side" of Diamondhead. This is where you find the local doctor offices, boutiques, a hotel, the fire station, a bowling alley, and the grand entrance to the beautiful brick residential community cut out onto circling streets named after Hawaiian attributes. Wind through the circles to find magnificent golf courses, tennis courts, a private airport with a taxi runway and hangers backing up to residences along with glorious local churches.
If golf or tennis is your sport the Property Owners Association of Diamondhead offers their golf cart community amenities open to the public during specific times. Encounter two golf courses with a variety of shots, whether it is the well-placed bunkers and water that comes into play on the Pine Course, or the wooded, gently rolling terrain with no parallel fairways and extra-long sand bunkers on the Cardinal Course at Diamondhead Country Club. This club offers a classy, yet casual coastal atmosphere where you can kick back after playing a round of golf to enjoy live entertainment on Thursday and Friday evenings.
Diamondhead Tennis World brings outstanding tennis on ten lighted, state of the art hydra clay tennis courts and is open to the public Go south off Interstate 10 taking exit 16 to the "southside" of Diamondhead to find the marina, new shops, and restaurants with breathtaking coastal views. Diamondhead Marina offers the Ship Store open Wed-Mon, 7am-6pm, with live bait sales, water and electricity at each boat slip, monthly, overnight or annual slip rentals holding crafts up to 45', a pump out station, boat launch, non-ethanol gas & diesel fuel service available, along with half and full day kayak rentals. For a more rural adventure, take the Kiln Delisle Rd exit; head north to find the "back side" of Diamondhead. There you will run into more local small businesses with services and southern food good enough to write home about.
Diamondhead is known for being safe, maintaining a beautification program throughout the entire city and the many amenities to enjoy by all ages. Plans to improve and build are underway for the future of this city. Pick Diamondhead for a pit stop on your way through our magnificent State of Mississippi.
Visit http://www.diamondhead.ms.gov for more details.
