Gulf Hills Hotel & Conference Center

Gulf Hills Hotel + Resort is Ocean Springs's only waterfront hotel, established in 1927 by the Branigar Brothers as a destination resort along Fort Bayou. At its peak, the 700-acre property featured 66 guest rooms, an 18-hole golf course, waterfront villas, and a marina, and later became Mississippi's first working dude ranch. The hotel's seclusion drew notable guests, including Elvis Presley, who returned regularly to the privacy of the bayou-side property. Following hurricane and fire damage in the 1970s, Gulf Hills was revitalized under new ownership, with comprehensive renovations completed in 2023. The resort hosts weddings, corporate gatherings, reunions, and private celebrations across a range of indoor and outdoor settings. The Main Ballroom offers 3,500 square feet of flexible space, accommodating up to 175 guests for seated dinners or 250 for cocktail receptions. Outdoor settings along the bayou — including the Oak Tree Lawn and Poolside Lawn — provide options for ceremonies and rehearsal dinners. More than 52 rooms and suites on property, including waterfront king suites, allow event groups to stay and celebrate in one place.