Despite me having been there numerous times, the state of Mississippi is full of surprises — the latest being that I technically was staying overnight on an extinct volcano in Mississippi, which was discovered in 1819.
Staying Overnight On an Extinct Volcano — In Mississippi.
The official marker of the Jackson Volcano is located just beyond the main entrance of Belhaven Park at the intersection of Poplar Boulevard and Kenwood Place in the Belhaven Historic District of Jackson, which is the capital city of the state of Mississippi.
Numerous sources claim that the Mississippi Coliseum of the Mississippi State Fairgrounds is located on top of the extinct volcano. As the Hampton Inn & Suites Jackson Downtown-Coliseum hotel property is located only yards away from the Mississippi Coliseum, it too is also located on top of the extinct volcano — and because I stayed overnight at this hotel property, I technically stayed overnight on an extinct volcano.
More information about the Jackson Volcano is below at the conclusion of this article.
Review: Hampton Inn & Suites Jackson Downtown-Coliseum
Because I expected to arrive very late to check in to the hotel property, I decided to use the official Hilton Honors mobile software application program for the first time. I was initially assigned a room on the fifth floor; but I switched to a slightly larger room on the seventh floor, which is the top floor of the hotel property.
When I arrived, I checked in at the front desk and took the elevator up to the seventh floor, which was quite hot — as if the air conditioning unit was not working in the hallway. When I entered the room, I could not believe what I saw: not only was one lamp not working and the other lamp was missing a lamp shade…
…but the miniature refrigerator was missing altogether.
I did not want to find out what else was wrong — or missing — with this particular hotel room.
I returned to the front desk and relayed this information — and the woman assigned a new room to me.
It was the room to which I was originally assigned on the fifth floor.
Second Room: Hampton Inn & Suites Jackson Downtown-Coliseum
The fifth floor was cooler overall in temperature than the seventh floor. I liked the design of the lighting fixtures in this hallway.
Entering through the short hallway of the room, both the bathroom and the closet were on one side. The door of the closet — which was a mirror — opened so wide on its hinges that it almost completely blocked the short hallway when opened. This is one place where a “barn door” would have been a better idea for the closet and bathroom to share. The closet contained a luggage rack; an ironing board; an iron; eight wooden hangers; an extra blanket but no extra pillow; a safe; and a plastic laundry bag.
The second room was much better; and everything was included in this room — including two unusual nightstands that were attached to the wall and contained shelves which pulled out.
The bed was comfortable. I slept well on it.
Between the bed and the window was a chaise lounge of sorts with a portable table.
Included in the room were an ottoman of sorts; a desk with a chair and a lamp; a climate control unit under the window; a flat-screen television; and a cabinet…
…which did contain a working refrigerator! Also included were three metal “wire” drawers which pulled out…
…and many parts of the room were equipped with shelves that pulled out — such as this one on which the coffee maker, cups, sweeteners, and creamer rested — which I do not recall seeing at other Hampton Inn hotel properties.
The Bathroom
The bathroom had a vanity which was equipped with two more of those shelves that slide out; plenty of towels; plenty of toilet paper; an electric hair dryer; and a box of facial tissues. Four hooks were attached on the wall above the toilet adjacent to the shower stall.
The Original Shower Massage by Waterpik shower head was adjustable with several different settings; and the shower stall itself had sliding glass doors instead of a curtain. Also on the vanity was a bar of ZERO/o soap; and a bulk container dispenser with body lotion attached to the wall next to the night light, which was inoperable.
Attached to the wall of the shower were three bulk container dispensers with products by ZERO/o: shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner.
The View
The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Jackson Downtown – Coliseum hotel property comprised of much of the view from my room. Yes, staying overnight at that hotel property would also technically be considered staying overnight on an extinct volcano in Mississippi.
Both hotel properties have fencing and gates surrounding the parking lots for security purposes.
The local Whataburger and Waffle House — as well as an Econo Lodge and Red Roof Inn — on High Street comprised much of the remainder of the view from my room.
A Circle K fuel station and a Shell fuel station completed the view from my room. Too bad they were partially obstructed by electric power lines.
Breakfast
The breakfast area was so crowded with people that I could not even take photographs. It was a typical breakfast area that is usually found in a Hampton Inn hotel property.
Real oatmeal, dry cereal, and some forgettable pastries and bread products were offered — as well as all of the greasy grey sausage patties and scrambled egg product one could eat.
For breakfast, I had a waffle that I freshly prepared, with whipped cream and some chocolate syrup, with a cup of orange juice from a dispenser. The containers of yogurt were at room temperature because they were in a dish in which the ice melted long ago and the water it left behind was almost evaporated.
Because I needed to leave, I was not going to waste my time waiting for the crowd to dissipate. I mean, I am not going for a Pulitzer Prize here. I think you get the idea: typical breakfast at a Hampton Inn; but slightly worse. I would surmise that for some guests, eating some of this food would result in creating their own active volcano — if you know what I mean — in addition to staying overnight on top of an extinct one.
Amenities Offered
The business center — essential, a desk and a chair with a computer — is located in an open area of the lobby adjacent to the breakfast area and opposite the front desk.
Other amenities which are offered by the hotel property include an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, and meeting rooms — of which I unfortunately did not have time to take photographs of them…
…as well as a place adjacent to the front desk where one can purchase snacks, sundries, refrigerated items, and frozen items.
More Information on The Jackson Volcano
The aforementioned location of the official marker of The Jackson Volcano is approximately 1.5 miles from the Mississippi Coliseum — which does not really matter all that much, as the area is situated on top of the Jackson Dome. One notable distinction is that Jackson is the only capital city or major population center in the world which is situated above an extinct Cretaceous volcano, with its downtown district located above the “throat” of the volcano.
“One of the most interesting geologic features of Mississippi is the Jackson Volcano, which rests only 2900 feet beneath the state’s capital city. The volcano’s dense core forms one of the most prominent structural anomalies found on gravity and magnetic surveys of the state, showing tightly wrapped contours of increasing gravity and magnetic deflection like a crowded bull’s-eye (Figure 1). This igneous complex and the uplifted formations around it comprise a structure known as the Jackson Dome. Northwest of the Jackson Volcano in southern Humphreys County is the Midnight Volcano and the associated volcanic terrain of the Sharkey Platform. Dense igneous rock below Jackson and Midnight increase the force of gravity slightly as shown in Figure 1. A person tipping the scales at Jackson or Midnight would be slightly heavier than elsewhere in the state (if anyone would like to use that for an excuse)”, according to this article from Mississippi Geology, which is an official publication of the Office of Geology of the Department of Environmental Quality of the state of Mississippi and contains details and information which delve into great depth about the volcano. “If the Jackson Volcano were to ever vent itself in the future, the Coliseum would be near ground zero. The Coliseum is a landmark for those traveling Interstate 55 through Jackson and should serve as a geologic reminder of the buried volcanic peak below.”
Final Boarding Call
Here is a quiz for you: The Jackson Volcano is one of four volcanos which are located within the city limits in the United States. Jackson in Mississippi is one of those cities, of course. Can you name the other three cities in the United States in which a volcano is located — and can you name those volcanos?
As for the hotel property at which I stayed, the base room rate was $88.11. I paid a total of $99.44, which included all taxes and fees. Free parking is available.
I recommend staying at the Hampton Inn & Suites Jackson Downtown-Coliseum hotel property for the price point — especially if the purpose of your stay is to simply have a reasonably comfortable place to sleep. It is conveniently located off of Exit 96B on Interstate 55, which is slightly greater than one mile north of Interstate 20. Much of downtown Jackson is nearby as well — including the aforementioned coliseum.
Members of the staff were very friendly and accommodating to me. I did receive a couple of bottles of water and some cookies upon checking in to the hotel property; and I was also offered more bottles of water and a can of soda after having checked out. The aforementioned problem with the first room was quickly resolved. They alone were worth the stay.
This hotel property will do if you want bragging rights to staying overnight on an extinct volcano in Mississippi — although you can claim that at many other hotel properties in the area. Shop on price for a place to stay.
Hampton Inn & Suites Jackson Downtown-Coliseum
320 Greymont Avenue
Jackson, Mississippi, 39202
United States
1-601-352-1700
All photographs ©2023 by Brian Cohen.
