Southaven residents who live near xAI’s growing supercomputer campus say Southaven data center traffic, congestion and noise have climbed sharply in recent months as crews build two more facilities on the city’s north side. The new details come from a FOX13 report published Monday, Nov. 2, which also pinned down where the company’s newest Southaven site, nicknamed “Spam,” is going up.
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, now operating under the SpaceXAI name, is building a campus that stretches across the state line from Memphis’ Whitehaven neighborhood into Southaven. According to FOX13, the company’s announced plans now total six supercomputer facilities, with two in Shelby County and three in DeSoto County expected to be operating by the end of the year.
Where the ‘Gun Range’ and ‘Spam’ Sites Are
Musk first named the two newest data centers on social media over Halloween weekend, as DeSoto County News reported Nov. 1. FOX13’s report adds location details for both:
Gun Range: The company’s fifth supercomputer facility is being built on the site of a former police and fire training center in Southaven. Musk said the name refers to the property’s former use.
Spam: The sixth data center is under construction at the southeast corner of Tulane Road and Stateline Road. The name is a nod to the former Hormel Foods building on the property.
Musk has said both facilities should be up and running before the end of 2026.
Southaven Data Center Traffic a Growing Concern
Construction around the sites has brought a steady flow of trucks, trailers and work vehicles onto nearby roads. Southaven resident Najja Proby, who has lived just west of Tulane Road for 15 years, told FOX13 the change has been dramatic. When the station first interviewed him about 11 months ago, he said traffic tied to the development had not yet become a real problem.
That has changed. Proby told FOX13 that traffic has increased over the last several months and described the neighborhood as “200% has changed,” pointing to traffic, congestion and noise.
Proby also said he worries about what the expanding campus could mean for his home’s value. He said he would consider selling if the price were right. FOX13 noted its report did not establish whether he has received an offer or whether his property value has changed.
Buyouts, Lawsuits and State Penalties
The traffic complaints add to a list of concerns neighbors have raised about the data centers over the past several months. Some homeowners near the Southaven sites have received offers to sell their properties to the company in connection with litigation over noise. Several of them told reporters last week that those offers were too low, as DeSoto County News reported Nov. 1.
The company is also fighting an air pollution lawsuit over gas turbines at its Southaven site. A judge denied the company’s motion to dismiss that case on Oct. 30. Mississippi environmental regulators are also seeking millions of dollars in potential penalties tied to the company’s Southaven operations.
What Residents Can Do
Residents with concerns about traffic, road conditions or construction activity near the Tulane Road and Stateline Road area can contact the City of Southaven or attend a Board of Aldermen meeting. The board’s next regular meeting is tonight, Nov. 3. Traffic safety issues can be reported to the Southaven Police Department’s non-emergency line.
DeSoto County News will continue to follow the SpaceXAI expansion in Southaven, including any city action on traffic, road repairs or development approvals tied to the new sites.
