USA: OKANA Resort & Waterpark to Complement Oklahoma City’s Leisure & Tourism Offerings as of 2024
The Native American tribe of Chickasaw Nation in the U.S. state of Oklahoma is driving infrastructure and tourism developments in Oklahoma City to boost the region’s economy and make the city an even more popular destination within the country as well as for international tourists. Among the Chickasaw Nation’s current major projects is the planned OKANA Resort and associated indoor water park, the development of which was announced last fall and, when completed in 2024, is expected to expand the leisure and tourism landscape along the Oklahoma River.
The first phase of the large-scale development, which is valued at a total investment of more than USD 300 million (about EUR 273 million), will be built on a Chickasaw Nation-owned site of about 40 acres (16 hectares). Plans include an 11-story, 404-room resort hotel, an outdoor adventure lagoon lined with sandy beaches for recreation and relaxation, a 33,000-square-foot (3,000-square-meter) family entertainment center, a 100,000-square-foot (9,000-square-meter) indoor water park, conference facilities, a spa, retail stores and restaurants. Likewise, there will be a Native American marketplace and an amphitheater.
Chickasaw Nation Secretary of Commerce, Bill Lance said: “[…] Undoubtedly, an entertainment and lodging complex of this magnitude will add significantly to the exciting progress going on in Oklahoma City. Initially, the resort is projected to employ 400 people and the annualized economic impact year one is projected to be 97 million US Dollars. Additionally, estimates for the 10-year economic impact of this development are projected to exceed one billion US Dollars, with full-time employment expanding to approximately 700-800.”
Dallas, Texas-based real estate development firm Wynne/Jackson is involved in development planning for the entire project. The New York-based Aquatic Development Group was commissioned to design both the indoor water park and the outdoor adventure lagoon, and the firm is also contributing to the planning and design process for the hotel. The Wisconsin-based firm of ADCI was selected for the architectural work. Both the hotel and the water park are to be operated by Benchmark Hospitality in the future. (eap)
