For some reason the JR posted like 3 stories about new development in Durant, but it's nice to see the region growing.

http://journalrecord.com/2016/06/17/trails-make-up-part-of-vision-for-durants-future-general-news/

http://journalrecord.com/2016/06/17/packing-it-in-durant-attracts-two-major-new-employers-general-news/

http://journalrecord.com/2016/06/17/movie-night-farmers-market-could-launch-arts-district-in-durant-general-news/

What are those articles about, plupan?

Great to see my hometown still growing! The Choctaw Nation's new headquarters and Regional Medical Clinic have recently started construction. When the headquarters opens, that'll free up about 30 properties that the tribe currently leases throughout Durant.

At this point in his career I don't think Durant has much left to develop in his game, but I was very impressed with his defense in the playoffs.:)

What are those articles about, plupan?The first one is about a new movie night that might designate the surrounding area to become the city's art district. The second one is about two new fairly large employers who have located operations in the city limits. The last one is about new trails the city has installed.

I know several people who work at Choctaw Casino Resort and there are plans for another expansion, including a third hotel tower.

https://www.ok.gov/triton/modules/newsroom/newsroom_article.php?id=277&article_id=23200

^ That's awesome! The upgrade of 69/75 is definitely much needed.

I'm excited to see it happen although I have yet to visit Durant but I will change that with my next visit to Dallas when I'm back in Oklahoma for a week.

Some more info on it here: https://www.ok.gov/triton/modules/newsroom/newsroom_article.php?id=277&article_id=23420

Wasn't there a steel mill being built in Durant?

Has the city of Durant filed a motion yet for a name change?

Wasn't there a steel mill being built in Durant?

Yes, ground was broken on Commercial Metals Company back in late April.

Has the city of Durant filed a motion yet for a name change?

. . . maybe just add a hyphen "Du-rant" :lol2:

The old Bryan County Jail in downtown Durant has been bought by a great friend of mine (she was also my middle school art teacher). She'll convert the old jail into an art studio as she has outgrown her current location. Very exciting!

Here's the story: http://durantdemocrat.com/news/local-news-1/6546/old-jail-will-become-art-studio

And here it is on Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/@33.9912187,-96.3816456,159m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Jimmy's Egg opened in Durant this year on November 7th! Petsense had their grand opening in the same, new shopping center back in September.

http://www.jimmysegg.com/jimmys-egg-set-to-crack-eggs-in-durant-ok/

http://petsenseonline.com/store-locator/durant

The 500,000 sq. ft. Choctaw Nation Headquarters topped out on Friday, November 18, 2016. The headquarters is expected to be complete by the end of 2017.

http://4b7iat2gdyklupg6o2jj0iv1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_DSC_8377TallBldg-1.jpg

http://durantdemocrat.com/top-stories/8699/choctaw-nation-headquarters-is-topped-out-friday

Construction is nearing completion on the Choctaw Nation Regional Medical Clinic. The grand opening is expected to be in February 2017. It will be a LEED certified building.

http://easttexasradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Clinic.jpg

http://easttexasradio.com/choctaw-clinic-in-final-stages-of-construction/

Thank you for the update. Glad to see some cool projects here!

Has the city of Durant filed a motion yet for a name change?

Just change the spelling to match the pronunciation:

DOO-Rant

http://durantdemocrat.com/news/local-news-1/9667/durant-industrial-authority-meets-2

Cardinal Glass recently completed a 115,000 sf expansion. An 88,000 sf expansion to the Tile Shop is in progress. BrucePac (meat producer) plans to add another 150 jobs for a total of 300. Hitchcock Distributing started site work on their new $4 million facility in November 2016. Webstaurant is moving to Durant and will create up to 120 jobs by the end of 2017. New off/on ramps from Hwy 70 to East Main St have begun construction to serve the CMC plant, currently under-construction.

Clark Associates, the company that owns WebsturantStore, is just adding another distribution warehouse to their network; they hope to start moving products out the doors to customers by summer. http://www.clarkassociatesinc.biz/letter17.html

^ Thanks for that.

A coffee shop opens soon in downtown Durant's Wilson Building, aka the Opera House. It was built in 1901 and was the site of Durant's first court hearings. It was converted to an opera house in 1908 and then served as a post office from 1915-1919. It has since been home to many businesses in the last century.

The shop will be called Opera House Coffee.
https://scontent.ftul1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/16996344_1260852100636442_1888590247443521084_n.jp g?oh=5207c59d8266d89995813773480fafef&oe=5934BD04

http://4b7iat2gdyklupg6o2jj0iv1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_DSC_1284Operqa-2.jpg

I was in Durant last Monday and Tuesday and took these photos of the new Choctaw Nation Headquarters:
138601386113862

Here is a video from the OKC architecture firm FSB:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBZ6sPoRZVI

Impressive! Clearly they spared no expense on this.

Videos of proposed upgrading of US 69/75 to interstate standards through Calera and south Durant:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?sns=fb&list=PLWx-lpJVeJJZt_KbfD7wkCpg7O3SOBPhs&v=lMgWEiUx3Uw&app=desktop

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLpk4tG9IkQ&list=PLWx-lpJVeJJZt_KbfD7wkCpg7O3SOBPhs&index=2

Exciting stuff! It seems OkDOT has increased their standards as this seems like a nicely designed freeway. I love it.

It is exciting! It's much needed and long overdue. In 2015, the annual average daily traffic count here was 28,100. In comparison, the count on I-35 at WinStar was 30,800.

SteelFab, Inc. (headquartered in Charlotte, NC) will be relocating from Anna, TX to Durant and plan to open their new facility in May 2018 and hire 150 employees.

Boulder Motel, an old and sketchy motel at the corner of W Main and S 9th, is planned to be torn down and a "national chain restaurant" is to be built in it's place.

A pharmaceutical plant is proposed to be built in west Durant.

http://www.ok-durant.org/files/documents/310/5-8-17%20DIA%20Minutes.pdf

The Boulder Motel, as mentioned above, now has been demolished. It's still unknown what specifically will be built in it's place.

A new arts district is in the works along South 9th Ave in south Durant. "The idea is coming to life thanks to a $75,000 grant; $50,000 from the National Endowment of the Arts and a $25,000 match from several donors like the Choctaw Nation and Commercial Metal Company." The city will also "be kicking in about $6,000." "Most of this grant money will go toward paying architects to design the S9A."

http://www.kxii.com/content/news/New-arts-district-in-the-works-for-City-of-Durant-453931643.html

http://bryancountypatriot.com/vision-casting-ahead-for-s9a-as-new-arts-district-in-durant/

The Choctaw Nation Judicial Center broke ground today.

From Assistant Chief Jack Austin, Jr.'s Facebook page:
https://scontent-dft4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/27067014_2054307568181298_6301389689596890494_n.jp g?oh=418ac2405b5b657118ddaf4c37d4e461&oe=5B190CCE

Choctaw Casino & Resort - Durant announces expansion

https://www.kxii.com/content/news/Choctaw-Casino--Resort---Durant-announces-expansion-500415681.html?fbclid=IwAR2VIyGUm2wg93wSVrTenj5dnU UaXEHZ23CQAsIShspkg1zKdy8E1xfhOiY

Here is a bit more on the expansion.

https://newsok.com/article/5615185/choctaw-nation-announces-expansion-of-durant-resort-and-casino

Does the state get anything of significance, taxwise, from the casinos since they are on Indian land?

Does the state get anything of significance, taxwise, from the casinos since they are on Indian land?

If a person wins over $1,199.00 on a single bet, they pay state income tax on it, less any accumulated losses.

This would be pretty cool for Durant if they win: https://kfor.com/2019/02/12/oklahoma-town-named-finalist-for-redevelopment-grant-awarded-by-tv-show/

Durant is in first place as of 3:30 today! Voting ends tomorrow, Feb 19, at 10 pm.

https://www.deluxe.com/small-business-revolution/main-street/season-four/#vote-now

Durant is in first place as of 3:30 today! Voting ends tomorrow, Feb 19, at 10 pm.

https://www.deluxe.com/small-business-revolution/main-street/season-four/#vote-now

If Durant wins, it will be a departure from the kind of towns that previously won. They were towns experiencing population declines, while Durant is one of the few towns outside Oklahoma metros that have been adding on people.

The Choctaw Nation breaks ground on $500 million expansion at the resort in Durant!
http://dallas.culturemap.com/news/travel/04-25-19-choctaw-resort-casino-oklahoma-breaks-ground-500-million-expansion/
http://www.kten.com/story/40369793/choctaw-casino-breaks-ground-on-expansion


https://www.facebook.com/ChoctawCasinoDurant/videos/1558343817630480/

They just expanded not too long ago! Geeze... they must be raking in the dough. Makes sense considering the handful of times I've been there I gave them all my money!

The new hotel tower is starting to rise (taken 8-28-2019):
https://www.okctalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=15580&d=1567561011

Rendering:
https://www.choctawcasinos.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/choctaw-casino-resort-expansion.jpg

Visited Durant over Labor Day weekend.

The new 19-story, Y-shaped hotel tower at Choctaw Casino Resort topped out in May 2020.
https://i.imgur.com/fhygbxy.jpg

The new hotel tower on the far right and the existing hotel towers to the left. Dirt work in the foreground is the upgrading of US 69/75 to a limited-access highway.
https://i.imgur.com/wuWP09m.jpg

Choctaw Casino Resort
https://i.imgur.com/Aw0f6eE.jpg

The new Choctaw Cultural Center, scheduled to open this December.
https://i.imgur.com/1wT1y7F.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/CPVj6Ui.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/CtD8bG4.jpg

Choctaw Nation Headquarters
https://i.imgur.com/5hnzdQ0.jpg

Choctaw Wellness Center
https://i.imgur.com/sxLtgEE.jpg

Choctaw Nation Judicial Center
https://i.imgur.com/OSWcdI0.jpg

Great pictures, Kayne. I love the wellness center design!

Major gas plant expansion is nearing completion in Durant:

https://t.co/LGEtfGVSiG?amp=1

Sky Tower hotel expansion is open:

https://journalrecord.com/2021/08/05/choctaws-unveil-600-million-expansion-in-durant/

https://www.choctawcasinos.com/durant/expansion/

Was down that way last week...traffic construction in and around that area is awful...it will be huge improvement...just not for awhile

Was down that way last week...traffic construction in and around that area is awful...it will be huge improvement...just not for awhile
I believe the project through Calera is wrapping up 2023. It will be very nice when finished for years to come.

https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/major-projects/ongoing-projects/us-69-75-commerce-connection-in-bryancounty.html

Sky Tower at the resort:
https://i.imgur.com/ddTZwFL.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/b9U4aaw.jpg

New US 69/75 bridge over Choctaw Rd underway:
https://i.imgur.com/p2OJiWq.jpg

Pointe Vista development broke ground the other day ..

https://www.kxii.com/2021/11/18/1-billion-pointe-vista-community-breaks-ground-after-14-years/

will include a chickasaw casino that should break ground any day now ..

https://www.kxii.com/content/news/New-steps-taken-toward-Chickasaw-casino-resort-in-Marshall-Co-part-of-Pointe-Vista-area-569611361.html

^^^^ wow that is awesome! They might need to expand US-70 and 32 to 4 lanes.

This will be impressive when built out.

https://www.pointevista.com/development

This will be impressive when built out.

https://www.pointevista.com/development

IDK, seems like overkill to me. I mean they already have Winstar not too far from here. Seems like Chickasaw is just doing this as a direct response to the Choctaw Casino down the road. Just seems like a bit much to have all that clustered in that area.

Impressive report from News 12 out of Sherman, TX

IDK, seems like overkill to me. I mean they already have Winstar not too far from here. Seems like Chickasaw is just doing this as a direct response to the Choctaw Casino down the road. Just seems like a bit much to have all that clustered in that area.

Are you of the opinion that Las Vegas should have only built one casino so they wouldn't be clustered in one area?

IDK, seems like overkill to me. I mean they already have Winstar not too far from here. Seems like Chickasaw is just doing this as a direct response to the Choctaw Casino down the road. Just seems like a bit much to have all that clustered in that area.

As fast as the population as North Texas is growing, it makes sense.

Project to rebuild and complete the interchange at US-70 and Main St. is available for public comment: https://us70-durant-poe.hub.arcgis.com/

I was worried when I saw the last name of the primary on this one, but it is Mark's son that I am worried about being involved in something like this. I am guessing they are using all that money from the Dippin Dots sale to get things started.

They’ve started construction on the roads for this development.