OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark

[SEMIweather]

I can almost guarantee you the city would prefer to keep the Greyhound station at the current location rather than moving it and any accompanying issues to Bricktown.

[BoulderSooner]

Notice some signs of homelessness at Reno Avenue under the Eastern Avenue bridge I-40 entry/exit where the dam was built. The city needs to put this on their top priority list to address.



Why not offer some incentives to relocate the Greyhound Bus back to Downtown to the Santa Fe Station Intermodal Transit Hub which the City invested $28.4 million to transform the depot. IIRC the grand scheme was to make the old Santa Fe Station Depot a transit hub for Amtrak, City Buses, Greyhound Buses. taxi services and the Modern Street Car on the ground level.

What happened to those plans?

everything other then amtrak was based on a future phase .. and regional commuter rail

[BoulderSooner]

I can almost guarantee you the city would prefer to keep the Greyhound station at the current location rather than moving it and any accompanying issues to Bricktown.

greyhound also prefers it

[dankrutka]

greyhound also prefers it

Why? I've rode Greyhound in before and the current location is not convenient at all for passengers.

[Bellaboo]

Why? I've rode Greyhound in before and the current location is not convenient at all for passengers.

I'd say the ease of getting off and on the highway.

[PhiAlpha]

Why? I've rode Greyhound in before and the current location is not convenient at all for passengers.

Go by the greyhound station in Tulsa at night and you’ll know why. Those of us who live downtown make it a point to avoid walking anywhere near it, especially at night. The problem isn’t the people who ride it but the ones who linger around the station all day and night.

[catch22]

Rent.

Their passengers are resourceful enough to figure out the last mile transportation to/from the station.

[BoulderSooner]

Rent.

Their passengers are resourceful enough to figure out the last mile transportation to/from the station.

yep rent and highway access are 2 driving reasons ..

if someone wants to do some research .. you can go back to the Planning commission / council meeting when they got approvals for the current location to hear greyhound's thoughts on the issue .

[Pete]

Indoor waterpark in the foreground




Roof already going on the convention center




Lagoon taking shape




Marketplace foundation to the left; restaurants and spa building to the right of that




Looks like they are starting on the parking garage




Lagoon area




Zoom-in of lagoon wall

[chssooner]

They are really ramping up! Great shots, Pete!

[PoliSciGuy]

The water park alone is gonna make a killing during our brutal summers. Can’t wait to take the kids.

[Pete]

The Chickasaws are branding the area all around the First Americans Museum -- basically all phases of OKANA -- as the Horizon District.

The site plan is new and hi-res; you can open in a new tab and zoom in to see details.

Press release:

*************

Unveiling Horizons District: A new district dawns in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City, OK—The Chickasaw Nation and OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark, in collaboration with the First Americans Museum (FAM), are excited to announce the Horizons District as the latest cultural and entertainment district in Oklahoma City.

Situated just east of I-35 and south of I-40 along the Oklahoma River, the Horizons District is anchored by OKANA and the internationally acclaimed FAM. The area will create a family-friendly atmosphere with cultural diversity and exciting attractions.

"We believe it is important to focus attention on what these two new tourism destinations bring to Oklahoma City," said Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby. "We expect this marketing collaboration to augment the already significant economic impact of the various hospitality and entertainment venues along the Oklahoma River. In addition, this new district will highlight First American heritage in a manner that will enhance the area's emerging reputation as a hub for cultural tourism and First American art.”

“With OKANA and the FAM as side-by-side anchor attractions, we envision additional business, entertainment, and cultural development will follow. The Horizons District creates even greater synergy for drawing visitors and tourists to this world-class tourism and hospitality destination in central Oklahoma.”

The vision of the Horizons District is to be a world-renowned destination where immersive entertainment, cultural education and captivating surroundings meet.

“The creation of this district is a natural evolution,” said Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt. “Districts are collections of attractions and amenities, and that is truly what is coming together in what we will now know as the Horizons District. Thanks to the partners that have collaborated to implement this vision, the Horizons District is the driving force behind Oklahoma City’s continuing emergence as a national capital for Native and Indigenous people.”

“In Oklahoma City, visitors seek out our thriving districts, each with their own unique personalities and entertainment experiences. I expect the Horizons District to be transformational for our destination, offering immersive entertainment options for both leisure and convention visitors, as well as being a catalyst for additional innovative developments along the Oklahoma River,” said Visit Oklahoma City President Zac Craig.

Oklahoma City-based creative agency Cooper House developed the brand logo and visual identity for the Horizons District, which was created collaboratively with the Chickasaw Nation, FAM and Pyramid Global Hospitality, which will operate OKANA. The color palette was selected to mirror the Oklahoma sunrise and sunset with nods to natural elements found in the Oklahoma City region. The wordmark shows subtle signs of the sun while incorporating a half sun in its logo mark, representing a horizon. Horizons District derives its name from the state’s stunning skyline, which is prominently visible above the waters of the Oklahoma River where the district lies.

OKANA, which will be adjacent to FAM, is currently under construction with a completion date of early 2025. Once opened, it will include a riverfront hotel, spa, outdoor adventure lagoon, amphitheater, indoor waterpark, restaurants, First Americans retail gallery, Family Entertainment Center and conference center. The $400 million tourist destination is designed to continue the momentum of economic development in Oklahoma City and along the Oklahoma River. It's estimated that the 10-year economic impact of the development will exceed $1 billion.

FAM is a 175,000-square-foot facility that showcases interactive exhibits and collective histories of the 39 Tribal Nations in Oklahoma today. Its mission is to serve as a dynamic center promoting awareness and education to the broader public about the unique cultures, diversity, history, contributions and resilience of these First American Nations. FAM’s Executive Director James Pepper Henry is excited to see the growth of the area.

“First Americans Museum is honored to collaborate with the Chickasaw Nation on the creation of the new Horizons District,” said Pepper Henry. “This district will be a one-of-a-kind cultural destination attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year from around the world. This is an exciting development for Oklahoma and an opportunity to showcase the rich and diverse cultures of our state in one incredible location.”

The Chickasaw Nation, Visit Oklahoma City and FAM have worked collaboratively for more than a decade to promote the state as a travel and tourism destination.

“We are delighted that this vibrant district, which has already established itself as a cultural destination through the establishment of the First Americans Museum, now possesses both a name and a visual representation, solidifying its identity in Oklahoma City," said Chickasaw Nation Director of Tourism Paige Williams Shepherd.

For more information on Horizons District visit HorizonsDistrict.com.

###

About Horizons District
Horizons District is Oklahoma City’s newest District located southeast of Bricktown along the Oklahoma River just east of I-35 and south of I-40. The Horizons District is home to the First Americans Museum and OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark. The mission of the district is to create multifaceted and memorable experiences through moments of connection: to each other, to our diverse histories, to fresh perspectives and cultural insights and to our environment.

[Anonymous.]

I still cannot believe they are putting that huge parking garage + surrounding parking lot along the riverfront and between the OKANA and FAM. It seems they wanted the garage close to the hotel no matter what. Too bad the hotel isn't on top.

[HangryHippo]

I still cannot believe they are putting that huge parking garage + surrounding parking lot along the riverfront and between the OKANA and FAM. It seems they wanted the garage close to the hotel no matter what. Too bad the hotel isn't on top.

This. Very bizarre choice.

[Pete]

The garage has to be close to the hotel, marketplace, restaurants and spa, and convention center.

Really no other place to put it.

[soonerguru]

I still cannot believe they are putting that huge parking garage + surrounding parking lot along the riverfront and between the OKANA and FAM. It seems they wanted the garage close to the hotel no matter what. Too bad the hotel isn't on top.

This is exactly what I was thinking. The parking garage will obscure views of downtown and should be parked toward the rear of the development, in my opinion. I'm also curious where the access / egress to the garage is. I'm guessing they wanted to position it to serve both the museum and the park, which makes sense, but the location is off.

[HFAA Alum]

As for the parking garage, it's unfortunate that it has to be this way out of necessity. But I do hope that aesthetically speaking, they'll give it a façade that can be on par with that of the one attached to First National. Not necessarily style wise, but the approach.

[SagerMichael]

The Chickasaws will keep OKANA booked and busy. MLK to Reno will be the most direct route for guests making their way downtown. Between developments fronting Reno and a road diet, that stretch has to get more pedestrian friendly long term

[therhett17]

The Chickasaws will keep OKANA booked and busy. MLK to Reno will be the most direct route for guests making their way downtown. Between developments fronting Reno and a road diet, that stretch has to get more pedestrian friendly long term

And less sketchy. I don't even like driving down that road at night

[chssooner]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...ibextid=Nif5oz

Exhibit C is moving here! Should do very well!

[amocore]

The Chickasaws will keep OKANA booked and busy. MLK to Reno will be the most direct route for guests making their way downtown. Between developments fronting Reno and a road diet, that stretch has to get more pedestrian friendly long term

I think people interested in walking to downtown\Riversports from\to Okana will use the new multi usage trails (not opened yet I think) on both side of the river instead of Reno.

Also, the amount of space between I 40 and the north bank is fairly big, big enough for construction although you ll be right by the interstate.

[Pete]

Try walking along that stretch of Reno sometime. You'll never do it again.

[David]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...ibextid=Nif5oz

Exhibit C is moving here! Should do very well!

That seems like a really good idea.

[Pete]

This whole development is going to be special.

So much more to come.

[HangryHippo]

This whole development is going to be special.

So much more to come.

Are they going to plant trees? JK, Pete!