OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark

[HOT ROD]

and no renderings (surprise).

[jn1780]

That initial dirt work must be for a staging area/construction parking lot. Not a whole lot of construction equipment right now.

[G.Walker]

I imagine they are clearing the area for a groundbreaking ceremony. They plan to officially break ground in a month or so, March 1st is the target date.

[Urbanized]

I imagine they are clearing the area for a groundbreaking ceremony. They plan to officially break ground in a month or so, March 1st is the target date.

I was going to post something similar; that dirt work feels like setup for a groundbreaking ceremony, having been to many of them. That’s not to say that’s 100% what’s going on here, but that would be my educated guess.

[LocoAko]

If I understood correctly, this was formally approved at the City Council meeting this morning, with the design district overlay being suspended for it. I assume that means work will commence imminently?

[Pete]

If I understood correctly, this was formally approved at the City Council meeting this morning, with the design district overlay being suspended for it. I assume that means work will commence imminently?

Yes, the item was passed unanimously.

The city council vote is always just a rubber-stamp on what the design review committees and planning commission has already approved.

The design review exception is merely that OKANA will not have to seek committee approval for minor changes. Major changes would still be the purview of design review. As I stated before, this issue was very minor and just procedural.


Of note, former city manager Jim Couch is now working on behalf of the developers of this project.

[David]

Of note, former city manager Jim Couch is now working on behalf of the developers of this project.

The Chickasaw Nation definitely knows what they are doing.

[IKnowThings]

If I understood correctly, this was formally approved at the City Council meeting this morning, with the design district overlay being suspended for it. I assume that means work will commence imminently?

They still need a building permit to be issued.

[Pete]

They still need a building permit to be issued.

This is true and there will likely be multiple permit applications due to all the different buildings.

But it's also true they can start site work without permits, which appears to be what they've done.

[shawnw]

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news...er/9291472002/

[Will Dearborn]

Took these this (Friday) afternoon:

Is everything staying north of the road that goes to the museum? Seems small...

[Laramie]

Is everything staying north of the road that goes to the museum? Seems small...

Maybe the city could qualify for some federal infrastructure road funds (Oklahoma $5 billion) to build some road infrastructure to the First Americans Museum and the Okana Resort developments.

[G.Walker]

Looking at the site plan, looks like the main road to the museum will be shifted further south.

[GaryOKC6]

Maybe the city could qualify for some federal infrastructure road funds (Oklahoma $5 billion) to build some road infrastructure to the First Americans Museum and the Okana Resort developments.

I believe that The Chickasaw nation is planning to do that. They are planning an exit from I-35. Not sure if they are adding or just changing what is there.

[GaryOKC6]

this land is not in federal trust status .... it can't become a casino .. this is not a city choice ..

The more or less set a precedence with Remington Park that could open the door.

[GaryOKC6]

The hotel developer has an impressive track record.

[Urbanized]

The more or less set a precedence with Remington Park that could open the door.

The law that allows the Chickasaws to operate Remington Park as a (non-Tribal) limited gaming operation (no table games) is a state law, and one that is specifically tied to horse racing facilities. As written it couldn't be replicated anywhere else in the state besides a horse track.

The state itself could allow full non-tribal class III gaming a la Nevada, which would open the door to non-tribal entities. But if the Chickasaws wanted to operate a tribal casino at OKANA - without letting non-Tribal casinos into the state as competition - it would legitimately require an act of the United States Congress and a major amendment to the Indian Gaming Regulatory act of 1988.

[G.Walker]

I believe that The Chickasaw nation is planning to do that. They are planning an exit from I-35. Not sure if they are adding or just changing what is there.

This is what I was hoping for, this will be a key connection to the resort.

[GaryOKC6]

This is what I was hoping for, this will be a key connection to the resort.

They did the same thing for Windstar.

[GaryOKC6]

The law that allows the Chickasaws to operate Remington Park as a (non-Tribal) limited gaming operation (no table games) is a state law, and one that is specifically tied to horse racing facilities. As written it couldn't be replicated anywhere else in the state besides a horse track.

The state itself could allow full non-tribal class III gaming a la Nevada, which would open the door to non-tribal entities. But if the Chickasaws wanted to operate a tribal casino at OKANA - without letting non-Tribal casinos into the state as competition - it would legitimately require an act of the United States Congress and a major amendment to the Indian Gaming Regulatory act of 1988.

Correct

[Swake]

Correct

And then the state would lose all revenue from tribal casinos on reserved land.

[GaryOKC6]

And then the state would lose all revenue from tribal casinos on reserved land.

I am sure that the state would find some way to recoup it. The always seem to anyway.

[Laramie]

Information about Indian gaming, the Tribes have shared gaming revenue thru a compact with the state.

Oklahoma’s Indian gaming industry paid $167 million in exclusivity fees to the state last fiscal year

State revenues from gaming increased more than 35% between the 2020 and 2021 fiscal years, which end in June, according to figures provided by Matthew Morgan, who chairs the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association.--Oklahoman, August 18, 2021

[soonergolfer]

Information about Indian gaming, the Tribes have shared gaming revenue thru a compact with the state.

Oklahoma’s Indian gaming industry paid $167 million in exclusivity fees to the state last fiscal year

State revenues from gaming increased more than 35% between the 2020 and 2021 fiscal years, which end in June, according to figures provided by Matthew Morgan, who chairs the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association.--Oklahoman, August 18, 2021

Wow. That is a shockingly low amount paid to the state. That averages to about $1.3M per casino.

[Pete]

This plan shows some more details, including the location of the aquarium which is proposed for Phase II: