OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark

[Pete]

Also, the hotel operator will be Benchmark which owns and operates a bunch of resorts around the U.S. including the famous Turtle Bay in Hawaii:

https://www.benchmarkresortsandhotels.com/

[Anonymous.]

A parking garage fronting the Museum and River side and being the foreground of the skyline view? Interesting...

[Rover]

W

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

Now add in all the employment, money spent in the immediate area by visitors, sales tax, etc. as well, they are investing their profits back into businesses in the state. So, yes, it’s a BIG deal.

[Laramie]

Whole complex FAM museum and resort will be a tourist mega attraction--looking forward to 2024. Glad to see (10) Phrase II Aquarian included in future plans.

[HangryHippo]

A parking garage fronting the Museum and River side and being the foreground of the skyline view? Interesting...

A bizarre choice. The layout could use some tweaking.

[Dob Hooligan]

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

Keep in mind that amount is only what is paid to Oklahoma, and it is close to what Nevada collects. Add in what the tribes spend on their own members and government, and it looks much higher.

I would suggest that the tribes have become such good operators within the last 30 years that the Oklahoma casino industry retains more money in state than any other. Oklahoma casinos are Oklahoma owned, Oklahoma operated and pay taxes to Oklahoma. Their profits are retained in Oklahoma to reinvest in facilities, and invest in tribal needs and other local business opportunities at a higher percentage than any other state's casino industries.

[onthestrip]

W

Now add in all the employment, money spent in the immediate area by visitors, sales tax, etc. as well, they are investing their profits back into businesses in the state. So, yes, it’s a BIG deal.

Are there state and local sales taxes on casino purchases such as at restaurants, shops, hotel rooms? I dont believe there are, that dont just go to the tribes themselves. And they will pay no sales taxes on construction materials for this OKANA. Plus zero ad valorem taxes. The tribes have it very very good in Oklahoma.

[HOT ROD]

very odd choice for the parking, on the northeast lands would have been better basically swap the Conference/Family Center. Also would make sense to have the central plant with the parking not to mention having the parking garage at Eastern. That would significantly releave vehicular traffic inside the development - further encouraging pedestrianism. hopefully this can be an easy tweak to an otherwise great plan.

Don't forget about sidewalks along Eastern. ....

Also, I'd rather the aquarium be near the river as oppose to the total opposite side of the development. I hope this doesn't compete or eliminate the grand aquarium planned at the Cotton Seed lands.

[Rover]

very odd choice for the parking, on the northeast lands would have been better basically swap the Conference/Family Center. Also would make sense to have the central plant with the parking not to mention having the parking garage at Eastern. That would significantly releave vehicular traffic inside the development - further encouraging pedestrianism. hopefully this can be an easy tweak to an otherwise great plan.

Don't forget about sidewalks along Eastern. ....

Also, I'd rather the aquarium be near the river as oppose to the total opposite side of the development. I hope this doesn't compete or eliminate the grand aquarium planned at the Cotton Seed lands.

Cotton seed lands? Who has one planned anywhere in the city. I hope you are right, but I have seen zero real plans for one.

[Pete]

Cotton seed lands? Who has one planned anywhere in the city. I hope you are right, but I have seen zero real plans for one.

There was a conceptual plan between the developers of the coop site and the OKC Zoo that was pitched for MAPS 4, but it was rejected.

As far as I know, it's dead and the water and has been for a while.

[Dob Hooligan]

This is NOT a smart aleck statement-I'm guessing that thousands of hours have been spent by scores of organizations and governments in the study of this project. I wouldn't say it needs to be redone without first trying to get an overarching explanation of the layout concept.

[Jersey Boss]

Are there state and local sales taxes on casino purchases such as at restaurants, shops, hotel rooms? I dont believe there are, that dont just go to the tribes themselves. And they will pay no sales taxes on construction materials for this OKANA. Plus zero ad valorem taxes. The tribes have it very very good in Oklahoma.

They paid in blood, discrimination,land and mineral thefts, and being second class citizens. It wasn't until 1924 were Native Americans recognized as US citizens. It wasn't until 1962 did all 50 states guarantee Natives the right to vote. Spare us how good natives have it.

[Dob Hooligan]

Are there state and local sales taxes on casino purchases such as at restaurants, shops, hotel rooms? I dont believe there are, that dont just go to the tribes themselves. And they will pay no sales taxes on construction materials for this OKANA. Plus zero ad valorem taxes. The tribes have it very very good in Oklahoma.

Why would they not pay sales tax on construction materials or ad valorem taxes? It is not sovereign land, AFAIK. It is a part of Oklahoma City.

[Rover]

they paid in blood, discrimination,land and mineral thefts, and being second class citizens. It wasn't until 1924 were native americans recognized as us citizens. It wasn't until 1962 did all 50 states guarantee natives the right to vote. Spare us how good natives have it.

amen!

[Rover]

There was a conceptual plan between the developers of the coop site and the OKC Zoo that was pitched for MAPS 4, but it was rejected.

As far as I know, it's dead and the water and has been for a while.

Thanks. I thought so. And I should have assumed he meant the old processing plant.

[dankrutka]

They paid in blood, discrimination,land and mineral thefts, and being second class citizens. It wasn't until 1924 were Native Americans recognized as US citizens. It wasn't until 1962 did all 50 states guarantee Natives the right to vote. Spare us how good natives have it.

This! And the Governor is still attacking the sovereignty of the nations. There’s really no way this state can ever fully pay the debt it owes Indigenous peoples and Nations.

[chssooner]

This! And the Governor is still attacking the sovereignty of the nations. There’s really no way this state can ever fully pay the debt it owes Indigenous peoples and Nations.

To be fair, the state didn't exist until almost 100 yeas after the Trail of Tears. Heck, it didn't exist at the time of the land rush. Until Stitt, this state lived fairly peacefully with the tribes.

I am not saying you are fully wrong, by any means. But, this state was granted these problems before it was a twinkle in the USA's eyes.

[dankrutka]

To be fair, the state didn't exist until almost 100 yeas after the Trail of Tears. Heck, it didn't exist at the time of the land rush. Until Stitt, this state lived fairly peacefully with the tribes.

I am not saying you are fully wrong, by any means. But, this state was granted these problems before it was a twinkle in the USA's eyes.

This is wildly uninformed. I know that this state has miseducated Oklahomans through schools (yes, I taught Oklahoma history), but I recommend getting into some honest history about Oklahoma’s past. I mean, they’re literally filming a movie in Oklahoma based on a bestseller about how Osage citizens were murdered to dispossess them of their wealth while the state did nothing. I mean, the Supreme Court just ruled that the state of Oklahoma has been acting in violation of treaties for its entire existence. And when this injustice was finally addressed, Stitt immediately started trying to overturn the decision using anti-Indigenous propaganda. Oklahoma was the primary site of boarding schools that literally kidnapped and brainwashed Indigenous children to achieve cultural genocide. This entire state’s history is a crime scene. There’s so many books documenting all this that I don’t even know where to start. Maybe Angie Debo. Princeton had to publish her first book because white Oklahoman elites were so terrified of their anti-Indigenous crimes being uncovered. Of course, they got away with it. So, no. Oklahoma‘a history with the Indigenous nations is characterized by violence, not peace. The nations are strong because they have survived and thrived with a state regularly working against them. And, I’m not saying there haven’t been areas of growth, but it’s a long, sad history that still needs to be confronted. I will finish on a positive note. I was reading a new national study of state social studies and Oklahoma’s were exemplary on Indigenous topics… but this is a very recent change. Here’s the study: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/...4.2021.1922322 I hope this trend continues in schools.

[onthestrip]

Why would they not pay sales tax on construction materials or ad valorem taxes? It is not sovereign land, AFAIK. It is a part of Oklahoma City.

Just like any government body or municipality, they are sales tax exempt from purchases. As for the ad valorem thing, maybe OKANA is different from other tribal properties on tribal land and they will pay. I'd be surprised if they werent exempt though.

My opinion is that all the exemptions from different taxes, and the very low 4-6% gaming fees paid to the state is that we dont come close to paying for the social costs of these casinos. Is OKANA a win for OKC, sure, it looks awesome and its in the heart of the state and there will be some spillover spending. But how much do we gain from resorts in places like Miami, Thackerville, Durant, etc?

[chssooner]

Just like any government body or municipality, they are sales tax exempt from purchases. As for the ad valorem thing, maybe OKANA is different from other tribal properties on tribal land and they will pay. I'd be surprised if they werent exempt though.

My opinion is that all the exemptions from different taxes, and the very low 4-6% gaming fees paid to the state is that we dont come close to paying for the social costs of these casinos. Is OKANA a win for OKC, sure, it looks awesome and its in the heart of the state and there will be some spillover spending. But how much do we gain from resorts in places like Miami, Thackerville, Durant, etc?

I mean, there workers aren't immune from income tax. I doubt they pay property tax, but heck, I could be wrong on that.

[Dob Hooligan]

Just like any government body or municipality, they are sales tax exempt from purchases. As for the ad valorem thing, maybe OKANA is different from other tribal properties on tribal land and they will pay. I'd be surprised if they werent exempt though.

My opinion is that all the exemptions from different taxes, and the very low 4-6% gaming fees paid to the state is that we dont come close to paying for the social costs of these casinos. Is OKANA a win for OKC, sure, it looks awesome and its in the heart of the state and there will be some spillover spending. But how much do we gain from resorts in places like Miami, Thackerville, Durant, etc?

Oklahoma County is unassigned lands. My understanding is that no tribe can claim special status on land in the county. The Chickasaw owns much property in Oklahoma County, but I think they play by the rules that apply to the rest of us.

[Pete]

Oklahoma County is unassigned lands. My understanding is that no tribe can claim special status on land in the county. The Chickasaw owns much property in Oklahoma County, but I think they play by the rules that apply to the rest of us.

I just checked and the Chickasaws pay full property taxes on the old Sportsman's Lodge property they bought a few years ago.

However, no property tax has been paid on the FAM land or the surrounding property now owned by the Chickasaws. It had previously been owned by the city and must be part of the deal.

[Urbanized]

I just checked and the Chickasaws pay full property taxes on the old Sportsman's Lodge property they bought a few years ago.

However, no property tax has been paid on the FAM land or the surrounding property now owned by the Chickasaws. It had previously been owned by the city and must be part of the deal.

“Now owned by the Chickasaws”..? So was there a title transfer? I’m asking because I legitimately do not know. But I THOUGHT I recalled it being retained by the City. That would make the most sense considering the way FAM came together.

I was assuming the rest of the land for development was subject to a long term land lease, likely heavily discounted. This is what would make FAM and associated development financially palatable to the Chickasaws, and it would preserve and include property-tax-exempt status.

If so, the direct benefit to taxpayers would be sales taxes, liquor taxes, room taxes, etc. plus income taxes paid on those who work there. The INDIRECT taxpayer benefit would be the ripple effect it all brings as a major tourism draw. Every lodging, every attraction and at least MOST restaurants in the metro would eventually see at least SOME increased incremental sales, in many cases in a dramatic fashion.

[unfundedrick]

“Now owned by the Chickasaws”..? So was there a title transfer? I’m asking because I legitimately do not know. But I THOUGHT I recalled it being retained by the City. That would make the most sense considering the way FAM came together.

I was assuming the rest of the land for development was subject to a long term land lease, likely heavily discounted. This is what would make FAM and associated development financially palatable to the Chickasaws, and it would preserve and include property-tax-exempt status.

If so, the direct benefit to taxpayers would be sales taxes, liquor taxes, room taxes, etc. plus income taxes paid on those who work there. The INDIRECT taxpayer benefit would be the ripple effect it all brings as a major tourism draw. Every lodging, every attraction and at least MOST restaurants in the metro would eventually see at least SOME increased incremental sales, in many cases in a dramatic fashion.

https://www.oklahoman.com/article/55...ter-and-museum

[shawnw]

(not serious, IDGAF about casinos)

So what I'm hearing is we need a horse racing track on the Okana grounds...