OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark

[Snowman]

^
You can see the sheet piles in Pete's pictures above. We just don't know if they are going all the way across.

If looks like most of the current sheet piles fall into two categories, the two V shapes that are taller are probably the edges of the dock, the shorter ones that continue a strait line between them probably act as a cofferdam to allow work behind it on the dock to go forward with the river at normal height.

[Anonymous.]

Look how dramatic the color change of the river is after a heavy rain.


BEFORE:




AFTER:

[warreng88]

Would sheet piles affect the rowing and flow of the river in any way? That would be my main concern as it is a big draw.

[Plutonic Panda]

Any chance in the future the rip rap on both river banks gets replaced with sheet piles or concrete? It would look so much better with something like this:


Then the pathways could come right up the water's edge with railings.

This x100000

The river around downtown would look so much better with this than the rocks they have. I am not sure if the rocks help with the waves or affects the current though.

[onthestrip]

This x100000

The river around downtown would look so much better with this than the rocks they have. I am not sure if the rocks help with the waves or affects the current though.

The rocks are apparently much better for reducing waves and making rowing conditions better.

[Snowman]

Would sheet piles affect the rowing and flow of the river in any way? That would be my main concern as it is a big draw.

They might do something similar to what is by the boathouses, where they have rip-rap up to roughly the normal waterline, then the sheet piles directly behind that. So would have relatively low change to how the water interacts with the river's banks.

[CaptDave]

This place is going to be awesome. I hope it plays a role in the upcoming Olympics.

It would be a great Olympic Village. Then use the river cruise boats to transport canoe athletes to the venue directly from OKANA.

[Dob Hooligan]

This x100000

The river around downtown would look so much better with this than the rocks they have. I am not sure if the rocks help with the waves or affects the current though.

Looks great. Also looks to me like a lot of money upfront, and a lot of money when it breaks down via natural water erosive action. Rip-rap might not be sexy, but I think it is cost effective in the short and long term.

[bombermwc]

The rocks are apparently much better for reducing waves and making rowing conditions better.

Yes and natural rocks are better for the wildlife too. Smooth structures make water move more easily (hence the surface isn't as smooth since it moves more quickly/ripples/etc) The rocks help break it up in a less "pattern" way. It also allows for better flood control than the smooth stuff. With walls, it can only go up and then spill over. Now we dont have the same issue in this area, but the V shape allows for it to hold a lot more before it starts to spill over. With the spill dams, we'd have to have just a ridiculous amount of rain to come close to that as a problem so i dont think that aspect is really at play, although remember this IS a flood control river. We just damed it up to look pretty so we didn't mow our river any more (where people can see it).

[BG918]

Looks great. Also looks to me like a lot of money upfront, and a lot of money when it breaks down via natural water erosive action. Rip-rap might not be sexy, but I think it is cost effective in the short and long term.

Rip rap is definitely the cheapest option. And overtime it can grow plants and trees over it to look natural. Fresh rip rap just looks unnatural. Similar story in Tulsa on the Arkansas River banks with all the new rip rap next to the Gathering Place.

[Mr. Blue Sky]

There were a few posts in July about the aquarium, but nothing that added info about the timing of this. Is there a timeline somewhere? I am so impressed with this development. We are again seeing the impact of Chickasaw projects that are second to none.

[Pete]

There were a few posts in July about the aquarium, but nothing that added info about the timing of this. Is there a timeline somewhere? I am so impressed with this development. We are again seeing the impact of Chickasaw projects that are second to none.

The Aquarium is very much a Phase II project and driven primarily by the Zoo.

From everything I can gather, we are probably about 3-5 years out.

[rte66man]

Any chance in the future the rip rap on both river banks gets replaced with sheet piles or concrete? It would look so much better with something like this:
<snipped photo>
Then the pathways could come right up the water's edge with railings.

I can't begin to imagine how much that would cost plus the red tape getting the Corps of Engineers to sign off on it.

[rte66man]

The rocks are apparently much better for reducing waves and making rowing conditions better.

+1

The riprap absorbs the waves to a certain extent

[gaeddert2]

My Construction Update Video OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark see more on my Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/TonyGaeddert

[Bellaboo]

Great video Tony ! So much going on, it's incredible the Chickasaw Nation had the vision for such a complex impressive project.

And a pretty cool cameo too.

[Pete]

Thanks so much Tony G!

Wow, that lagoon has tons of huge cracks which they are now having to patch.

[Jake]

Wonderful video, thank you!

[Dob Hooligan]

Thanks so much Tony G!

Wow, that lagoon has tons of huge cracks which they are now having to patch.

I'm guessing the cracks are part of the way it is made. Chickasaw are usually too smart to try and continue with a subferior base.

[Oski]

Not sure why, but the color schemes make me feel like this project was built 20, 30 years ago.

[G.Walker]

^ True, screams 90's to me. But to be fair, most Chickasaw Nation projects have this same color scheme. Winstar has the same color scheme. Maybe it has some significance to the Native American culture.

[jn1780]

I'm guessing the cracks are part of the way it is made. Chickasaw are usually too smart to try and continue with a subferior base.

I don't think the 'cracks' are actually cracks. Wasn't there last month, so they were recently added.

[BimmerSooner]

Not sure why, but the color schemes make me feel like this project was built 20, 30 years ago.

Agreed. Will the staff be wearing oversized Tommy Hilfiger shirts?

[Rover]

^ True, screams 90's to me. But to be fair, most Chickasaw Nation projects have this same color scheme. Winstar has the same color scheme. Maybe it has some significance to the Native American culture.

Maybe their marketing people simply know that the colors in the logo are VERY popular colors for water parks and family water resorts. HMMM. Maybe it isn't First Americans being behind the times, but actually knowing what sells to families.... fun colors.

https://www.kalahariresorts.com/medi...jpg&quality=60
https://www.hotel-scoop.com/wp-conte...waterpark2.jpg
https://www.legoland.com/florida/pla...s://i0.wp.com/
http://www.tripstodiscover.com/wp-co...size=959%2c719

[Jake]

Maybe their marketing people simply know that the colors in the logo are VERY popular colors for water parks and family water resorts. HMMM. Maybe it isn't First Americans being behind the times, but actually knowing what sells to families.... fun colors.

https://www.kalahariresorts.com/medi...jpg&quality=60
https://www.hotel-scoop.com/wp-conte...waterpark2.jpg
https://www.legoland.com/florida/pla...s://i0.wp.com/
http://www.tripstodiscover.com/wp-co...size=959%2c719

Was thinking the same thing. What colors are water parks supposed to be? Earth tones?