OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark

[Laramie]

Aren’t they moving the bus station back to downtown?

Initial plans included it as apart of the Santa Fe Station's Intermodal Transportation Hub along with the regular city buses. They will more than likely leave the bus station and the regular city buses at their present sites.

[BG918]

I agree. I believe the state tourism department made a huge blunder when it moved away from the “ Native America” theme. Absolutely nothing they’ve done since then has been memorable. “Discover Oklahoma” is just a generic throw-away line that any state could say. Nothing original or Oklahoma about it.

I miss Native America too. That heritage is a defining characteristic of the state.

[Laramie]

▲ Impressed with the mention of a new pedestrian bridge.
Hope the city will dress it up to complement Skydance Bridge.

[BoulderSooner]

Initial plans included it as apart of the Santa Fe Station's Intermodal Transportation Hub along with the regular city buses. They will more than likely leave the bus station and the regular city buses at their present sites.

that would only be up to gray hound a private company ... that doesn't want to be down town ..

[Laramie]

that would only be up to gray hound a private company ... that doesn't want to be down town ..

Totally lost me on your statement. Please elaborate a little more...

Also the move wherever Greyhound ended up; had to be approved by the city.

BoulderSooner, you can have the last word. Let's get back on topic. OKANA Resort & outdoor Waterpark...

[Plutonic Panda]

That makes absolutely no sense that greyhound wouldn’t want to be downtown but okay.

Laramie, thank you that was the proposal I saw. As part of the Santa Fe multimodal master plan they also had a large parking structure where the current hotel development is proposed near the uhaul building is. Of course they had a tunnel portal proposed and backed out when it got too hard for them a sadly occurring theme in Oklahoma.

[catch22]

Anyways. How about that Lagoon.

[Rover]

Anyways. How about that Lagoon.

Thanks.
Keeping these threads on topic is like herding chickens. Lol

[Plutonic Panda]

Thanks.
Keeping these threads on topic is like herding chickens. Lol

Seems like the traffic related to this development isn’t a bad thing to discuss while we await news from this. There’s been maybe less than 10 posts talking about the bus station. The lagoon is a lagoon that will constructed and built for people to swim in. Not sure what else to say about it.

[soonerguru]

^

I always think of how Texas promotes itself and very effectively...

They are all over the cowboy image, BBQ, the rough-and-tumble type of thing because that is a big part of what makes them so unique. And in no way does it detract from their progress and the massive amount of modern development. The two work together.


As cities and states start to look more and more similar (everyone has the same big-box stores, hotels and similar restaurants) we need to distinguish ourselves and our Native American roots and the Land Run (with all its warts and transgressions) are truly unique and incredibly interesting.

The OKC Chamber has adopted a new promotional campaign called 'The Modern Frontier'. It's a good start and references Native American and Western culture. We need to do more of that. I also liked the license plates that proclaimed Oklahoma as 'Native America'.


Now that the First Americans Museum is open and done to incredibly high standards, time to double down on this identity.

Native America was the official state tourism slogan at one time. Ironically, some powerful business interests worked to kill it off. It was a very racist move driven by outmoded thinking that promoting our Indian heritage is "bad for business."

[soonerguru]

At the same time, I think the state Department of Tourism really missed the mark with their recent rebranding.

That star logo with a bunch of colors... It could be from anywhere and says nothing about Oklahoma.

I agree it's terrible, but didn't this arise from the Lt. Governor?

[Jersey Boss]

I agree it's terrible, but didn't this arise from the Lt. Governor?

Yes the Lt. Governor oversaw the logo creation. He serves as the first Oklahoma Secretary of Tourism and Branding, overseeing the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation.
One would be remiss not to mention the state brand, "Imagine That" was unveiled at the same time.

[David]

▲ Impressed with the mention of a new pedestrian bridge.
Hope the city will dress it up to complement Skydance Bridge.

This videos mentions the resort being partially funded by MAPS 4 money at 48 seconds in, what MAPS project are they talking about?

[Celebrator]

Yes the Lt. Governor oversaw the logo creation. He serves as the first Oklahoma Secretary of Tourism and Branding, overseeing the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation.
One would be remiss not to mention the state brand, "Imagine That" was unveiled at the same time.

Yeah, just faaar too generic for all of that money spent.

[Rover]

I assume the current front drive to the museum will be shifted south.
The whole complex will have a great view of the OKC skyline.

[Pete]

This videos mentions the resort being partially funded by MAPS 4 money at 48 seconds in, what MAPS project are they talking about?

MAPS4 will provide money for a dam farther to the east and for the pedestrian bridge that will cross from this resort to the north side of the river.

The bridge will make it much easier for pedestrians and cyclists to move between Lower Bricktown/Boathouse District and the FAM and OKANA.

[David]

Ahh, that makes sense and those do feel like properly MAPS items.

[Pete]

There is also a $128 million TIF district that was established when the Chickasaws took over the FAM.

That will go a long way towards this $300 million development.

[Laramie]

There is also a $128 million TIF district that was established when the Chickasaws took over the FAM.

That will go a long way towards this $300 million development.

Great news. Thanks for sharing Pete.

There may be some funds in MAPS 4 that's park related since this is not a downtown park, don't know
if the project would qualify for such funds.

[G.Walker]

I'm anxious to see the final renderings and site plan in the coming months. Its obvious that what was presented is conceptual. I wouldn't be surprised if they end up building a larger hotel.

[Pete]

I'm anxious to see the final renderings and site plan in the coming months. Its obvious that what was presented is conceptual. I wouldn't be surprised if they end up building a larger hotel.

I don't think it's conceptual.

They want to start soon and be open by summer of 2024.

[G.Walker]

It's just an artist drawing. They still have to submit final plans to the planning commission etc. I am talking about the actual final blueprint.

[BoulderSooner]

I don't think it's conceptual.

They want to start soon and be open by summer of 2024.

this ..

this development has been in planning for years now ..

to meet summer 2024 this will have to break ground in 2022

[G.Walker]

I am sure they have the architects working on the final plans now, something else will be released when it comes time to be presented to the Planning Commission & City Council. So even if they didn't start until Late Spring/Summer of 2022, they can meet the Summer 2024 projected opening.

[Plutonic Panda]

So this is likely the biggest private development since the Devon Tower?