OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark

[G.Walker]

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

Just might be, and for it to be $300M+ resort in the heart of OKC makes it that much better. The only problem I see is the traffic issue to and from the resort. Usually developments like this in other cities are on the outskirts of the city and not in the urban core. So we will see how they handle the connections.

[Jersey Boss]

I hope that OKDOT doesn't play political games if any highway changes need to be made.
The game currently being played in Norman over the proposed Hwy. 9 interchange and the benefit to Riverwind comes to mind.

[G.Walker]

We are talking about a major tourist destination, tourists and employees, supply trucks, all that will bring major traffic to that area. I can't imagine MLK/Eastern being the only connection. It's already congested as it is. But I am sure hotels in Bricktown will implement a shuttle program to and from the resort. And we should see more hotels start popping up around this area, its about to crazy over there.

[Laramie]

Just might be, and for it to be $300M+ resort in the heart of OKC makes it that much better. The only problem I see is the traffic issue to and from the resort. Usually developments like this in other cities are on the outskirts of the city and not in the urban core. So we will see how they handle the connections.

You're correct. Traffic in that area is already a problem. Hope ODOT or the City can fast track something to provide relief before this project begins construction.

[Plutonic Panda]

I hope that OKDOT doesn't play political games if any highway changes need to be made.
The game currently being played in Norman over the proposed Hwy. 9 interchange and the benefit to Riverwind comes to mind.

Correct me if I am wrong but ODOT has realized that possibly the interchange upgrade needs to be bigger in scope than initially realized. SW suburban growth is becoming pretty significant. I am surprised at the amount of sprawl popping up around Newcastle. It's very exciting to see but we will need more roads and lanes to keep up and ODOT sees that there is more demand for this interchange than just to serve Riverwind. It would be nice to see a half stack built with flyovers service E-W traffic on Highway 9 west of I-35.

[Jersey Boss]

Despite tribal funding, Stitt questions I-35 flyover ramp to Riverwind Casino parking lot
https://nondoc.com/2021/05/02/stitt-...o-parking-lot/

[Bellaboo]

Despite tribal funding, Stitt questions I-35 flyover ramp to Riverwind Casino parking lot
https://nondoc.com/2021/05/02/stitt-...o-parking-lot/

Stitt is a problem. Voted for him once but not again.

[Plutonic Panda]

Despite tribal funding, Stitt questions I-35 flyover ramp to Riverwind Casino parking lot
https://nondoc.com/2021/05/02/stitt-...o-parking-lot/

Sitt also canceld the proposed Muskogee Bypass ODOT was going to build. He is a moron.

[BoulderSooner]

Sitt also canceld the proposed Muskogee Bypass ODOT was going to build. He is a moron.

link? i would love to see that plan and read about that ? thanks

[Plutonic Panda]

link? i would love to see that plan and read about that ? thanks

I’ll dig it up later. You don’t remember the proposed US-69 bypass? I’ll dig up what I can when I get home

[soonerguru]

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.

I still lose my sh*t with laughter whenever I see this.

[shawnw]

Clearly the solution to our traffic problem is an expensive Oklahoma City Boulevard flyover

[Laramie]

Clearly the solution to our traffic problem is an expensive Oklahoma City Boulevard flyover

Whatever it takes to solve the traffic problems; they wanted to salvage a few sections of the old crosstown with connecting to the boulevard; now there seems to be no easy inexpensive solution around this without the use of a flyover.

Shawnw: Thanks for the visual.

.

[foodiefan]

nm

[foodiefan]

I still lose my sh*t with laughter whenever I see this.

yep. . .right up there with "Isn't that special" and "Bless your heart"!!

[Plutonic Panda]

link? i would love to see that plan and read about that ? thanks

https://muskogeenow.com/exclusive-st...round-muskogee

[BoulderSooner]

https://muskogeenow.com/exclusive-st...round-muskogee

thank you ... seems like most in Muskogee did not want that bypass? ?

[Plutonic Panda]

thank you ... seems like most in Muskogee did not want that bypass? ?

There’s always opposition to projects like this. The benefits would have far outweighed the negatives. It’s like why Breezewood, PA is opposed to a simple connector between two interstates. Businesses would rather force through traffic through town making it more likely for people to stop. More pollution and time wasted by drivers be damned.

At any rate this project was dropped months after Stitt came into office and I suspect it will come back to the table at some point in the future. The current proposal is a six lane super street IIRC.

[aDark]

So, enough about Muskogee happenings...

Anyone have info or strong feelings as to which locales the OKANA resort will be pulling in for tourism? I expect this resort to be a similar draw to the Great Wolf Lodge down in Dallas. From a quick search it appears that, other than the GWL near Dallas, we have nothing similar in scope located in Kansas, Missouri, or Arkansas. So, do we think the majority of our tourism inflow is coming from those states, Tulsa, and rural Oklahoma?

If some think that this will be a tourist draw from all over the country I'd love to know your perspective and reasoning. I don't doubt it will have a huge impact! I'm just struggling to see someone flying in from Ohio, for example, for the resort. Please, educate me on just how amazing this thing will be!

[Pete]

I don't think many people fly anywhere for a resort, apart from Disney.

I'm sure the expectation is you'll get lots of people driving from the surrounding region. And if someone happens to be passing through, this would entice many into a stay-over.

And of course, if someone is in OKC visiting for business or pleasure, this entire facility would be high on the list.

The water park would no doubt draw people from all over OKC on a regular basis.

[PhiAlpha]

thank you ... seems like most in Muskogee did not want that bypass? ?

That was my first thought. Terrible thing for Muskogee if it happened.

[Plutonic Panda]

That was my first thought. Terrible thing for Muskogee if it happened.

So with your logic let’s remove all the freeways in Tulsa and force traffic into local roads so businesses get an increase in customers. Let’s do the same with I-35. Could you imagine how much more traffic would go through the towns along US-77?

[BoulderSooner]

So with your logic let’s remove all the freeways in Tulsa and force traffic into local roads so businesses get an increase in customers. Let’s do the same with I-35. Could you imagine how much more traffic would go through the towns along US-77?

this would be the opposite of that the road CURRENTY goes into muskogee ..

[PhiAlpha]

So with your logic let’s remove all the freeways in Tulsa and force traffic into local roads so businesses get an increase in customers. Let’s do the same with I-35. Could you imagine how much more traffic would go through the towns along US-77?

Tulsa is a large city. The interstates specifically connect larger cities. Ask all the small towns along Route 66 between larger cities how bypasses worked out for them. US-77 is a highway and isn’t ever going to gain an interstate designation. US-77 doesn’t even really connect any larger cities. If you really wanted to beef up a highway that could become a larger artery between two cities, I would pick US-75. A project to bypass Muskogee just seems like a waste of funding.

[Boomer3791]

I love this for OKC. It will be a fantastic addition. However, I do hope that the whole area around MLK and Reno can be cleaned up as this development drives up real estate prices in the area. That corner and the stretch of Reno going west from there is extremely unattractive. I'm guessing that the choice rooms in the hotel will face "inward" toward the logoon or northwest toward downtown. Anything overlooking the river to the north will be a view of I40 and the homeless, the truck stops and the cheap motels. One of the ugliest, most unfortunate sections of OKC, IMO.