OKANA Resort officially open for business

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — It’s been several months for cars driving along I-40 to see it being built, but the Okana Resort in southeast Oklahoma City is now open for business. KFOR had a crew there Friday morning for the full tour.

Friday morning’s ribbon cutting and news conference on the property marked a step into the new reality that was all sparked by a vision from decades ago.

"Never again will we be a city that you just pass through,” Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt said.

A year and a half since they broke ground, the Okana Resort is set to make a splash as Oklahoma’s newest tourist destination.

"We've transformed this site from an old oil field to a vibrant world-class entertainment and cultural destination that will complement and support the success of the First Americans Museum and further showcase the rich cultures and traditions of Oklahoma tribes,” said Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby.

Highly visible along the Oklahoma River, the Okana Resort has an 11-story hotel with 404 rooms, a 20,000-square-foot entertainment center that includes games and laser tag, 13 restaurants, a 4-and-a-half acre outdoor adventure area, and more, which are open for business.

Even on the coldest day, you can still go for a swim in their 100,000-square-foot indoor water park.

“There's nothing even remotely like the water park for 200 miles in any direction,” Holt said.

On top of that, the resort is slated to provide up to 625 direct and indirect full-time jobs annually. Over the next decade, they estimate that it is also expected to drive over $1 billion in spending with over $200 million in tax revenue for Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, and the state.

"Ladies and gentlemen, don't you know that we get a lot more done when we work together? Don't you agree?” Anoatubby said as the crowd clapped.

For more information on the park and pricing, you can visit their website here.