OKANA Resort: A Crown Jewel of Oklahoma CityOKANA Resort: A Crown Jewel of Oklahoma City When it opens in spring 2025, the Chickasaw Nation’s new $400 million OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark will become a centerpiece of the new Horizons District. Located near I-40 and along the Oklahoma River, the resort complex will complement the First Americans Museum as a celebrated destination. With 40 acres of amenities, the OKANA Resort boasts an impressive lineup: * 11-story, 404-room hotel with spacious rooms designed for families * 4-acre outdoor adventure lagoon with a sandy beach, lounge chairs, and a giant TV screen * Conference center * 100,000-square-foot indoor water park with wave pool, lazy rivers, pools, and water slides * Family entertainment center * Full-service spa * Amphitheater and event lawn * Retail shops * Multiple dining options The resort’s design incorporates the rich heritage of First American tribes, with art installations adorning the property. As Oklahoma is home to the largest number of federally recognized Native tribes in the United States, the resort pays tribute to this cultural diversity. Upon completion, the OKANA Resort is projected to create approximately 800 new jobs in Oklahoma City and generate significant economic impact. The project is also connected to the popular OKC Boathouse district via a Ferry Landing, creating a vibrant pedestrian-friendly area. Key Features: * Hotel rooms ranging from 40 to 70 square meters, accommodating an average of 4.3 guests * Adventure lagoon with water slides and an inflatable water obstacle course in the summer, transforming into ice tubes and an ice rink in the winter * Two-level indoor water park * Pedestrian bridge connecting the resort to the Oklahoma City Trail System and the north and south sides of the Oklahoma River * Riverfront event area with views of the US Rowing National High Performance Center’s 2,000-meter course * Collaboration with Dallas-based real estate developer Wynne/Jackson, Aquatic Development Group of New York for the hotel and water park, ADCI of Wisconsin for hotel architecture, and Benchmark Pyramid Hospitality for resort operations
When it opens in spring 2025, the Chickasaw Nation’s new $400 million OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark will join the First Americans Museum as the crown jewels of the new Horizons District near I-40 and east along the Oklahoma River.
The 40-acre resort complex will feature an 11-story, 404-room hotel, a 4-acre outdoor adventure lagoon, a conference center, an indoor water park, a family entertainment center, a full-service spa, an amphitheater and event lawn, retail shops and multiple dining options.
The resort is located adjacent to the First Americans Museum and is intended to provide space that expands the museum’s programming and events and includes a celebration of First American heritage, with art displayed throughout the property. Oklahoma currently has more federally recognized Native tribes than any other state in the country.
Upon completion, an economic feasibility study estimates that the resort is expected to add approximately 800 new jobs in Oklahoma City and is expected to generate $97 million in annualized economic impact in its first year, with ten-year estimates of more than $1 billion.
The OKANA Resort Hotel has rooms from 40 to 70 square meters. The rooms are larger than traditional hotel rooms and will be designed to accommodate an average of 4.3 guests per room. The hotel has more than 100 suites.
Resort guests have access to a 4.5-acre outdoor adventure lagoon with a sandy beach, complete with lounge chairs and a giant TV screen. Non-guests can purchase day passes to access the water park.
The adventure lagoon will feature water slides and an inflatable water obstacle course in the summer. During the winter months, these features will be converted into ice tubes and an ice rink. A two-level, 100,000-square-foot indoor water park will feature a wave pool, lazy rivers, an indoor pool and water slides.
OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark will connect to the popular OKC Boathouse district with the development of a Ferry Landing. To make it accessible to both locals and guests, the area will also be connected to the Oklahoma City Trail System by a pedestrian bridge over the Oklahoma City River. Funding for the pedestrian bridge is included in the current Oklahoma City MAPS program to connect the north and south sides of the Oklahoma River.
The Ferry Landing will feature a riverfront event area where guests will have a front-row view of the finish line of the US Rowing National High Performance Center’s 2,000-meter course.
“This project will serve as a vital pedestrian connection to the OKANA Resort and Indoor Waterpark, the First Americans Museum and OKC’s vibrant downtown,” said Chickasaw State Secretary of Commerce Dan Boren. “It will boost tourism and create a more cohesive, convenient and enjoyable experience for all visitors.”
“We appreciate the forward-thinking leadership within the City of Oklahoma City that has worked to make this project a reality and we look forward to the positive impact it will have on our city,” he said.
Dallas-based real estate development firm Wynne/Jackson is assisting with master planning for the project. The hotel and water park developer is Aquatic Development Group of New York and ADCI of Wisconsin is the architect of the ho9tel.
Benchmark Pyramid hospitality, an approved operator or brand such as Hilton, Intercontinental Group, Hyatt and Marriott, must oversee the resort’s operations.
