In October, a group led by Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby and a number of city officials broke ground for what will become the massive OKANA Resort and Indoor Waterpark.
Located next door to the First Americans Museum — which chronicles the collective histories of Oklahoma’s 39 First American Nations — the resort will provide an ideal destination for both solo and group travelers. Tentatively scheduled to open in 2025, OKANA will be one of the Chickasaw Nation’s most ambitious projects.
At the center of it all will be a 4.5-acre outdoor adventure lagoon and an indoor waterpark. Outdoors, the lagoon will welcome guests with water slides, an inflatable water obstacle course and a golden beach during hot summer days. In winter, the whole space will transform into a winter wonderland, complete with an ice-skating ring and ice tubing.
The two-level indoor waterpark, which in itself will cover over 100,000 square feet, will include everything from wave pools, action riders and water slides to fountain shows and water-based treasure hunts.
Visitors will find additional options for adventure and entertainment at the resort’s other attractions, which will include an amphitheater, a conference center and a 25,000-square-foot First Americans Retail Gallery, where Native American artists will sell their handcrafted work.
