Artist's rendering of the Cherokee Springs Plaza in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Image from GSBS Architects
The Cherokee Nation announced plans for a $170 million casino and retail complex in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The Cherokee Springs Plaza will include a casino, two hotels, retail, office space and a convention center. The 150-acre project is located off a major highway in Tahlequah, the tribe's capital. “It was the largest contiguous piece of property left in the capitol of the Cherokee Nation, and they’ve been on the drawing board for almost a year now with some of the best land developers in the country coming up with their plan to make this a showpiece in not only all of Indian Country, but I think it’s going to be a showplace for Oklahoma,” Chief Bill John Baker said during a press conference on Friday, The Cherokee Phoenix reported.
An aerial map of the property that will be developed as the Cherokee Springs Plaza. The green arrow marks the furniture store owned by Chief Bill John Baker. The golf course is in the upper right corner. Image from Google Maps
The tribe purchased the land and an existing golf course -- now known as Cherokee Springs Golf Course -- in December 2012 through Cherokee Nation Businesses. A board member at the time was a part owner of the site but said he recused himself from the sale. The property abuts Baker's Furniture, which is owned by Chief Baker. Get the Story:
Tribe announces Cherokee Springs Plaza project (The Cherokee Phoenix 8/29)
CN to build $170M resort, casino (The Tahlequah Daily Press 8/30)
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