If You Build it…

One of my favorite movie lines of all time is, “If you build it, they will come.” As everyone knows, it’s from the classic movie “Field of Dreams.”

I am proud to report Cherokee Nation is developing its own ‘field of dreams’ in Tahlequah, as we recently announced plans for the largest single economic development investment in the history of our capital city.

Like the movie, right now the future Cherokee Springs Plaza is just a 150-acre field. But on the horizon is a $170 million, five-year project. It will be a destination attraction with fine dining, entertainment and shopping. These shops and eateries will be a mix of national and local options that are not currently found in Tahlequah.

This project allows us to enhance the tourism footprint of the Cherokee Nation and Tahlequah, grow our local economy and create hundreds of new jobs for Cherokee people.  Those income dollars will bring in more sales tax and more disposable income for everyone.  The prosperity of this project will ripple across northeast Oklahoma.

As a lifelong businessman, I can tell you investment opportunities like these are rare, indeed. We now have a chance to build something that will create a positive change for our tribe, our people and our community for years to come.  To me, that is real hope for a better future.

Cherokee Springs Plaza, designed to be more than 1.3 million square feet of mixed use space, will adjoin the 18-hole Cherokee Springs Golf Course, which the tribe also owns. The eventual relocation of Cherokee Casino Tahlequah and the addition of a hotel and convention center will allow more events to be hosted right here in our backyard, rather than having to drive to other areas for banquets and receptions. It will be an ideal site for conferences and meetings. The amenities will be second to none and will attract people and tourism dollars. It cements our place as the entertainment leader in northeast Oklahoma.

Equally important as the retail development and economic boon are the educational opportunities we are creating for our Cherokee youth.

When we eventually relocate Cherokee Casino Tahlequah, we’ll finally be able to convert the existing casino into a bigger and better immersion school for our Cherokee children. That was the original plan years ago when the casino was built near Sequoyah Schools. And today, through strategic decision-making, we are finally able to execute that dream for our people.

The project is a three-phase process. First, we will build roads and establish utilities to the property. The second phase includes building a new Cherokee Casino Tahlequah with a resort hotel, convention center and a new golf course clubhouse.  Lastly will be the installation of the retail strip in Tahlequah.

We have worked diligently with our partners in the community, including the mayor’s office, city council, Northeastern State University and Tahlequah Chamber of Commerce. Every single official has been supportive and appreciative. This project won’t be easy, but it will improve our future. Cherokee Springs Plaza will be good for our people and good for Tahlequah. It is another way we are creating more jobs and more hope for the Cherokee Nation.

We will build it, and they will come.