In 2006, the state of Oklahoma sold 700 acres of Lake Texoma State Park near Kingston, once one of the state’s most popular tourist destinations, to Pointe Vista, a private development company associated with influential businessmen Mark and Scott Fischer and the late Aubrey McClendon, co-founder of Chesapeake Energy. Pointe Vista promised to build a 0 million resort but did not deliver. Eventually, the state Commissioners of the Land Office sued Pointe Vista. The state regained 50 acres and Pointe Vista kept the rest of the land with no strings attached to develop it for tourism.
This past October, the Chickasaw Nation announced it had bought the 50-acre tract and would develop it into a lakeside hotel-casino on the site of the former Texoma Lodge, which was demolished in 2009. The proposal also includes cabins, a restaurant and bars. Chickasaw Nation Commerce Secretary Bill Lance said, “Philosophically, this is a project we embrace, because we see the need for that economic activity and improved tourism.”
The Chickasaw Nation has applied to the Bureau of Indian Affairs to take the land into trust, a process that can take up to three years. “This is a step-by-step process and our initial steps revolve around securing approvals from various governmental agencies. Typically, our tourism/resort projects have a significant impact on local economies. We are expecting to hire at least 100 people, most of whom will live in the area,” Lance said. He added about 100 construction jobs also would be created, plus hundreds of other jobs required to support a tourism destination.
“We anticipate this project will be an anchor tourist destination at Lake Texoma. There are an estimated 6 million visitors to the area each year and it is our goal to not only increase that traffic but give them a fun, inviting, quality hotel and casino that will entice them to stay even longer. It is absolutely our goal to bring more business and more people to Lake Texoma,” Lance stated.
Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin added, “It’s been a vacant lot since 2006 when the property was first purchased, to the time the lodge was demolished in 2009. The good thing is, we will finally have the jobs and revenue coming back into the state. It should also spur other development in the area.”
