Although the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s 5 million makeover of its RiverSpirit Casino into a Margaritaville complex won’t be completed for at least another two years, the project already is having a positive economic impact in the Jenks, Oklahoma area, near Tulsa. Ground was broken last October on the project, which will include a casino, Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville Restaurant, luxury hotel, convention and meeting space, spa and theater.
Across the Arkansas River from the property, the tribe’s RiverWalk Crossing shopping area is showing new signs of life. The tribe purchased the once-vibrant center, opened in 2005, nearly two years ago at a foreclosure auction for $11.5 million. Creek Nation Principal Chief George Tiger said the tribe is drawing up plans to connect the casino and shopping center, possibly with a low-water dam.
Tiger also said the tribe is “getting ready to gear up and be really aggressive in recruiting tenants.” Josh Driskell, president of the Jenks Chamber of Commerce, said tribe members have told him several good new additions are coming to the center. “With the Creeks purchasing it, there was a lot of excitement at the possibilities. If you look across the street at the casino, there’s no reason to believe it couldn’t be similarly successful,” Driskell said.
