Chickasaw Nation

Chickasaw Nation opens West Bay resort and casino at Lake Texoma, Oklahomana

A new casino and resort opened by the Chickasaw Nation at Lake Texoma is expected to draw thousands of tourists to the area and have a multimillion-dollar annual economic impact on the regional economy.

The West Bay Casino and Resort, located about 100 miles north of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, includes a 40-room hotel, lakefront cabins and other amenities in a location attractive to visitors interested not only in gaming but also boating, fishing, hiking and other outdoor recreation, tribal officials said.

Built at the site of the former Lake Texoma State Lodge, West Bay was the result of decades of planning.

“What you see here today is a resort we believe will serve new generations of Oklahomans and those from outside our state who visit here, much as Lake Texoma State Lodge served the tourists of its era,” Chickasaw Gov. Bill Anoatubby said.

The three-story hotel’s amenities include an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a business center and meeting space, a restaurant, a gift shop and outdoor recreation. Each of 10 four-bedroom cabins includes a full-service kitchen, fireplace and living room.

The casino features 275 slot machines and several blackjack and roulette tables.

Occupying more than 60 acres, the property showcases views of Lake Texoma and the historic Roosevelt Bridge connecting Marshall and Bryan counties, the tribe said in a release.

The development will have a nearly $58 million economic impact during its first year of operation, according to a study commissioned by the Chickasaw Nation. It’s likely to have a $168 million economic impact over the next five years.

West Bay is located on the former site of the state lodge, built in 1957 and once considered one of the region’s foremost tourist attractions. It was demolished in 2009. The property sat unused for years while the state of Oklahoma searched for a strategic partner to develop a tourist destination on the site.

“The Chickasaw Nation’s involvement in this project began in 2016, when Gov. Anoatubby announced our partnership with the state of Oklahoma to develop this stunning piece of land here by Lake Texoma,” Chickasaw Nation Secretary of Commerce Dan Boren said.

The development is just off U.S. Highway 70, near the Catfish Bay Marina. It covers 50 acres of lakefront property, as well as 11.5 acres of land acquired by the state’s Commissioners of the Land Office from the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation.

“We anticipate West Bay 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 visitors a fun, inviting, quality experience that will entice them to stay even longer,” Boren said.

The tribe’s goal, Anoatubby said, was to create a facility that would honor the past, serve as a destination for tourists, and act as an economic driver for the region.

“The ripple effects of the Chickasaw Nation’s investment will be felt in businesses in the town of Kingston and across this part of Oklahoma, as more and more visitors begin returning to this beautiful area,” he said.

The development also will positively affect Chickasaw citizens, as it is expected to employ more than 170 people in a variety of roles.

“The Chickasaw Nation is honored to have worked with the state of Oklahoma on this project,” Anoatubby said. “We always enjoy partnering with other entities that seek to improve the standard of life for our fellow Oklahomans. We look forward to further opportunities to do that.”

Chickasaw Nation opens West Bay resort and casino at Lake Texoma, Oklahomana

By: Journal Record Staff

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