Choctaw Landing Hosts Grand Opening Celebration 

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Chief Gary Batton presided over the ribbon cutting and celebration, which included around 300 attendees.

“Any time you can bring our culture and history together, along with economic development for our tribal members and the citizens of this area, it’s a great day,” Batton said. “We broke ground down here two years ago, and to see our grand opening today and all the things we’re going to be able to bring to McCurtain County, it’s exciting. I love that we’re seeing our culture and history displayed here and that it’s an economic boost to this area. Hopefully, people will learn more about Choctaw Nation here than ever.”

In honor of the special occasion, Choctaw dancers and singers performed, and attendees participated in traditional Choctaw activities like flintknapping, weaponry, and pottery.

Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell was among many state officials in attendance Thursday morning. His speech highlighted the impact Oklahoma’s sovereign nations, such as the Choctaw Nation, have had on the tourism industry.

“You are leading the way in economic development,” Pinnell said of the Choctaw Nation. “Oklahoma is Oklahoma because of our 39 sovereign nations. It is Native America. In Oklahoma, our tourism industry is the third largest industry in the state because of our sovereign nations.”

The opening of the $238 million Choctaw Landing resort significantly boosted the local economy, creating more than 400 jobs in Southeast Oklahoma. It will have an estimated economic impact of $95 million on the region.

The resort includes:

• 100 guest rooms with 15 suites
• Three conference rooms and more than 4,300 square feet of meeting space
• One hotel restaurant and three outdoor dining/bar options
• Resort fitness center
• Pool area with nine cabanas, two hot tubs, and three fire pits
• Outdoor Amphitheater with seating for 125
• Casino with 600 slot machines and eight table games, including roulette and blackjack
• Mercantile with gifts, groceries, a deli, a Starbucks, and a 24-pump fuel station

Incorporating the Choctaw culture throughout, Choctaw Landing has partnered with more than 20 Choctaw artists from around the country to create original artwork for the resort. There are 40 pieces of artwork in public spaces, two large exterior sculptures, an interactive steel sculpture showcasing Choctaw dancers, which they will install during the summer, and 600 pieces of artwork throughout guest rooms.

To celebrate these artists, Choctaw Landing has developed an Art Hike to provide guests with a fun, interactive, and educational look at the Choctaw art featured throughout the resort. Using advanced AI technology, a digital twin of Choctaw Chief Gary Batton will guide visitors as they learn about the culture, art, and history of the Choctaw Nation.

“From the planning stages years ago, we knew that we wanted to bring something to this community that brought culture first and foremost,” said Heidi Grant, senior executive officer over commerce. “Culture was prevalent in the design and development stages. We were very considerate about the nature and community aspects and how we could fit and complement this area.”

To learn more about the resort, please check out www.ChoctawLanding.com.

About Choctaw Landing

Choctaw Landing reflects the natural beauty of Hochatown. It is a 100-room resort with meeting rooms, a restaurant, a pool with nine cabanas, and a casino with 600 slot machines and eight table games. The resort also has an outdoor recreation venue with an amphitheater, beer garden, and food offerings. Additionally, a mercantile with gifts, groceries, a deli, Starbucks, and a 24-pump fuel island is attached to the resort.

About The Choctaw Nation

The Choctaw Nation is the third-largest Indian Nation in the United States, with more than 225,000 tribal members and 12,000-plus associates. These ancient people have an oral tradition dating back over 14,000 years. The first tribe over the Trail of Tears, its historic reservation boundaries are in the southeast corner of Oklahoma, covering 10,923 square miles. The Choctaw Nation’s vision, “Living out the Chahta Spirit of faith, family, and culture,” is evident as it provides opportunities for growth and prosperity. For more information about the Choctaw Nation, its culture, heritage, and traditions, please go to www.choctawnation.com.