National award highlights OKANA’s role in OKC’s growth

The OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark was named a winner in the 2025 ICSC Excellence in Community Advancement Awards, announced during ICSC Las Vegas.

"We chose to nominate OKANA for the Excellence in Community Advancement Award because it represents a bold vision brought to life through partnership, placemaking and cultural celebration," said Tammy Fate, director of retail development and recruitment for the Chamber. "This project is not only transforming Oklahoma City's riverfront—it's honoring heritage, creating opportunity and inspiring a new generation of community-centered development."

The awards recognize public-private partnerships that deliver measurable results through retail or mixed-use development. OKANA received the Innovation in Community honor, a special recognition selected by ICSC judges and the Community Advancement Advisory Committee. The honor is awarded to a project that introduces a creative solution to a community challenge or significantly improves community impact.

Led by the Chickasaw Nation, the OKANA Resort and Indoor Waterpark opened in February, marking a major step forward for the city’s visitor economy and the Chickasaw Nation’s business strategy. The $400 million resort is located in the Horizons District next to the First Americans Museum and is the largest commercial investment in city history.

The development features an 11-story, 404-room hotel, a 4.5-acre outdoor waterpark, a 100,000-square-foot indoor waterpark, multiple restaurants, event venues and a freestanding entertainment plaza.

The resort supports OKC’s growing tourism sector, which draws 24 million visitors each year and contributes $4.5 billion in annual economic activity. In its first year, OKANA is projected to generate $97 million in impact and over $1.3 billion across a 10-year span. It is expected to create 400 to 600 permanent jobs and draw about 500,000 annual visitors, with more than half coming from outside Oklahoma.