Plans for a casino resort proposed by the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma to be located on some 50 acres of lakefront property overlooking Lake Texoma are reportedly moving forward.

The Kingston Casino Resort project includes a 40-room hotel and 10 rental cabins, along with a 9,600-plus square foot gaming floor, restaurants and retail space.

It’s all part of a multi-million dollar master-planned community called Pointe Vista, which in 2006 promised luxury condos and homes. And while construction on the sprawling 2700-acre mixed-use development saw the razing of the former Lake Texoma Lodge in 2009, plans never did come to fruition, with the private developer reportedly blaming the economic recession of 2008 for the failing.

CLO lawsuit:

Pointe Vista signed a deal with the Commissioners of the Land Office (CLO) over 10 years ago to purchase the former Lake Texoma State Park land to build an enormous new development on the lake that would include many luxury amenities including a four-star hotel. However, years of delays led to the CLO suing Pointe Vista Development, LLC in January 2014 for breach of contract in an effort to force the Oklahoma City-based developer to either begin work on the project or allow the state to buy back the park land.

The lawsuit was settled in 2015 with the CLO agreeing to honor Pointe Vista’s June 2008 contract with the Oklahoma Tourism Department and Pointe Vista being released from its development requirements. The settlement also allowed the developer to retain more than 700 acres of Lake Texoma State Park.

Third party buyer:

One of the key provisions of the settlement included the CLO buying back “50 prime acres in what is known as Area B – about 225 acres on the south side of U.S. 70 and includes the site of the old state park lodge – for the construction of a hotel and entertainment facilities,” with plans to resell to a third party buyer, according to news agency KTEN.

Fast forward to October 2016 and the reveal of that “third party buyer” when the State of Oklahoma announced that it had partnered with the Chickasaw Nation to build a casino, resort and other amenities along the lakefront just off U.S. Highway 70, across from the Chickasaw Pointe Golf Course. That same year, on October 27, tribal-owned Texoma Development Holdings LLC  purchased the land from the state and finalized the contract for $4.2 million. 

In addition to its massive flagship property, Winstar World Casino and Resort, in Thackerville, the Nation is responsible for over two dozen gaming properties in the Sooner State.

Initial plans for the lakefront property included a three-story hotel with lounge and meeting rooms, a restaurant, fitness center and gift shop, business center, outdoor pool and recreation area, along with a casino featuring as many as 300 electronic games and up to 10 lakefront fishing/boating cottages.

Environmental report:

In March, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) reportedly released a report examining the possible effects of developing the 62-acre property, which includes approximately 11.5 acres of land acquired by the CLO from the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation, could have on the environment.

The Chickasaw Nation reportedly purchased the land located on the east side of Marshall County but before it can legally operate a casino there the land must be placed into federal trust status per the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).

According to KXII News 12, the BIA in Oklahoma said that the next step in the lengthy pross is to address any input from the public on the March report. The proposal would then travel to the Office of Indian Gaming.

Per the BIA report, the casino would generate a total of 174 jobs and within the first year of operations have an estimated $58 million economic impact.

Pointe Vista plans:

In late January, News 12 reported that Oklahoma City-headquartered Skybridge Real Estate and Development was “moving forward with building houses, town homes and condos for the long-planned Pointe Vista community” located on the opposite side of Highway 70 from the proposed lakefront casino, and had reached out to individuals who had in the past showed interest in a “pre-sale, investing phase.”

According to the Pointe Vista website…

“At completion, the project will be a robust tourist attraction with top of the line amenities and plans to feature a destination resort hotel with convention center located within a waterfront town center featuring restaurants, entertainment venues, casino, waterfront housing and a 900-slip marina to be developed in 11 phases over a number of years.”

Reportedly to be built one-phase, casino construction is expected to start in 2020, according to News 12.