Cherokee Nation Announces $80M Entertainment District Addition To Hard Rock

Plans were announced Wednesday to bring an upscale outlet mall and an entertainment district to Catoosa. The development would go up on Cherokee land near the Hard Rock Casino.

The project is costing about $1 million an acre as the Cherokee Nation is leasing some of the land west of the casino to a Texas based developer for $80 million.

It was great news for not only shoppers, but the community as the Cherokee Nation said there will be 100 retail spaces, restaurants and even a gaming area.

“It is really going to be a game changer,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker.

Baker said The Cherokee Outlets and The District are going to have a massive impact on Catoosa and the Tulsa Region. They're estimating it will bring in 1,000 jobs, millions of visitors and an estimated $120 million in sales per year.

“Imagine you are coming into a place that has very little and you brought a whole city in. That is kind of how we see it,” said Catoosa Mayor, Red Statum.

Baker said, “Instead of shopping in Oklahoma City or Branson, now we've got the opportunity right here.”

He said it wasn't hard to convince the developers, The Woodmont Company, that this was where they needed to be.

“They want to come because they've done their market research and know this market is ready for an outlet mall,” Baker said.

But what about the two outlet mall proposals that are apparently fighting for space in Tulsa?

“It is a good question and I don't think anyone knows,” Tulsa Chamber President, Mike Neal said. “I would speculate that one of the two that are talking about the Tulsa area, one of those two would materialize.”

Either way, all the talk of development shows northeast Oklahoma is prime real estate when it comes to investing money.

“It proves we have a vibrant economy and that it is strong,” Neal said. “It has had its growth and is one that is anticipated to grow significantly in the years to come.”

Some of the stores in other outlet malls this group has developed include Michael Kors, Coach and Armani.

While the outlet is being built on land the Cherokee Nation owns state and local sales tax will be applicable because the land is not in trust, which exempts property from sales tax.