Chamber President Marley Abell presents a plaque to members of the Mayo family and employees of The Sequoyah County Times as they were recognized as the chamber member of the month.
During Wednesday's monthly Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce meeting and visitors from around the community learned about plans for the National Cherokee Nation Park currently being constructed on Dwight Mission Road.
With a rendering of the park’s master plan in the background, James Thornton, director of national parks for Cherokee Nation Business, told audience members the project was originally started by his father, David Thornton, and former Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker.
“We are looking forward to the (park’s) economic impact in Sequoyah County,” Thornton said, adding that “there will be nothing like it in Oklahoma.”
Thornton estimated the park project will take about three years to complete. He said there will be 27 cabins built along the bluff line at Sallisaw Landing, which the Cherokee Nation took over in 1998 from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Other planned amenities at the park include 55 recreational-vehicle spots, a community building, 80 boat slips available for rent, outdoor pavilions and a four-slip tournament-style boat ramp and 50 pull-through parking spaces that will be perfect for future bass tournaments. Thornton also said another facility the park will offer is an amphitheater for up to 750 people. A zipline station is also in the works. Additional amenities include a hotel-style swimming pool, a miniature golf course, splash pad and a 35-acre stocked lake.
Thornton said the Oklahoma Highway Patrol is considering moving its Cadet Lawmen program to the park in the future. There are currently no plans for a designated swimming area, Thornton said, but noted that plans are subject to change as the project gets deeper into the construction phase.
The facility will create 25-35 full-time job openings, Thornton said, and in the summer that number is expected to increase to about 60 positions.
At the beginning of the monthly meeting, Chamber President Marley Abell named the Sequoyah County Times as its October Member of the Month.
In other action, Hailey Robinson with the Wagoner County District Attorney’s office, tried to make sense of new gun-carrying laws taking effect Nov. 1. She discussed how Oklahoma House Bill 2597 will impact business owners and pointed out the differences between open-carry rules and constitutional-carry rules.
The following events were also announced at the meeting:
*The Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce has scheduled its EVIVVA fundraiser for Saturday, Nov. 2, with a happy hour and social time beginning at 6:30 p.m. and dinner served at 7 p.m. The event will be at the Cherokee Casino & Hotel in Roland.
*On Nov. 11, the city will hold its annual Veterans Day Program at 11 a.m. at Stanley Tubbs Memorial Library.
*On Nov. 17, the chamber’s Christmas Open House will be from 1-5 p.m. at various businesses around town.
Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer
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