Cherokee Nation helps break ground on hotel next to new gaming facility

Tuesday, April 9, 2019  

The Cherokee Nation will soon be welcoming a hotel next to a forthcoming gaming facility in Oklahoma.

A groundbreaking for the Tru by Hilton at Cherokee Springs Plaza took place on Monday. Officials believe the 90-room facility, due to open in 2020, will help draw more visitors and conventions to Tahlequah, the tribe's capital.

"Tahlequah is a place that is on the move," Chief Bill John Baker said at the ceremony, The Tahlequah Daily Press reported.

Breaking ground on the new @TrubyHilton hotel opening in 2020 in @cwyspringsplaza that will spur even more tourism in #Tahlequah. pic.twitter.com/iGYmUmvboX

— CherokeeNation (@CherokeeNation) April 8, 2019

Also on the move is the Cherokee Casino in Tahlequah. The tribe is relocating the facility to the Cherokee Springs Plaza, a 145-acre multi-use development that is home to several retail, dining and entertainment options.

The tribe broke ground on the 92,000-square-foot facility in March 2018. Due to open this year, it features 33,000 square-feet of convention and meeting space, 525 electronic games, a 144-seat restaurant, a cafe, a live music venue and a full-service bar.

The casino is located on a portion of Cherokee Springs Plaza that is held in trust. But other businesses are apparently operating on fee land in the city of Tahlequah.

"We're proud to announce that tax collection is up 17 percent over last year, and part of that is due to all of the activity taking place in the Cherokee Nation," the president of the Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce said at the groundbreaking on Monday, The Tahlequah Daily Press reported.

The Tru by Hilton at Cherokee Springs Plaza will be located on a portion of the site that is being leased for development, the tribe said in response to a comment on social media. The tribe will not own the hotel.

Tribe, city break ground on Tru by Hilton hotel (The Tahlequah Daily Press April 9, 2019)