News

Choctaw Casino & Resort Virtual “Topping-Out” Ceremony

BJ Kirkpatrick Entertainment, News
Choctaw Casino & Resort Topping Out Ceremony

Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant celebrated a “topping-out” ceremony today that represents a milestone in construction for the new Sky Tower and expansion project at its new resort property in Durant, Okla.

Construction of the expansion project is moving rapidly, with millions of dollars already invested in site preparation, concrete and steelwork.

“This is more than a building, it’s a commitment to a brighter future for the Choctaw people and the surrounding communities that we celebrated today,” states Chief Gary Batton. “We’re all incredibly proud of the work that has been done by the construction team and excited to continue creating jobs in our communities.”

Amid COVID-19 and social-distancing requirements, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma hosted a virtual topping-out event. The virtual celebration included congratulatory videos from partners including, the developer TynanGroup LLC, lead design-build team Tutor Perini Building and JCJ Architecture.

Set to open in the spring of 2021, the 19-story  Choctaw Casino tower will feature 1,000 more luxury hotels rooms, an expanded gaming floor and new amenities such as a new pool, parking garage, retail space and entertainment and dining options. Once completed, more than 1,000 new, permanent jobs will be created.

Photo by: Christian Toews
Chief Gary Batton, Assistant Chief Jack Austin Jr., James Dry, Choctaw Nation Council Member, Janie Dillard, Senior Executive Officer, and  Choctaw Casino leadership celebrate the topping out ceremony.

The last steel beam which reads, “Psalm 122:7 May there be peace within the walls, and prosperity inside your fortresses” was placed atop the future Sky Tower at Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant.

Photo renderings of the complete gaming facility are available by request.

About Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant   

Located an hour north of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex lies a AAA Four Diamond resort and entertainment destination, in southeastern Oklahoma. Choctaw Casino & Resort–Durant is a three-level convention/entertainment venue which offers more than 100,000 square feet of meeting and convention space and seating for more than 3,000 people. The resort’s amenities include the Oasis Pool – featuring four tropical pools with private cabanas – as well as the region’s premier entertainment complex, The District, where visitors can enjoy Tailgater’s Lounge, 20 bowling lanes, a 40-game arcade, and a state-of-the-art movie theater. The casino offers more than 4,100 slot machines, 60 table games, and a private poker lounge featuring 30 poker tables. In the spring of 2021, a major expansion effort will add the Sky Tower: 19 stories high featuring 1,000 new luxury hotel rooms, along with 3,400 additional slot machines and 34 tables in the new poker room, along with 40 table games, two new restaurants and movie theaters, and a three-acre swimming pool – making Choctaw Casino & Resort–Durant one of the largest gaming resorts in the world. For more information, visit choctawcasinos.com.  

TPWD changes fishing regulations for Lake Texoma

BJ Kirkpatrick Lake Texoma news, News
Texas Parks and Wildlife

TPWD changes to fishing regulations for Lake Texoma sets standardized harvest regulation for bule, channel, and flathead catfish. These regulations inclde the Texas and Oklahoma waters of Lake Texoma and on the Red River below Lake Texoma.  

In Lake Texoma, the regulations remove the 12-inch minimum length limit for blue and channel catfish, and for flathead catfish and removes the 18-inch minimum length limit. In the Texas waters of the Red River below Lake Texoma (from Denison Dam downstream to Shawnee Creek), in addition to the removal of the minimum length limits for catfish, reduces the daily bag limit for blue and channel catfish from 25 to 15 fish

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopted multiple changes to the freshwater fishing regulations for the upcoming 2020-2021 season at the meeting held virtually May 21. Modifications include length limits and harvest regulations at some waterbodies for largemouth bass; blue, channel, and flathead catfish; and black and white crappie. The expiration date of August 31, 2020 was removed for the five-fish daily bag limit for alligator gar at Falcon International Reservoir.

The changes that were implemented for the 2020-21 license year are listed below. In addition, the details of these new regulations will be incorporated into the 2020-21 edition of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Outdoor Annual:

  • Moss Lake (Cooke County) – Modify the 14-inch minimum length limit for largemouth bass to a 16-inch maximum length limit.
  • Brushy Creek Lake and Brushy Creek (Williamson County) – Modify harvest regulations for Brushy Creek Lake by changing from an 18-inch minimum length to the statewide 14-inch limit for largemouth bass. On the section of Brushy Creek downstream from the lake to the Williamson/Milam County line, reduce blue and channel catfish daily bag limit from 25 to 5 fish and remove the 12-inch minimum length limit. Gear restrictions also adopted limit anglers to pole-and-line angling only and two poles.
  • Lake Nasworthy (Tom Green County) – Modify harvest regulations for black and white crappie by removing the current 10-inch minimum length limit. The daily bag limit for crappie will remain at 25 fish.
  • Falcon International Reservoir (Starr and Zapata Counties) — The five-fish daily bag limit for alligator gar will remain in effect.

The changes to the 2020-21 Statewide Recreational and Commercial Fishing regulations take effect on Sept. 1, 2020. All fishing regulations can be found in the Outdoor Annual on the TPWD website.

The online version of the TPWD Outdoor Annual will not reflect any new changes until mid-August. More information regarding these amendments for the 2020-21 season can be viewed on the TPWD website.

Lake Texoma Campground and Recreation Areas to Reopen

BJ Kirkpatrick Lake Texoma news, News
Lake Texoma Campground

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District announces phased reopening of Lake Texoma campground and recreation areas along with other lakes in the Tulsa District.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tulsa District will begin a phased reopening of USACE recreation areas that were closed due to COVID-19 across Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

The decision to reopen is specific to each recreation area and will be based largely on the safety of the staff and visitors. A complete list of closures can be found at www.swt.usace.army.mil. Lake Texoma recreation areas and campgrounds will open May 20, 2020. The Texas Damsite will remain closed until further notice.

All visitors should call the lake office for information on specific recreation openings (https://www.swt.usace.army.mil/Contact/Contact-a-Lake/).

District lakes in Oklahoma and Texas will begin opening recreation areas and facilities on May 20. For more information on Lake Texoma facilities, call 903-465-4990

Campers who have campground reservations beginning May 15-20 at our facilities that are opening will be contacted by the local lake office for a partial or full refund.

Lake Texoma campground day use areas, group shelters, swim beaches and all common use area openings will be based on local health conditions.

“Our goal is to have all facilities open across the Tulsa District prior to June 1 and some parks open for the Memorial Day Weekend,” stated Tulsa District Commander, Col Scott Preston. “Our primary concern in conducting our operations is for the health and safety of the public, our employees and contractors.”

Social distancing and other restrictions required by local, state and federal authorities to include the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will be in place. If these restrictions cannot be followed recreation areas could be forced to close again.

Campers will be able to make reservations immediately for new reservations that begin May 20, 2020 or after. At this time, first come first serve campsites are not available and all Campground reservations and fees must be made in advance at www.recreation.gov

Visitors should also note:
• Many USACE sponsored events, tournaments, volunteer activities and public meetings remain cancelled until further notice.
• Lake offices remain closed to the public until further notice.
• Day use facilities, such as group shelters and beaches, are subject to evolving conditions and may not be available. Please call the local project for the latest information.
• Shoreline management activities including one-on-one contacts that requires USACE personnel to make a site visit or inspection may proceed consistent with force protection guidelines established by CDC, DOD, state and local direction.

Visitors are encouraged to visit the Tulsa District webpage for the latest information, or call the local lake office for current conditions before traveling to the lake. A complete list of USACE recreation areas with contact information is available at www.swt.usace.army.mil.

You may also visit www.recreation.gov to determine the status of campgrounds that are on the reservation system.