Margaritaville's 5 O'Clock Somewhere Bar Opens At River Spirit

With some of the only palm trees in town, a backdrop of the beach and a clock that's stuck at 5:00 p.m., the 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar and future Margarittaville complex is unlike anything else on the banks of the Arkansas River.

"This is great. We have been working on this for a long time and it is finally coming around, and it's fun to be here," says CEO of River Spirit Casino Pat Crofts.

Crofts has served as the CEO of the River Spirit Casino since the doors opened in 2009, and now he's part of the next phase as Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville is built.

This building only stands a few stories tall now, but will one day be a 27 story high Luxury hotel tower.

“It's really two casinos under one roof. When people feel like they need to go to a new casino they walk through a portal and the casino will be completely themed like this with the palm trees and the tropical theme,” explained Crofts.

"Gaming is so big here in Indian country and across Oklahoma. We were already outgrowing the facility we already have," said Chief George Tiger of Muscogee Creek Nation.

When the entire complex is open, it's annual economic impact is estimated to be $135 million.

The opening of the new bar is the first step to bringing the beach themed destination resort to life.

The casino and restaurants are expected to open in September of next year.

The hotel will take a few more months, but the goal is to have Margaritaville up and running by the end of 2016.