Creek Nation Reveals Plans For $22 Million Revitalization To Jenks RiverWalk

The tribe announced the nearly empty shopping center will get a new anchor tenant -- a $22 million entertainment complex.

The Creeks bought the land almost three years ago for $11.5 million. The more than 20 acres alongside the Arkansas River is prime real estate. The property initially was developed in 2005 but took a big hit in the recession and went into foreclosure.

“We believe this is just the beginning of a new and improved RiverWalk Crossing,” chief George Tiger said.

The tribe plans to build the new complex north of the existing shopping center, possibly bulldozing the movie theater to make room. The plan is for a golf-themed entertainment center, including an indoor, electronic driving range.

"It will face South,” OneFire Development's Sean Kouplen said. “You'll hit back toward the river. The driving range will extend to the East, and our goal is for it to be the beginning of a huge revitalization for the RiverWalk."

The existing shopping center is practically empty, and the tribe said it turned down smaller tenants waiting for a unique anchor tenant.

"A high-tech golf and entertainment venue that consists of sports bars and restaurant, meeting rooms for corporate gatherings - there's nothing like it in the state of Oklahoma,” Tiger said.

The tribe isn't ready to announce the name of the project or any of the tenants or the exact timeline for building, except to say that it will start by spring.

However, developers are certain that adding on to RiverWalk is the way to fill in what's already there.

"So now that we've made this announcement, we believe the floodgates will open, and we're going to fill it up with the high-end destinations and restaurants it was always meant to be," Kouplen said.