Harbor Expected To Draw People From All Over The U.S.

It's full steam ahead for a river development project.  A multi-million dollar project along the Arkansas River is expected to be finished this spring.  It isn't in Tulsa or Jenks, instead, it's down river near Muskogee, just off Highway 62.  News On 6 anchor Craig Day The Port of Muskogee's Three Forks Harbor project should be finished by the end of April.  Once it is finished, it's expected to draw people from all over the U.S.

Construction crews are just months away from finishing a dream along the Arkansas River that's been talked about for decades.

"It was always envisioned that there would be a recreational facility on the upper end of the McClellan Kerr, so recreational boaters could enjoy some of the benefits of the navigation just like the commercial barge and industry people do," said Port of Muskogee Director Scott Robinson.

That led to the river center which will house the Port of Muskogee offices, a 10,000 square foot events center and exhibit space.  It's the anchor for a larger project at Three Forks Harbor, including a marina and fuel dock.

At some point, there will be twice as many boat slips available at Three Forks Habor and it's hoped that eventually there will be even more development from the private sector, maybe a restaurant or even a bass boat dealership.

The $12 million public-private project is expected to encourage more recreational use of the river.

"There were a lot of recreational boat users on the inland waterways of the United States, just not very many on the McClellan Kerr," said Robinson.

Mainly because there weren't any places to get fuel.  With the project, adventurous travelers from all over the world are now interested in traveling along the river.

"We're getting calls from the Bahamas, from Alaska and from the Great Lakes.  Some of those boats are already here, more boats are coming," said Robinson.  "There's a pent up demand.  Lots of people want to do that, they just have never had the opportunity to do it."