Four decades ago this month, the Chickasaw Nation purchased a travel lodge in Sulphur, Okla., paving the way for successful economic ventures around the globe.
When the Chickasaw Nation took ownership of the Artesian Motor Hotel in September, 1972 it was the first business owned and operated by the tribe.
Purchased for a bid of $139,000 after it fell into foreclosure, the motel was also one of the most successful tribal ventures of that era.
Making use of a grant from the BIA to renovate and remodel the facility, tribal officials also made careful plans for operation of the business.
With appropriate renovations and a new business plan, the motor inn quickly became a profit-making venture for the Chickasaw Nation, earning approximately $100,000 for the tribe in its first year of operation.
Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby said that while revenues varied some through the years, the motor inn proved to be a very good long term investment.
"While the Motor Inn was a successful business for decades, it eventually made better economic sense to replace the facility rather than continue paying for repairs," said Gov. Anoatubby. "Nevertheless, that business marked the beginning of our successful long-term economic development efforts."
Re-named the Chickasaw Motor Inn, the 72-unit motel was built in 1965 after its predecessor, the Artesian Hotel burned, in 1962.
Constructed at West First and Muskogee in 1906, the original Artesian was named for the Artesian wells located on the property. Throughout its history, it was the social epicenter in southern Oklahoma.
The hotel's modest replacement, built for $750,000, fell into foreclosure in the early 1970s before it was purchased by the Chickasaw Nation.
The Chickasaw Motor Inn also served as the tribal headquarters until the official Chickasaw Nation headquarters building in Ada was opened in 1977. When the Chickasaw Nation purchased the Motor Inn there were only 25 tribal employees. Today the Chickasaw Nation employs nearly 12,000 people nationwide.
For years, the Chickasaw Motor Inn attracted numerous morning coffee drinkers, served as the meeting site for countless local civic clubs, and was a local favorite meeting spot for Sunday afternoon lunch.
After more than three decades of service, the Chickasaw Motor Inn was razed in 2006 to make way for construction of the new Artesian Hotel.
Ground was broken for the new hotel in the fall of 2010.
"It is fitting for this development to take place on the site where our first tribal business began some 40 years ago," said Gov. Anoatubby. "Construction of the Artesian Hotel in this historic location demonstrates a significant investment in the tourism industry as well as our continued commitment to economic development and job creation."
While the new Artesian will look much like the original Artesian, the new hotel will be a state-of-the-art facility.
Amenities featured at the 81-room boutique hotel will include a restaurant, banquet room, swimming pools, and a full service spa.
In a nod to the history of the original Artesian and the many mineral springs in the area, the new hotel spa will include a one of a kind mineral bath.
The new hotel will also complement the other tourist destinations in the Sulphur area including the Chickasaw National Recreation Area and the Chickasaw Cultural Center.
The Artesian Hotel and near-by Chickasaw Visitor Center is expected to be complete mid-2013.
Tribal Business Takes Root and Prospers
Since acquiring the Chickasaw Motor Inn, Chickasaw businesses have blossomed throughout tribal boundaries and beyond.
Today, the Chickasaw Nation owns and operates more than 60 businesses in a number of diverse industries: manufacturing, hospitality and entertainment, tourism, energy, health care, banking, broadcast media and fine chocolates.
In 2011, the Chickasaw Nation had an economic impact of more than $2.4 billion in Oklahoma. The Chickasaw Nation employed more than 10,000 workers in Oklahoma with a payroll of $318 million. Those numbers rank the Chickasaw Nation as the seventh largest employer in the state. Including multiplier effects, the Chickasaw Nation is responsible for approximately 16,000 jobs with a total payroll of $525 million.
The Chickasaw Nation's government expenditures amounted to $129 million in 2011, funding programs and services to enhance the lives of Chickasaw citizens, such as medical care, education, youth programs and social services.
"Our mission to enhance the overall quality of life of Chickasaw people continues to guide the long term goals of our business diversification strategy," said Gov. Anoatubby. "While our investment in the Sulphur area has already had a considerable positive impact on the local economy, we believe our economic development efforts will have a positive impact on the lives of Chickasaw people and all Oklahomans far into the future."
Community Partners
The Chickasaw Nation strives to partner with local communities for the benefit of all Oklahomans.
Throughout the years, the Chickasaw Nation has contributed to university building projects, county hospitals, local schools and other projects.
"We are proud to be a part of Oklahoma. We care about the local communities and the state of Oklahoma. We believe that what is good for the Chickasaw Nation is good for state of Oklahoma and what is good for Oklahoma is good for the Chickasaw Nation," said Gov. Anoatubby.
