"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Cherokee Nation Purchases Sallisaw Property

Cherokee Nation officials closed today on the purchase of the recently shuttered Blue Ribbon Downs in Sallisaw. The Choctaw Nation, which purchased the facility in 2003, discontinued operations last month at the end of its fall live racing meet citing financial reasons surrounding the struggling track.

After years of reinvestment, yet poor patronage, the Choctaw Nation put the property on the market for more than a year with no viable offers to purchase.

“The Choctaws did an excellent job in trying to make the track profitable,” said David Stewart, CEO of Cherokee Nation Entertainment, which operates Hard Rock Hotel Tulsa and Cherokee Casinos. “As owners of a track in Oklahoma, we understand the economics of the industry.”

The approximately 100-acre tract of land, bordered on the south by Interstate 40 and to the north by Highway 64, is situated within the Cherokee Nation’s tribal jurisdiction.

“We had an opportunity to purchase property that is within our tribal jurisdiction so we always closely consider that, and see it as a wise business decision to take advantage of that any time we can,” said Stewart.

The Cherokee Nation’s purchase includes the land, facilities and equipment.

“The purchase is also an opportunity for us to utilize some of the equipment at Will Rogers Downs, which will provide some needed upgrades at that facility,” continued Stewart.

The Cherokee Nation has no immediate plans for the use of the property. The purchase price and terms of the sale are undisclosed.

Cherokee Nation Entertainment is the wholly owned gaming, hospitality, retail and tourism entity of the Cherokee Nation. The company operates Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, six Cherokee Casinos, including Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs, three hotels, two golf courses and other retail operations. CNE employs more than 3,600 people in northeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas.