ROLAND, Okla. -- A new travel plaza will soon stand in place of an abandoned truckstop in Roland, Okla., said Cherokee Nation Enterprises (CNE).
I am excited to announce the purchase of this property, said David Stewart, CEO of CNE, Tahlequah, OK. By building a new truckstop in Roland, we are backing up an earlier commitment to create jobs and stimulate the economy in Sequoyah County.
The 12,250 sq.-ft. facility, located off I-40, will feature a rustic-frontier theme to compliment future renovations at the Roland Cherokee Casino [image-nocss] across the street. But despite the rustic theme, the one-stop plaza will become a modern facility with more than just a convenience store and gas station, CNE said. Its conceptual design includes a trucker's lounge with TVs, telephones and Internet connections. Other highlights include separated shower facilities, a laundry area and a truck accessories sales area.
The truckstop will be branded as a Valero station with 12 dual gas-dispensing pumps and six diesel dispensers for semi-trucks. Also, a Certified Automated Truck Scale (CAT) scale will be added for transport trucks to weigh.
Some 10 acres near the casino will be used for an additional 50 parking spaces for transport trucks. To accommodate the anticipated increase in traffic for the travel plaza and casino, Paw Paw St., next to the facility, will be widened and Cherokee St. will be realigned.
CNEthe retail, gaming, entertainment and hospitality business of the Cherokee Nationsaid that it expects the new facility to open in late-summer 2006.
CNE operates casinos in Catoosa, Roland, West Siloam Springs, Fort Gibson and Tahlequah, Okla., as well as two Cherokee Outpost c-stores, seven Cherokee retail tobacco shops, two gift shops and two golf courses. The company also owns Will Rogers Downs, a 236-acre horse racetrack near Claremore, Okla.
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