PARK CITY, Kansas – It is ten acres of land next to the now defunct Wild West World. It’s a piece of property the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma has had big plans for."I think it will ultimately be successful, because it has been lawfully and legally accomplished," Doug Spangler with the Wyandotte Nation said back in October 2009.
Spangler is the governmental affairs lobbyist for the nation.
The Obama administration has instructed the Bureau of Indian Affairs to “continue to process eligible pending applications for gaming.” The move comes after the government conducted a review of the process.
Wyandotte Nation Second Chief Billy Friend tells The Wichita Eagle, “It is the best news we have had in the last four years.”
Federal documents show the Wyandotte Nation applied to put the Park City land into trust for Gaming back in 2006.
Sources say the Nation plans to develop the ten acres into a casino. The adjacent Wild West World, which is owned by AHG Holdings, would likely be turned into a golf course with hotels.
“That's one scenario, and I think it would be a very successful scenario,” Spangler said. “It would be a regional attraction if that were to occur."
Since the casino would sit on Indian land, the Wyandotte Nation would not be required to pay out taxes to Sedgwick County. However, the nation says it would provide revenue to local governments like it has with its Kansas City casino.
With the latest move by the federal government, the Wyandotte Nation can expect to hear in the next few weeks whether its application will be approved.
This new development comes as another round of proposals are being drafted for a state-owned casino in Sumner County.
We already say developers change their plans after KSN broke this story back in October. It will be interesting to see how the plans will take shape if the Wyandotte Nation’s application is approved.
