Horizons District lands Oklahoma City on Southern Living’s 2025 travel list

Oklahoma City has earned a spot on Southern Living’s “25 Best Places to Go in the South in 2025,” thanks to the Horizons District and its growing attractions. The district features the First Americans Museum and the soon-to-open OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark, making it a destination for culture, entertainment and family-friendly fun.

The First Americans Museum, which opened in 2021, tells the stories of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations through immersive exhibits and interactive experiences. It serves as the cultural anchor of the district, offering visitors a deeper understanding of the state’s history.

The OKANA Resort, a $400 million development by the Chickasaw Nation, is slated to open in February. This family-friendly resort, located in the Horizons District, will feature a 404-room, 11-story hotel with stunning riverfront and lagoon views. Guests will also enjoy easy access to the Boathouse District and downtown Oklahoma City.

In the center of the property, a five-acre outdoor lagoon will feature sandy beaches and a pedestrian bridge. Guests can also enjoy a 33,000-square-foot family entertainment center, a 100,000-square-foot indoor waterpark, a golf simulator, multiple restaurants, boutique shops, an amphitheater and a 39,000-square-foot conference center.

As Visit OKC’s President Zac Craig noted in VeloCity OKC in 2021, the OKANA Resort is expected to make a lasting impact on the city’s growth. “The OKANA project is a welcome and exciting addition to OKC’s hospitality and entertainment portfolio and will further magnify the economic vitality of our city.”

With the Horizons District’s new developments assisting in driving the city’s transformation, Oklahoma City is increasingly becoming a destination that blends cultural experiences with entertainment and economic opportunity—aligning perfectly with the growing vision for the future.