This story originally ran on VisitOKC
The future is bright in Oklahoma City, with exciting new and expanded attractions, marquee events and things to do in the year ahead. These highly anticipated experiences deserve a spot on your 2025 bucket list.
What’s New
At the newly opened Love’s Planetarium at Science Museum Oklahoma, audiences can see the dome in a new way with a night sky free of light pollution. Science Museum Oklahoma educators have access to NASA databases and live feeds through the cutting-edge technology, which can only be found in one other place in the world: Shanghai, China.
April 2025 will mark Oklahoma City’s Triple-A baseball club’s first season as the OKC Comets. The team store has already been transformed with a wide selection of fan gear and the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark is also getting refreshed signage and brand touchpoints ahead of Opening Day. Don’t miss the new comet-inspired mural by local artist Barrett “Kid Lennon” Tarr just inside the gate at Johnny Bench Plaza.
The new RIVERSPORT Trailhead Bike Park is now open and serves as a hub for the newest expansion of the city’s trail system. There’s a mountain bike skills course and three world-class mountain bike/BMX courses for the bike, skateboard and skate communities. Once you work up an appetite, The Wheelhouse serves coffee, fruit smoothies and more. Shipping containers create a unique gathering place that includes a welcome center and ADA-compliant restrooms. A unique elevated trail travels across the rooftop of the shipping containers and a jump line that rivals the best in the country.
Oklahoma City’s culinary scene has garnered national attention and accolades in 2024. One example is James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Black’s return to the Skirvin Hilton Hotel to bring to life a new dining concept, Perle Mesta. For foodies, this round-up of new restaurants is also worth a read.
In fall 2024, the 20-acre, mixed-use development OAK opened the first phase of a new entertainment destination, complete with upscale retail, dining and the 132-room Lively Hotel. Located at NW Expressway and Pennsylvania Avenue, the OAK’s central greenspace and stunning public art are a destination themselves.
What’s Coming
The highly anticipated OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark is on track to open just in time for spring break 2025. The OKANA Resort will feature 11 pools and over 400 rooms, a resort day spa, outdoor adventure lagoon, amphitheater, indoor waterpark, 13 distinctive food and bar outlets, Exhibit C Art Gallery and retail outlets.
A new pedestrian bridge is also under construction over the Oklahoma River just north of OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark, further connecting the south shore trail to the four-mile Greenway River Trail on the north shore.
Next door to OKANA, the First Americans Museum is slated to open its FAMily Discovery Center in Summer 2025. This immersive exhibit promises a unique, fun-filled learning adventure that’s particularly fun for children. Visitors will dive into games that break down stereotypes and inspire mutual respect, as well as participate in hands-on activities that teach patience and resilience when challenges arise.
April 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing and the 25th OKC Memorial Marathon – two formative experiences in their own right. To understand Oklahoma City and the entire state, you must experience the stories and hope of the OKC National Memorial & Museum. The Oklahoma City bombing marked a day of darkness, but it has since been followed by decades of light and unity, now known as The Oklahoma Standard. Thirty years later, the lessons learned from this tragic event are as relevant as ever. America’s resiliency and remembrance are equally as important and top-of-mind for those that participate in the Run to Remember.
By now you should have already made plans to explore Expedition Africa, the OKC Zoo’s largest-ever habitat expansion, which opened in 2024. Other upcoming projects at the Zoo include a three-acre Sea Lion Cove, a 12-acre conservation preserve and a botanical education space called The Farm. These infrastructure improvements will continue through 2028 as part of a 10-year Master Plan.
As a part of MAPS 4, exciting upgrades are coming to the fairgrounds complex to ensure Oklahoma City continues to be the “horse show capital of the world.” The OG&E Coliseum is scheduled to be completed mid-2025. The new building will seat 7,500 to 8,500 people and house a Made In Oklahoma retail space. All events and operations will continue to take place in the current Jim Norick Arena during construction.
The Half will soon be home to Andretti Indoor Karting & Games, Oklahoma City’s newest entertainment venue. The 96,000-square-foot facility will boast several exciting features, including electric super-karts, zip lining, rock climbing, a full-service sky bar and more. The entertainment venue’s grand opening is expected in 2025.
Oklahoma City’s Adventure District is gearing up for an exciting transformation with the upcoming Boomtown OKC development. This project has already broken ground and features a variety of retail shops and popular restaurants. Additionally, it will boast a state-of-the-art pickleball facility with four outdoor courts and 16 indoor courts, as well as a unique array of volleyball offerings. Current designs include 10 hard-surface volleyball courts, five outdoor sand volleyball courts and eight indoor sand volleyball courts.
Additional expansion and construction projects continue across the city, including breaking ground on the Clara Luper Civil Rights Center, new and renovated hotels and many other restaurants expected to open in 2025. Keep up with it all through Visit OKC’s social channels and Insider’s Guide blog.
