Congressman Dan Boren

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Natural Resources Committee today agreed to U.S. Congressman Dan Boren’s bill, H.R. 1554 the Fountainhead Property Land Transfer Act, by a voice vote passing the measure out of the Committee. 

Once passed into law, the bill would transfer 18 acres of land within the Fountainhead Resort Property, currently owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, into trust for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. 

The entire Foutainhead property, which the tribe purchased through a foreclosure auction in 2005, consists of 48 acres of fee land, 18 of which is the land owned by the Corps, an 188 room hotel, a recreational building, and some duplex cabins.

After the tribe purchased the property in 2005, a subsequent survey determined that the 18 acres owned by the Corps included the recreational building.  Even though the acreage falls within the jurisdiction of the Creek Nation already, the Corps of Engineers has no authority to sell land outright and Congressional action is necessary for the transfer.

“I am very pleased that this legislation received bipartisan approval today from the Natural Resources Committee.  This is a great step forward for the continued renovation and development of the Foutainhead property,” Boren said.  “For years, the Creek Nation has been in discussion with the Corps and local community leaders regarding the benefits of this project.  It will bring much needed jobs and tourism revenue to the surrounding communities.  Now that the bill has moved out of committee, I look forward to working with House Leadership to bring it to the floor for a vote.”

The bill requires another survey to be conducted to determine the exact acreage and legal description of the property. The survey will be paid for by the Creek Nation.  The legislation also requires the tribe to pay the Secretary of the Interior fair market value for the property as well as all costs and administrative expenses associated with the transfer into trust.

Resolutions of support for the tribe’s resort project have been passed by the State Representatives of the Lake Eufaula area, Checotah Chamber of Commerce, City of Henryetta, City of Eufaula, and the Lake Eufaula Association.