Cherokee Nation celebrates completion of $470M new W.W. Hastings Hospital in Tahlequah

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - The Cherokee Nation completed its $470 Million state-of-the-art W.W. Hastings Hospital on the tribe's health campus in Tahlequah with leaders hosting a celebration Thursday.

The six-story facility at 19780 E. Ross St. in Tahlequah officially opens to patients on Saturday, July 11, at 6 a.m.

The 400,000-square-foot hospital includes 127 beds and adds a NICU, hospice, surgical center and more. It replaces the existing Hastings Hospital, which was built in the mid-1980s and spanned just 180,000 square feet.

"For years, we envisioned a hospital that was worthy of the staff and the patients they care for, and today that vision is a reality," said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. "This new hospital stands as a testament to what we can accomplish when we invest in the health and future of our citizens, building towards a world class system of wellness."

The opening comes on the heels of the release of the 2025 Economic Impact of Cherokee Nation Health report, which found that Cherokee Nation Health Services generated more than $2 billion in statewide economic output in fiscal year 2025 while supporting nearly 11,500 Oklahoma jobs. The report identified the new Hastings Hospital as part of approximately $1.12 billion the tribe has invested in healthcare facilities and equipment over the past decade, underscoring the hospital's role not only in patient care but in strengthening the broader northeastern Oklahoma economy.

"Today, we open the doors to a hospital worthy of the Cherokee people. The investment in a new W.W. Hastings Hospital is more than steel and square footage. It's a promise kept to our elders, our children and every Cherokee citizen, as well as those in our health care workforce who deserve a state-of-the-art hospital facility," said Speaker of the Council Johnny Jack Kidwell. "This new hospital is a reflection of what it looks like when we invest in ourselves, and I'm proud of the Council's role in making this day possible. Wado to our Cherokee Nation healthcare workers who will now carry on the Hastings legacy in a building built to match their dedication."

The new hospital connects to the Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center via a bridge on the second floor of the facility, allowing easy access for Cherokee citizens and staff across the medical campus. The building offers a wide range of services, including an emergency room, an intensive care unit, imaging services and rooftop helipad. The building also features a pharmacy, laboratory, neonatal intensive care unit and hospice care, along with dietary services, acute care and other medical offerings to serve the tribe and community's healthcare needs keeping citizens closer to home.

"Seeing our citizens walk through the doors of this new hospital is a proud moment for all of us," said Deputy Chief Bryan Warner. "This facility will serve our people well for generations, and it reflects the Cherokee Nation's continued commitment to building a stronger, healthier future."

W.W. Hastings Hospital currently employs nearly 700 healthcare staff. An additional 200 employees will be added in Fiscal Year 2027.

Health Services CEO and Executive Director Dr. R. Stephen Jones said the opening of the new hospital represents a turning point for both patients and staff after decades of working within the constraints of an aging hospital.

"Our team has shown incredible dedication caring for our patients in a building that no longer reflected the level of care we provide, and now they finally have a facility worthy of their work," Dr. Jones said. "This new hospital will allow us to expand access, improve outcomes and continue building on the healthcare milestones we've already achieved for our citizens."

Cherokee Nation is developing plans to remodel the existing Hastings Hospital facility into the Cherokee Nation Nursing and Allied Health Education Center, a partnership with the University of Oklahoma announced earlier this year as part of the tribe's 21st Century Cherokee Healthcare Workforce Initiative. The $30 million project will house an OU College of Nursing satellite campus and is scheduled to open in 2027, addressing a projected shortage of nearly 6,000 registered nurses in Oklahoma by 2038.

Childers Architects and Foreman Manhattan Construction oversaw construction of the new hospital, after breaking ground in April 2023. The hospital used Respond, Recover and Rebuild funding.

The new Hastings Hospital will feature a plaque honoring the late Cherokee citizen Kenneth Foreman, owner and CEO of Foreman Manhattan Construction who played a vital role in the construction of the new hospital, the Durbing Feeling Language Center, and other Cherokee Nation capital projects.

As the largest tribe in the United States, the Cherokee Nation operates the largest tribal health system, performing more than 3 million patient services annually throughout 12 healthcare facilities. These include nine outpatient health centers, one employee health center, one tribal hospital, and one outpatient and emergency health center.

"This project represents years of coordination between our design team, contractors and Cherokee Nation Health Services staff to make sure this facility would meet the needs of our patients and providers for decades to come," said Cherokee Nation Senior Construction Administrator Jon Asbill. "Seeing it move from blueprints to a finished hospital is something our entire construction team takes great pride in."

In the past decade alone, Cherokee Nation has invested approximately $1.12 billion in healthcare facilities, including the $470 million replacement Hastings Hospital, the $200 million Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center, and approximately $270 million in expanded health centers across communities including Stilwell, Muskogee, Vinita, Ochelata, Jay and Salina.