TAHLEQUAH, OK – The Cherokee Nation has completed its $470 Million state-of-the-art W.W. Hastings Hospital on the tribe’s health campus in Tahlequah. The six-story facility officially opens to patients on Saturday, July 11, at 6 a.m.
The 400,000 sq. ft. 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 sq. ft.
“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,” said Speaker of the Council Johnny Jack Kidwell. “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 healthcare workforce who deserve a state-of-the-art hospital facility. 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 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.