Foundation will hold a dual ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday, May 7, at 2:00 p.m. to mark the completion of two major Boathouse District projects, the MAPS 3 buildout of the second floor of the Whitewater Center building and the addition of Ski OKC, an indoor ski simulator funded by a grant from Inasmuch Foundation, on the building’s first floor.

MAPS3 Boathouse District Improvements. The $2.9M buildout of the second floor of the Whitewater Center building has created a new 8,200 sf Leadership Center featuring state-of-the-art event and conference space. The new center can be configured to one large or four smaller meeting spaces and includes an additional private conference room, an expansive covered upper deck overlooking the whitewater channels and a second upper deck with views of the Oklahoma River and downtown Oklahoma City.

As part of the project, restaurant facilities in the Whitewater Center were updated to include catering capabilities, renovations to the bar area and the addition of a garage door to create an indoor/outdoor space in Big Water Grill.

“These improvements continue to bring RIVERSPORT to the point where it is a total experience for outdoor enthusiasts, and these amenities position Riversport for long-term sustainability. I want to thank the taxpayers and Inasmuch for their support of these projects,” said Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt.

“This $2.9 million Leadership Center will be the only facility of its kind to leverage the authenticity of an Olympic training venue with the quintessential teamwork activities of whitewater rafting, rowing, and ropes courses in one accessible urban location,” said Mike Knopp, RIVERSPORT Foundation Executive Director.

The project was designed by Hornbeek Blatt Architects; L5 Construction was the general contractor for the project.

Ski OKC RIVERSPORT is bringing year-round snow skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing to Oklahoma City with the opening of Ski OKC, an indoor alpine snow sport simulator presented by Inasmuch Foundation.

Ski OKC features an infinite, articulating ski slope covered in a specially developed artificial ski grass called PoleSnow®. The low-friction fibers are misted with water to create a feeling similar to real snow.

RIVERSPORT’s simulator will also have a quick inclination system which allows the slope to go from a Blue ski run to the equivalent of a Black run in seconds. An added ramp offers the opportunity to practice jumps and a projected ski course offers slalom practice. Advanced augmented reality capabilities ensure the experience will continue to expand as technology advances.

“Inasmuch Foundation is a proud supporter of RIVERSPORT Foundation’s efforts to provide numerous activities for our entire community to enjoy,” said Bob Ross, Chairman and CEO of Inasmuch Foundation. “The new indoor ski experience offers yet another adventure at the Boathouse District, but more importantly, it’s bringing a life experience to our underserved youth who may never have the opportunity to ski or snowboard.”

“Our grant supports RIVERSPORT Foundation’s Thrive Outside initiative to remove barriers,” Ross said.