Amy Lotven /Herald Staff Writer

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Hollister - The Haliwa-Saponi Tribe is moving forward with plans to create a Native-American-themed amusement and educational park just south of Roanoke Rapids.

Chief Ronnie Richardson told the Daily Herald that the tribe has contracted with B&R Associates to create a preliminary design and artist rendering for the park, which will be called “Turtle Island: Native America USA.” He said the site will be built in two phases, with the first phase estimated to run about $30 million.

The tribe plans to request $1 million from the state General Assembly to assist with the costs of design, marketing and promotion. The tribe has also received $100,000 from the Golden Leaf Foundation and $250,000 from HUD's Rural Housing and Economic Development program to help develop the project.

According to the grant description from the Golden Leaf Foundation, the park will “serve as a tourism destination and economic catalyst for the area-increasing demand for local agricultural products that will be used at the park; providing jobs for area residents; and, creating benefits for area hotels, restaurants, and businesses. Turtle Island will also help educate the public about the history and culture of Native Americans.”

Richardson said the park could work in conjunction with the planned Carolina Crossroads project to bring more tourism and “make this part of North Carolina a destination area.”

He said he has already met with Randy Parton, who, he said, had a positive reaction toward the idea. “(Parton) sees how the two can mesh together,” he said.

Asked if gaming could eventually be introduced to the park area, Richardson said that federal recognition of his tribe, which the Haliwa-Saponi's do not currently have but have long been working toward, would allow the tribe that option. However, he said, gaming would have to be agreed upon through a vote of all tribal members, and so he could not truly answer that question. He said that it is his personal conviction that gaming does not bring about the kind of commerce that promotes sustainable wealth, and is more destructive than anything.

Tribal Administrator Archie Lynch confirmed that the tribe planned to locate the theme park on a tribal-owned 118-acre parcel of land off Interstate 95, near the old Lakeland Truck Stop.