Roman Nose plans start with park lodge closure

The commission will not have to ask for additional funds for this stage of renovations, but a future development plan could call for a cash infusion. It could take about $4 million to make improvements and upgrade the lodge.

The plans come as state leaders look at shrinking the state budget in the next fiscal year. Watkins said a master development for Roman Nose could be completed by summer.

"Obviously we’re being prudent,” Watkins said. "We want to make purposeful improvements that are appropriate for the park users of today. Our focus right now is getting the south wing down and making the lodge operable as soon as possible for park users and residents of western and northwestern Oklahoma.”