8-K

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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


       Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): December 12, 2000



                            GOTHIC ENERGY CORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)



       OKLAHOMA                      0-19753                22-2663839
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (State of incorporation           (Commission            (IRS Employer
    or organization)               File Number)              ID No.)


           5727 SOUTH LEWIS AVENUE - SUITE 700 - TULSA, OKLAHOMA 74105
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)



                                 (918) 749-5666
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              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)




- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


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ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS AND REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

         On December 12, 2000, at a special meeting of its stockholders, the
Registrant submitted to a vote a proposal to approve the merger of the
Registrant with Chesapeake Merger 2000 Corp., an Oklahoma corporation and
wholly-owned subsidiary of Chesapeake Energy Corporation, pursuant to an
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated September 8, 2000. The Registrant mailed to
its stockholders on November 2, 2000 a proxy statement describing the
transaction. At the special meeting, the stockholders voted to approve the
proposal by the following vote:

                                                  
                  In Favor                           16,961,529
                  Withheld                               55,340
                  Abstained or not voted                  8,300



         No other matter was submitted to a vote of stockholders other than
procedural matters relating to the special meeting.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS:

         (c)      Exhibits.


               EXHIBIT NUMBER                    DESCRIPTION

                    99                Press release dated December 12, 2000


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                       GOTHIC ENERGY CORPORATION




Dated: December 13, 2000               By: /s/ Michael K. Paulk
                                          ----------------------------------
                                               Michael K. Paulk, President


                                      -2-


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                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS




EXHIBIT
NUMBER              DESCRIPTION
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  99                Press release dated December 12, 2000

EX-99

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                                                                      EXHIBIT 99

December 12, 2000

NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



                            GOTHIC ENERGY CORPORATION
                        ANNOUNCES APPROVAL OF MERGER WITH
                          CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION


Tulsa, Oklahoma...GOTHIC ENERGY CORPORATION (OTC Bulletin Board: GOTH) announced
that at a special meeting of its stockholders held today, the proposal to merge
Gothic Energy Corporation into Chesapeake Merger 2000 Corp., a wholly owned
subsidiary of Chesapeake Energy Corporation, was approved. Of the outstanding
shares of Gothic Energy Corporation Common Stock, 72.8% voted in favor of the
proposal.

The closing of the merger is expected to occur on or about January 15, 2001, at
which time Gothic Energy Corporation shareholders will be entitled to receive
 .1908 shares of Chesapeake Energy Corporation common stock for each share of
Gothic common stock, subject to possible adjustment.

This press release may contain other forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any
such statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future
events and financial performance. No assurances can be given, however, that
these events will occur and actual results could differ materially from those
projected. A discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those projected is included in the Company's periodic
reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the proxy
statement relating to the special meeting.

Gothic Energy Corporation is an oil and gas acquisition, exploitation,
development and production company headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Additional
information may be obtained by contacting officers of the Company, Michael Paulk
or Steven Ensz at the corporate headquarters. Gothic is located at 6120 South
Yale Avenue, Suite 1200, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74136; telephone number (918)
749-5666; facsimile (918) 749-5882.