The Chicken Shack, a popular restaurant along Route 66 in Luther, Oklahoma, is moving a few miles west to the closed Hillbillee’s complex in Arcadia, also on Route 66.
Shellee Graham, who lives near Arcadia, recently confirmed the rumored news after visiting Chicken Shack’s owner and seeing a banner announcing the impending move at Hillbillee’s.
Route 66 researcher and author Jim Ross, who is Shellee’s husband, commented on the Facebook post: “We met the Chicken Shack owner on-site this morning. We’re going to help him learn about the history of the property in hopes that he will be motivated to retain and use some of the historic buildings. Stay tuned.”
Oklahoma Tourism featured The Chicken Shack in a view a couple of years ago:
Veteran Route 66 travelers likely will remember Hillbillee’s, a sprawling complex that featured a full-service restaurant and a faux Wild West strip that served as overnight guest rooms and even a wedding reception venue, starting in 1993.
Hillbillee’s closed in 2007 after co-owner Wade Braxton encountered serious health issues. The property was purchased by Chesapeake Energy CEO Aubrey McClendon. A business or two rented space one of the buildings, but nothing big took hold, and McClendon died in 2016.
According to Route 66 Times, Hillbillee’s formerly was a Larry’s BBQ, housed in a former Phillips 66 gas station.
(Photos of Hillbillee’s courtesy of Guy Randall.)