Molly’s Landing restaurant, a fixture along Route 66 in Catoosa, Oklahoma, for nearly 40 years, was severely damaged by fire early Friday that apparently killed one person.
KJRH-TV in nearby Tulsa reported Friday afternoon that one body was found in an upstairs apartment of the restaurant.
Melissa Beasley-Lee, president of the New Mexico Route 66 Association, reported in a Facebook post that owner Linda Powell died in the fire, according to Powell’s niece, who also said the restaurant is a 100% loss.
Local police told Fox 23 in Tulsa they did not suspect foul play in the blaze.
According to local media accounts, the fire first was reported at about 2 a.m. Friday, when the restaurant was closed.
Videos from passers-by showed flames shooting from the top roof. Four fire departments were summoned to the scene.
Mike Simons, a photographer from the Tulsa World newspaper, posted drone photos from the scene during daylight hours:
IonOklahoma published this history of the restaurant about 10 years ago:
The log cabin was originally a kit that was designed with 3 bedrooms with a garage. When owner Linda Powell relocated from Phoenix in 1984, she wanted to have a restaurant that was unique.
“Since the design went through drastic changes, and all interior walls were deleted, we had to install 2 giant I-beams to support the roof,” General Manager Russ White said. “The downstairs hosts the restaurant and the upstairs holds the living quarters and offices of the owner.”
Since opening the restaurant, there have been two additional rooms added, one that overlooks the river and the other room is an adjoining courtyard that’s used for outdoor dining.
Here’s a video about the restaurant from about two years ago:
Molly’s Landing in 2011, to the gratitude of many Route 66 preservationists, saved a few of the structures from a nearby 1930s Bird Creek Bridge on Route 66 that was torn down.
(Screen-capture image from News on 6 video of the fire at Molly’s Landing in Catoosa, Oklahoma)
This is horrible! I didn’t have a chance to eat at Molly’s Landing, as I had passed through at the wrong time but I know that the restaurant had a good reputation and was highly regarded by locals. My deepest and heartfelt condolences to all of Linda Powell’s family and friends.