Discover Oklahoma, the state tourism department’s long-running TV show, came to Luther recently to feature The Chicken Shack. The segment, filmed a month or so ago, made its debut on television Saturday night. Naturally, the Shack had a viewing party to celebrate, and now the link is available for all to see.
The segment features several familiar faces from the community, and gives a glimpse into Eddy Gochenour’s vision for the Shack he created just a couple of years ago just west of Luther Road on Route 66. The Shack with its bright lights and spacious back yard hang area is part of the strip that includes the Conoco station and Jarvis Liquor. Luther Mayor Jenni White gave the Shack a thumbs up for its contribution to the community. And Levi Bouska, owner of the famed Butcher Stand Barbecue in Wellston was also on camera praising the merits of the broasted chicken at the Shack.
Luther Track and Cross Country Coach Stan Higdon and his band, Loose Gravel, also were featured in the piece.
As they say, any publicity is good publicity, and getting state-wide recognition for a Luther business particularly when it’s a positive story, helps all businesses and shines a welcome light on the whole town.
It’s also good to mention again that the Grand Champion of the Luther Pecan Festival Cook-Off comes from the Chicken Shack. Pete Newsom took the honors with his pecan wood smoked chicken. The award was given to him by Lt. Gov-Elect Matt Pinnell.
UPDATE. Luther Historian Sharon McAllister provided the following comment about the land where the Shack sits.
Great segment! Here’s the short answer to what was there before. The 1903 map shows that the original homesteader’s dwelling was approximately where The Chicken Shack is today. (Anyone else remember the ruins that still stood in the 1950s? )The original bed of Deep Fork ran east of it, through what is now Couch’s Pecan Grove. The State of Oklahoma acquired the property in the 1920s when Deep Fork was to be dredged, the Katy RR rerouted, and Rt. 66 built. That parcel did not pass back into private hands until 1980, some time after the new bridge over Deep Fork was built, the RR was removed, and the viaduct torn down,” said McAllister.
