Rumors that have been circulating since March about The Lookout Kitchen have come home to roost.
In an email early Tuesday from the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department the public was notified that the restaurant’s operations were suspended, an action the department said was in response to the restaurant’s failure to make timely payments and fulfil other contract requirements.
One of the sticking points was the failure to pay the state 8% of gross receipts and utility costs, some $254,943. The balance owed was reduced by the amount of infrastructure maintenance costs at two parks. That maintenance work caused the restaurants to close at Robbers Cave and Beavers Bend.
A letter sent May 16 to the Lookout Kitchen noted those credits were for $3,035 at Robbers Cave, which was closed in June 2024 and $3,517 at Beavers Bend, which was closed in September of the same year. Each restaurant later reopened.
Other failures on the part of the restaurant were not filing a bond or letter of credit for half a million dollars and forward balance sheets for January-April of 2025. There were also neither profit and loss statements nor bank statements for the same time period. Regular reporting of those numbers was spelled out in the contract between the state and the restaurant.
The letter points out that the Lookout Kitchen had until July 7 to comply and there could be no negotiation or changes to the contract until the reporting and payments were caught up.
When the business failed to comply by the deadline, the state closed restaurants the next day, July 8.
However, a statement from the Lookout Kitchen on its social media page refutes the allegations.
It details its disappointment with the state, and claims it fully complied with filing the documents requested in the May 16 letter. Further, the restaurant said, it made a ‘major’ payment toward the outstanding balance and offered to make the remainder of the payment on July 7.
The restaurant alleges the state refused to accept the payment and would not make any promise that the compliance with its requests would result in continued operations.
The post ends with the Lookout Kitchen maintaining its commitment to working with the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation to solve the issues. It also reiterates its devotion to the state parks, visitors and communities where the parks are located.
Meanwhile, the department said it is working to minimize disruption and provide alternative food options such as self-serve sandwiches, drinks and snacks. It is also considering having food trucks at the parks where the restaurants are shuttered.
The Lookout at Roman Nose State Park opened in May 2023 to much anticipation by the public, but since has struggled with keeping uniform hours and maintaining staffing.
Prior to contracting with the Lookout Kitchen, the ODTR installed Swadley’s Foggy Bottom Kitchens in multiple locations. That relationship soon soured, the restaurants shut down and finger pointing began. It is now in litigation with the state claiming misconduct during the renovations of five locations and seeking to reclaim part of the $17 million paid to the restaurant, with Swadley counter claiming it had poured money into the work even when the state withheld payments. Owner Brent Swadley has said the allegations were false and politically motivated. The barbecue chain is asking the state to pay $2.6 million.