The Lookout Kitchen held its long awaited grand opening May 23. The work preparing for the event had been going on for quite some time, naturally, but there was a special sense of anticipation on this afternoon.
Outside, the hours of operation sign was going up and in the kitchen all seemed ready. Melissa Woolley, assistant manager, J.P. Wilson, owner, Jason Brewer general manager and the rest of the staff and crew were on their toes as the vestibule filled with friends and well wishers an hour before the ribbon was scheduled to be cut.
Along with the leaders of Watonga and Blaine County, there was at least one visitor who remembered Roman Nose back in the day. Melvin Thompson was a lifeguard at the park in 1959-60. He recalled the vestibule was all seating back then, but the basic structure was reasonably still the same.
Thompson said he only made $180 a month then and was trying to save his money for college at OSU.
“So, I didn’t go to the Lodge very often,” he laughed. He did make it to OSU, for a year at least. That second summer working at Roman Nose, Thompson met a girl from Del City. That was July 2. Five months later, they were married and Thompson went to work. Sixty-three years later, he still is with the girl from Del City. They own a commercial roofing company in Oklahoma City. But he seized the chance to come to the opening.
The tables filled quickly, with Mary Ann Teply having the first reservation and consequently the first table seating.
The full service restaurant offers breakfast from 7-10:30 a.m. and lunch and dinner from 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and is open until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Prices are moderate.
For more information you may call (580) 6232521.