Tragic Restaurant Fire at Molly’s Landing Claims Life

Molly’s Landing photo courtesy of the Marian Clark collection.

Molly’s Landing, an iconic local-owned restaurant in Catoosa, Oklahoma caught fire early in the morning on Friday, November 24th. Tragically, the blaze also claimed the life of a woman inside the living quarters of the structure.

The history of Molly’s Landing is as colorful as you might imagine if you’ve ever enjoyed a meal in the cluttered-but-curated staple. Linda Powell, a restauranteur from Arizona, moved to Oklahoma in the 1980s and recognized the allure of Historic Route 66 in conjunction with the Verdigris River. She bought a retired Mississippi River push boat named Molly Smith and docked it on the water, giving the site its eventual name.

It took seven months to build the restaurant, which was actually a log-cabin style kit home. The three-bedroom-with-attached-garage building was brought in on four trucks and built, “like a big erector set,” Powell told the Tulsa World. The structure went through some significant changes to accommodate its altered purpose, including placing the windows in different locations and the addition of structural supports. In addition to a kitchen, bar, and split-level dining room the restaurant included attached living quarters for Linda. Molly’s Landing opened in 1984, quickly gaining a reputation as one of northeast Oklahoma’s most unique eateries.

Suzanne Holloway of the Tulsa world wrote in September of 1989, “The wooded, rustic setting overlooking the Verdigris River is beguiling. A glassed-in terrace with a view of the woods and the river was not in use when we were there on a recent weeknight. It should be lovely in spring and autumn. A potbellied stove heats it in winter. Brightly-colored Christmas lights outline the ceiling rafters in the log building. A big fireplace adds a homey touch. Tow sacks filled with peanut shells, saved from the days when Molly’s was a club, hang from the rafters. Walls and every nook and cranny are filled with pictures, primitive antiques, and nautical mementos.” Even the menus themselves were a conversation piece: the meals and prices were lacquered onto wooden canoe oars.

The restaurant was a success, requiring the addition of multiple rooms over the years. An outdoor BBQ pit was used for large gatherings and a small garden provided some of their herbs. Molly’s even had an active helipad for those that like to make a big entrance. There were long-time plans to convert the river boat into a second restaurant, too. Murder Mystery Dinners were a seasonal favorite at Molly’s, and it was a cherished spot for a secluded, romantic night out.

Molly’s Landing was also long recognized for its commitment to Made In Oklahoma goods. “We like to support all the local stuff,” Linda’s son and longtime chef, Russ White, told the Tulsa World in 2006. “We’re not a chain. We have grown from the very beginning, and it’s nice to help out those who are going through the same things that we did.”

The 1936 K-Truss bridge, repurposed for the drive leading to Molly’s Landing, which can be seen in the distance. Photo from 2014.

For many years, a simple pink neon sign and dirt road led people from Route 66 to the rustic dining establishment; it felt like a bit of a secret, tucked into the small valley next to the river. In 2011, when the historic 1936 bridge over Bird Creek nearby was being rebuilt, Molly’s saved a few of the trusses. They used them to create a one-of-a-kind driveway to the restaurant. Even after nearly forty years of operation, Molly’s Landing brought people from all over the region – and the world – to their little corner of Catoosa to enjoy a unique dining experience.

The staff was an extended family of their own, many of whom had served patrons at the restaurant for over a decade. That family suffered a devastating loss early Friday morning when an electrical fire broke out in the kitchen of Molly’s. Five local fire departments responded to bring it under control; tragically, a woman was inside the building and did not survive. Out of respect for the family, we are not releasing their name at this time.

Our hearts go out to the Powell family and the entire Molly’s Landing crew. A GoFundMe has been established to help the staff through the holidays here; if we see any other fundraising efforts for the family, we will update this post.