Luther’s Threatt Filling Station Eyes Revival with Zoning Change

The historic Threatt Filling Station, a Route 66 landmark once serving as a haven for Black travelers during Jim Crow, is poised for a modern rebirth. Threatt Legacy, LLC, has filed a specific use permit (SUP) application to rezone nearly 160 acres on Route 66 and Pottawatomie Road, on the eastern edge of town limits, for a mixed-use development including a museum, RV campground, sports fields, and a future restaurant, tavern, retail, and housing.

The land, acquired by Allen Threatt Sr. around 100 years ago, holds deep roots in Luther’s history. The Threatt Filling Station was a full-service gas station, cafe, campground, and ballpark that drew travelers with attractions like a rattlesnake pit. Nearly lost to disrepair, the station has been revived through efforts by the family, nonprofits, and community partners. In April 2024, the Threatt Filling Station Foundation secured an $858,000 grant from the State of Oklahoma to restore and reopen at least part of it before the 2026 Route 66 Centennial.

Currently zoned agricultural within town limits, the SUP aims to revive the station’s heyday as a tourist draw while honoring the Threatt family’s legacy. Johnson and Associates, an Oklahoma City planning firm behind projects like Bricktown’s Canal and Midtown Streetscapes, is handling the application. The proposed uses include residential (single or two-family), commercial (restaurant, retail, repair shop, beauty parlor, mercantile, office, hotel, RV campground, museum, gas station, tavern), community recreation (sports fields, courts), a pavilion for events, outdoor patio, and parking areas with gravel overflow.

Benefits to Luther and Neighbors

The application outlines how the development will enrich the town, including outdoor recreation opportunities via trails and sports fields, sales tax revenue from commercial spaces, and educational value through the museum, which highlights the property’s history. “The proposed development will benefit the town by providing outdoor recreation opportunities through trails and sports fields,” the application states. “The proposed commercial and retail will benefit the town through sales tax. The anticipated museum will help to educate the public on the history of the property and the Threatt Filling Station. All of these proposed uses will draw and benefit both visitors and current residents.”

Site Suitability

The property’s Route 66 frontage and existing attraction make it ideal, according to the application. “The location fronting Route 66 and the Threatt Filling Station provides ample visibility and an existing attraction. The commercial and retail uses will add much-needed services to this area of Route 66. The significant tree cover will benefit the proposed RV park and the planned trails throughout the site. The development will provide amenities for residents and visitors.”

Public Hearing Schedule

The Luther Planning Commission will hear the application on Monday, November 10, 2025, at 7 p.m., followed by the Town Board of Trustees on Wednesday, November 12, at 7 p.m. (moved due to the Veterans Day holiday on Tuesday). All meetings are open to the public, with agendas posted on townoflutherok.com, in the Town Hall lobby, on Facebook, and via email signup.

Public Hearing Notice