The former Bomber location in Oak Grove is for sale

 John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive (1972-2008), Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Source.

Actually, what’s for sale is most of the land that the former restaurant (closed during COVID in 2020) and gas station (closed years ago) and once featured the B-17 Lacey Lady, a WWII-vintage B-17G four-engine Bomber looming over the property.

The Bomber was more than an advertising gimmick. “It’s almost like a fairy tale story,” maintains Milwaukie’s Art Lacey, who owned and operated the 48-pump McLoughlin Boulevard gas station.

If you don’t know the story, in 1947, Art Lacey purchased a B-17 bomber for $13,000 and flew it from Oklahoma to Oregon. He then disassembled it, transported it covertly, and placed it atop his 48-pump gas station in Oak Grove. Lacey also opened the Bomber Restaurant and motel. The gas station was closed in 1991.

According to Loopnet, the property is going for $6 million.

Source.

Good news for fans of the airplane, it was relocated and is being restored. Once that happens it’s not clear where it will (excuse the pun) land. Probably not at its original location. If I had any guesses, this chunk of the property will be turned into shovel-ready land.

One thought

  1. The Bomber was a big part of my childhood we lived within walking distance west of it on Linden Lane between 1956 and 1964. We bought our gas there and every March they gave out free Texaco kites for a fill and of course we regularly played inside the plane. I took a few pictures of it while it was still there in 2010. I guess I should find them.

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