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.
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.
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.
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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.
I first visited The Bomber Restaurant in 1967 with my good friend Dennis Schnell who was from Portland. I am from London and when I saw it I thought, only in America. I like that positive way of doing things in the US,if you have a dream go for it, and Art Lacey certainly did that. I went back there many years later with my wife, and it brought back so many happy memories. Those were the days.
We lived in eastern Oregon and traveled 300+ miles down to the Willamette valley at least twice a year: the 4th of July and Christmas, to our grandparents homestead E of Molalla. Dad timed it to get his gas at The Bomber. There was a ladder towards the back of the plane, and I was able to climb up inside the bomber and looked around several times. Great memories!
I lived at 13720 SE Oatfield Road, Oak Grove in the late 40’s, early 50’s. My Great-grandparents, Mabel and Claude Jarman, owned the home and surrounding farm. My parents, Colin and Jean Ackerson lived in the large home on the property. My brothers and sister lived there until 1958. (ErrolLynne, Colin (Corky), Jeff, Mark and Becky Ackerson) The Bomber pointed down Holy Ave to our house. Like others have said, we went there for gas and played on the bomber – nearly every weekend. My father and mother were WWII vets. I loved this wonderful old house and it’s surrounding orchards, gardens, chicken coop, and grape rows. It had a unique birdhouse near the entrance that was a replica of the house. ErrolLynne Ackerson Marsh
My Dad and Art Lacey were friends. Dad worked at a bakery in the same shopping complex as Art’s gas station and then for Wherry’s furniture in the same complex. Dad, too, was Master Tech Sergeant for the B-17 Pathfinder group in WWIi. He played some role in getting the Bomber to the station and helping stage it when up with some stuff he brought home from the war as mementos , like protractors with bullet holes in them. Had a chance to talk to Punky Lacey, Art snd Ardeen’s daughter a while ago about the restoration of the plane. Coming along slowly as much was pilfered in the days while the 17 was available for kids like my brother and me to play in it. I took a ride, for instance, in a fully restored 17 down here in Santa Barbara. That plane had navigational parts from Art’s Bomber. A landmark for the Oak Grove area that, like the trolley, is now long gone. Sad to see the land now going, too, but still have warm memories of The Bomber, a significant post war Memorial to those who flew in WWII.
Dr. Jim Block
My Dad and Art Lacey were friends. Dad worked at a bakery in the same shopping complex as Art’s gas station and then for Wherry’s furniture in the same complex. Dad, too, was Master Tech Sergeant for the B-17 Pathfinder group in WWIi. He played some role in getting the Bomber to the station and helping stage it when up with some stuff he brought home from the war as mementos , like protractors with bullet holes in them. Had a chance to talk to Punky Lacey, Art snd Ardeen’s daughter a while ago about the restoration of the plane. Coming along slowly as much was pilfered in the days while the 17 was available for kids like my brother and me to play in it. I took a ride, for instance, in a fully restored 17 down here in Santa Barbara. That plane had navigational parts from Art’s Bomber. A landmark for the Oak Grove area that, like the trolley, is now long gone. Sad to see the land now going, too, but still have warm memories of The Bomber, a significant post war Memorial to those who flew in WWII.
Dr. Jim Block