Tourism department suspends restaurant operations at Oklahoma state parks

The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department is once again facing trouble with the operator of its state park restaurants, and has announced the immediate closure of all six restaurants.

In a bulletin sent out Tuesday, July 8, the department announced it had "suspended the Lookout Kitchen’s operation of the state park restaurants."

Lookout Kitchens restaurants are operated by La Ratatouille and located at Lake Murray State Park in Ardmore, Quartz Mountain State Park in Lone Wolf,  Robbers Cave State Park in Wilburton, Roman Nose State Park in Watonga, Sequoyah State Park in Hulbert and Beavers Bend State Park in Broken Bow.

The lodge at Roman Nose State Park seen in 2012.

The notice went on to state that the action was taken due to Lookout's "repeated failures to make outstanding payments and fulfill other contractual obligations to the State."

The tourism department said it has made efforts to work with the operators of Lookout Kitchen, but that the group failed to comply with a request to resolve problems by July 7.

Why did Oklahoma's state park restaurants close? A look at legal documents

In a letter to Lookout Kitchens' legal team from May 16, 2025, shared with The Oklahoman, general counsel for the Tourism department requests multiple outstanding financial records including balance sheets, profit and loss reports and bank statements all for January through April 2025, along with sales tax receipts dating back to April 2023 and quarterly federal form 941, which is an employer's federal tax return, for calendar years 2024 and 2025.

The letter also said the department was seeking $254,943.52 for past due monthly payments of 8% of gross receipts from the restaurants in addition to a surety bond or letter of credit in the amount of $500,000.

However, according to La Ratatouille's legal team, the two parties are still in negotiations over the amount to be paid.

“We had until yesterday to submit all the information requested, which we did. The only thing outstanding was the payment and we're negotiating that right now,” said Brian Buswell, attorney for La Ratatouille. “That’s about all I can tell you, we’re still negotiating.”

La Ratatouille bid on the contract in early 2023 alongside several other vendors. It was awarded the countract in April 2023 and opened the Lookout Kitchen locations beginning Memorial Day weekend of 2023.

The need for a new vendor came after the contract between the state and previous operator Swadley's was terminated, leading to the closure of Swadley's Foggy Bottom Kitchens.

Litigation between Swadley's and the state is ongoing, with owner Brent Swadley having been indicted on multiple counts and awaiting trial.

In response to a May 2025 Open Records request, the Tourism department told the Oklahoman that it had collected just $578,838.36 in revenue from the six Lookout Kitchen locations since their openings more than two years ago.

In the bulletin issued July 8, the Tourism department said it is working to find way to minimize food service disruptions at the parks, including providing alternative food service options like "grab & go" sandwiches, snacks, and drinks. The department also said it will be looking at the possibility of employing food trucks at the six affected parks.

(This story was updated to add new information.)