The historic and uniquely designed Donnay Building of Oklahoma City, recently saved from the wrecking ball by preservationists, soon will undergo an extensive makeover by its new owners.
The Oklahoma Gazette reported in an exclusive story on what also is known as Classen Circle:
In January, Classen Circle LLC’s Josh Thomas and Scott Mueller purchased the Donnay from previous owner Red Oak Properties LLC for $1.3 million and are investing an additional $1.2 million in an extensive renovation that will include what Thomas characterized as “massive upgrades” to neighboring Classen Grill, 5124 N. Classen Blvd. The renderings by Oklahoma City native Wade Scaramucci of London-based architecture firm Allford Hall Monaghan Morris amplify key elements of the building’s original design while modernizing the building with exterior updates and windows. Scaramucci also designed the interior and exterior for an in-the-works medical marijuana dispensary located in the space previously occupied by The Drunken Fry until this summer and, before that, The Patio from 1954 to 2000. Work begins on the dispensary Oct. 10.
The Donnay Building will still look like the Donnay Building, but with improved parking and long-needed repairs and upgrades. Thomas said he is proud to be part of preserving an important part of Oklahoma City culture so future generations can enjoy this unique part of the city’s history.
Voters in Oklahoma this summer approved medical marijuana.
One of the longtime tenants of the building, the HiLo Club, may reopen the long-closed upstairs part in addition to renovating the now-used part of the establishment. The HiLo, built in 1956, remains the oldest gay bar in the region.
Here’s what the Donnay Building looks like in the present day:
Nearly 14,000 people signed an online petition opposing a plan by the Braum’s ice cream and restaurant chain to demolish the site to put a store there. A Save Classen Circle page on Facebook drew more than 900 fans, and dozens of people attended a public hearing in September 2017 to oppose the plan.
Oklahoma City zoning commissioners refused to rezone the site, and Braum’s withdrew the application for the project.
The Donnay Building was constructed in 1948. According to Jim Ross’ “Oklahoma Route 66” book, Classen Circle sat on a 1950s alignment of Route 66. Current-day Oklahoma Highway 66, overlaid onto Interstate 44, also sits nearby.
(Artist’s rendering of a revamped Donnay Building at Classen Circle in Oklahoma City via OKCTalk.com; present-day image of Donnay Building by Matthew Rutledge via Flickr)
this seems interesting–Glenrio, Texas/New Mexico
ghost towns
Photo by Gouldy99
Not every ghost town came about by the fall of an industry. Sometimes just the building of a road can kill a little town. Glenrio is located on the border of Texas and New Mexico and in the 1920s became an important stop along Route 66. Even John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath was filmed in Glenrio.
Being right on the border of two states made for some interesting political decisions. Gas was pumped on the Texas side since taxes were lower in the Lone Star State.
Bars were located on the New Mexico side since the county in Texas was dry at the time. When the main highway was moved to Interstate 40, the town’s economy dried up and it’s now a group of abandoned buildings along a dirt road.
If you are interested in Route 66 history, this is one stop you need to make. Along the way, you can choose from several nearby campgrounds, but the closest is the Midpoint Campground, the midpoint of Route 66. This campground has 10 full hookup spaces, a laundromat, and a small store and cafe.