
For over eight decades, the small plot of land on the corner of Capitol Boulevard and Custer Way in Tumwater has been known by many names, including the Chicken Coop Cafe, Oregon Trail Cafe, Tumwater Conservatory and South Pacific Restaurant and Lounge. And as the space evolved from roadside cafe to music venue and beyond, memories echo back to the property’s time as a popular meeting spot for civic organizations in the 1950s; the home of a burgeoning – but short-lived – political party in the late 1970s; and a premiere setting to catch touring bands throughout the 1990s.

The Chicken Coop Cafe Served Classic Eats During Great Depression and World War II
The Chicken Coop Cafe was an important community hub in Tumwater during the later years of the Great Depression, throughout World War II and in the post-war era. According to Karen Johnson, curator of the Schmidt House for the Olympia Tumwater Foundation, the Chicken Coop Cafe originally occupied a space down the road, but set up shop on the corner of Capitol Boulevard and Custer Way, 3507 Capitol Boulevard, in the late 1930s after the Pacific Highway was established in Tumwater. The cafe quickly became a convenient stop for travelers and community members alike. The Chicken Coop would often post local newspaper advertisements, boasting air conditioning and a menu of classic comfort dishes, including fried chicken, oysters and other seafood.
During World War II, the Chicken Coop partnered with other local businesses to help fund war loans and contribute to the National War Fund Drive with the American Red Cross. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, the Chicken Coop was a regular gathering space for many community members and served as the setting for wedding receptions and celebratory dinners for recreational sporting leagues. Many nonprofit organizations and civic clubs also made use of the restaurant, including the Olympia Emergency Corps and Zonta Club of Olympia.
The property has also been marked by moments of tragedy, including a series of fires in the property’s past and present that have left the future of the space uncertain. This includes two significant building fires in May 1941 and June 1945. In August 1951, a third intense blaze was recorded, leading to one death and a subsequent month-long closure, reconstruction and name change for the restaurant.

The Oregon Trail Cafe Provided Quality Eats by Day and Live Music by Night
In November 1951, the Oregon Trail Cafe, sometimes referred to as the Oregon Trail Inn, became the next establishment to inhabit the corner of Capitol Boulevard and Custer Way. In the aftermath of the August 1951 fire and substantial remodel, the Oregon Trail Cafe moniker was adopted in homage to the Oregon Trail’s legacy in Tumwater, including a nearby memorial on Deschutes Way.
The restaurant further leaned into 19th century western frontier branding, with imagery of covered wagons and a menu of steak, chicken and seafood. The revamped Oregon Trail Cafe also continued to feature the Pioneer Room Lounge, which served alcohol and encouraged a celebratory atmosphere within the restaurant.
By the mid-1950s, the Oregon Trail Cafe emerged as a trusted spot for live music and dancing in the evenings, promoting solo musicians like Laura Huxley on piano, to regular groups like the Tex Mitchell Trio. Throughout the 1950s the Oregon Trail Cafe also continued to be a meeting spot for a number of local civic organizations, including the Thurston County Democratic Club, Olympia Toastmistress Club and the Tumwater Rotary Club, which hosted a guest speaker series at the restaurant in the late 1950s.

Tumwater Conservatory Made Its Mark on Washington’s Political History
By the 1970s, the property had become the Tumwater Conservatory, a jazz and music club that carved out its own piece of Washington State political history. Performances from the Tumwater Conservatory can still be found online, including a medley with the Red Kelly Quartet and local jazz musician Don Ober, in 1974.
The Tumwater Conservatory was owned by the longtime jazz musician, Red Kelly, and gained local notoriety for serving as the base for the “Out With Logic, On With Lunacy,” also known as OWL party, a facetious political movement in Washington State most active in the middle and late 1970s. The party’s tenure included Kelly’s run for governor during the 1976 general election, as well as fielding candidates for positions like secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor and attorney general, all receiving a small percentage of votes.
As home base for the OWL party, the Tumwater Conservatory hosted conventions ahead of the 1976 election, and again in 1977 to narrow down a potential congressional candidate. The club went out of business in 1978.

South Pacific Restaurant, Once a Reliable Music Venue, Now Has Unclear Future
Current residents of Thurston County may remember the corner of Capitol Boulevard and Custer Way as the former site of the South Pacific Restaurant and Lounge. The restaurant opened in the early 1980s and operated for three decades before its closure in 2013. Over the years, South Pacific would feature popular dishes like the pu pu platter, flaming ambrosis and teriyaki steak. In the evening, the restaurant transformed into a setting for live music, karaoke and dancing. Throughout the 1990s, local and touring bands would frequent the space, in addition to special events like dart throwing competitions and holiday celebrations on New Year’s Eve.
The building has now sat vacant for over a decade. In June 2024, the building experienced a catastrophic fire, with primarily wreckage remaining on the lot. The property is currently on the market and many questions linger about the future of the space.
