Legendary Chicken Farm Art Center Continues Roger Allen's Legacy Under New Ownership

SAN ANGELO – The iconic,legendary and famous Chicken Farm Art Center on MLK Blvd. in San Angelo has been sold and the new owners are excited to continue the late Roger Allen's legacy. 

According to information released late Friday, the Chicken Farm Art Center, one of San Angelo’s top tourist attractions according to Trip Advisor, has recently been bought by Chasity and Juston Oakes of San Angelo. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Established in 1971 by famed pottery maker, Roger Allen, the Chicken Farm Art Center is a vibrant and popular art community boasting popular attractions including The Star Keeper Gallery, Inn at the Art Center bed and breakfast rooms, Una at The Silo House Restaurant and many artist studios for artists to create, display and sell their paintings, ceramics, jewelry, sculptures, hand-woven textiles and more.  Several artists also live at the Chicken Farm.

After Roger’s death in 2019, Roger’s widow, Pam Bladine, and co-owners Jerry and Susan Warnell began discussing the future of the Chicken Farm and their own retirement.  The decision was made to softly market the property with the highest priority of finding someone with the heart and passion for the popular art community. Steve Eustis, a local commercial real estate broker, was retained to help in the search.  In a statement, Pam Bladine and the Warnells expressed their excitement with what the new owners will mean for the future of the Chicken Farm: “they are young and energetic and absolutely love the atmosphere at the Chicken Farm. We could not be more pleased and can now retire knowing that the legacy of Rogers’s dream in this art community will live on.  We’d like to think Roger provided a little help in finding them too!”

Chasity Oakes grew up in St Lawrence, Texas.  She attended Texas A&M and majored in construction management. Her husband, Juston, grew up outside of Charleston, South Carolina and proudly served 5 years in the United States Marine Corps after graduation.  He earned a BBA and a master’s degree in information technology from Kaplan University.  The couple moved to San Angelo from Dallas two years ago to be closer to Chasity’s family.  They are the parents of a 2-year-old son, Emery.  Shortly after moving to San Angelo, they “fell in love with the Chicken Farm Art Center” on a date night at the Silo House Restaurant noted Chasity.  According to the couple, “our plans are not only to preserve the spirit of the art center, but to create a venue space where people can host their friends and family for special events and make lasting memories.”  The couple also plans to provide additional gallery and studio space for artists and allow more opportunities for live performances and music at “First Saturdays at the Chicken Farm” and “Friday Night Concerts in the Yard” prior to first Saturday events.  The next First Saturday will be August 6^th 10am-5pm.