To Tabernash, With Love: Two Builders Turn A Fading Landmark Into A Bustling Tavern – And Inspire Others To Preserve The Tiny Town’s Character.
By Cara McDonald / Photos by Carter Photographics

There’s not much to slow travelers whipping by the tiny town of Tabernash, population 165, give or take. It’s a bend in Highway 40 where the speed limit drops, a sign announces your arrival and just as soon as you’ve processed that information, you’ve cruised right out of town: past a liquor store, flower shop, the tiny post office, a real estate joint, and a huddle of faded wooden cabins.

But there’s new life in this little crossroads town. An old wooden storefront, with its facade of square edges like a saloon out of a Western movie, has had a stunner of a makeover – a handsome brick addition, revamped porch, new patio, and a full renovation inside. The faded sign now announces in swooping letters “Tabernash Tavern,” and a thriving restaurant has joined the valley’s dining scene.

“No one had destroyed its character yet. We saw this 100-year-old building and thought, ‘Okay, this is a great property,’ and started kicking around a few ideas.” — David McKnight

Credit builder David McKnight and business partner Jonathan Larson with the transformation. McKnight and Larson were also foodies with the itch to diversify their business. “We always liked Tabernash,” McKnight says. “No one had destroyed its character yet. We saw this 100-year-old building and thought, ‘Okay, this is a great property,’ and started kicking around a few ideas.”

The two felt the area needed a topnotch eatery, and that the old building could provide just the right mountaincasual atmosphere to lure diners. But first, they had to transform the space into restaurant-worthy digs. Larson drew up plans for an addition that would make for a new entryway, kitchen and upstairs office space while McKnight dove into the renovation. “We ran into some interesting stuff,” McKnight admits. The building had challenges such as carpeting and newspaper used as insulation, and there were structural issues to bring up to code.

Through the process, Larson and McKnight tried hard to keep the character and integrity of the building. “We wanted to stress the quality of the space, and we strove to make it lasting and nice … timeless,” McKnight says. Whenever possible, they sought out reusable materials. They bought scrap beams from neighboring Highland Lumber Co., which had been sitting outside in the yard, getting weathered. McKnight had them cut into paneling and used on the interior. The duo had to add a new roof, for insulation and functionality, but left the beams and wood from the old one exposed, so the interior would keep its timeworn feel.

That care has paid off. “The response we’ve had from the community has surprised us. We always knew Chef Sapien (Alberto Sapien, formerly of The Shed) could make it work from a dining perspective, but the draw of the building has been a great thing. Keeping it old looking was the right thing to do,” McKnight says. Hardly a week goes by without a visitor stopping in just to check out the old place and say thanks for preserving it. And now the word is that other folks are looking into properties in Tabernash to fix up and preserve in a similar way.

“That’s great to hear,” says McKnight. “The greenest way to build is to take an old building and fix it up.” As for Larson and McKnight, their hands are full with the restaurant biz at the moment – during the season, it’s hard to get a table without a reservation, even midweek. But are they ruling out another rehab project? “Let’s just say we’re keeping our eyes open,” McKnight says.

TABERNASH TAVERN CONFIDENTIAL -
Getting There:
The tavern is located at 72287 Highway 40, 11 miles north of Winter Park. Lunch 11 am - 2 pm, dinner 5 pm - 9 pm, and pub menu 2 pm - 5 pm on weekends. Dinner reservations are strongly recommended. 970-726-4430

Hot Seat:
The high-tops in the bar make for a great vantage point to people watch, with more elbow room than some of the two-tops in the dining room.

Don’t Miss: The paella, a house specialty

READ MORE STORIES FROM THIS ISSUE:
• Something Old, Something New: Brickhouse 40
• A Rebirth on the River: Riverside Hotel
• Special Lifestyle Section
• 2009 Feature Articles