OAKHURST– People driving by the Mountain House may have noticed improvements to the iconic building located on the corner of Highway 41 and Bass Lake Road 222, and wondered when the project will be complete.
Will it be a restaurant or an office space?
General contractor Steve Gabbard, owner of Oakhurst-based Sun Construction, is happy to clear up some of the hearsay.
“It’s for lease,” says Steve. “It’s going to be whatever the lessee wants it to be.”
In an earlier article, Mountain House owner Harold Rothman discussed complications with the building that have set back the restoration process for the past five years. Complex repairs were required, including water and sewer issues, leach field problems, cosmetic and design elements, and plumbing and electrical fixes were needed in order to revive the building.
Now, the long-awaited transformation nears completion.
Steve was proud to discuss the appealing new look when asked about improvements made to the exterior of the building, and he promised a tour of the inside later this week, just as soon as it’s ready to be revealed.
“The owner wants people to see what a nice building it is.”
Steve also points out that the exterior of the building looks like wood, but is actually concrete siding.
“Just about all of the exterior is concrete or stone, it’s made from high-quality materials, so it should be fire resistant. The new roof is going to be slate, and it will be going on next week.”
The Mountain House restaurant employed as many as 20 people at one time, and closed in 2009 during the economic downturn. Locals and visitors alike were appreciative of the delicious meals and personal service provided at The Mountain House, counting on it for breakfast and as a great place for friends families to indulge, especially on the weekends.
So now, when you drive by the Mountain House, wish them well and hope that the once-beautiful landmark, now to be completely restored, will be open for business in one way or another — and soon.
