Sep. 23—BLUEWELL — A former restaurant that is still known for its distinctive circular sign despite years of vacancy and disrepair is now turning into a new property serving the ATV tourism industry.
Located across Route 52 from Lynn's Drive Inn in Bluewell, the building has been empty for years, but pavers were working Friday to prepare the parking lot for visitors. County officials have been working with the property's previous and present owners.
"Years ago, the building was a Golden Skillet," said Lori Mills, county dilapidated structures officer. "Their speciality was fried chicken. And then after that it was a construction company, Shoemaker Construction, and probably several other things."
Mercer County has been working to remove dilapidated structures, and ones along major roadways have been prioritized. There was a time when the old Golden Skillet location was among the buildings going on a list for demolition.
"It had fallen into disrepair and that's when the county had already started a dilapidated structure order to tear it down with the previous owner," Mills recalled.
After this process was underway, Gordon Lusk, who owns other businesses in the Bluewell area, bought the property from the owner, Mills said. Then a repair order was done and work started on renovating the structure rather than demolishing it, Mills said.
Lusk said he plans to use the building for lodging.
The ongoing project is a good example of using resources and a plan to renovate a structure rather than demolish it, Mills said, adding she was "thrilled" to see local history being preserved.
— Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com
Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com