ON THE BEATEN PATH
T
The Dexter Lake Club revives its history BY SHANNON FINNELL
o everyone who ever had a crush on Patrick Swazye or giggled uproariously at the
raunchy antics of Animal House, the American roadhouse is a familiar institution.
Whether it’s the plates heaped with down-home cooking in a comfy diner, the local lore
or the energetic bar scene where your waitress jumps aside for a few seconds of dancing
once the drinks are served, a roadhouse can offer a lot — and the Dexter Lake Club does all of that.
The club cemented its place in Lane County history when scenes from National Lampoon’s Animal
House — when Delta Tau Chi met up with the band that played its toga party — were filmed there.
Since then, it’s changed hands a number of times and been everything from a bar to a craft store. When
in late 2011 it fell into the hands of owners Gregg and Shannon Stewart, they had a lot of work to do.
The 1949-built structure needed a new bar, a
complete renovation of the café and some exterior work
that the Stewarts have planned for drier weather. “Not
only did we come in and make (the design) cleaner,”
Stewart says, “but we thickened up the vibe of the
whole place.”
The bar side now projects quite the vibe, with the
zebra-print wall and Animal House neon sign. The staff
encourages visitors to take pictures in the patterned
booth the Stewarts replicated from the movie.
Gregg Stewart says that his wife, Shannon, developed
the menu, based mostly in home-cooked American
comfort food. “My wife’s approach was to do our own
mashed potatoes, soups, bases and stocks,” Stewart says,
the same way diner food was cooked when less pre-
made fare was available. Burgers have been a popular
option so far, as have the sweet potato fries and pizzas.
Stewart is busy developing a roadhouse music
scene for the bar, including guest bands, a house band
he plays in with some old friends, and jam and
songwriters’ nights. “It’s country; it’s rockabilly; it’s
‘70s classic rock and blues,” he says, describing the
spot-on music mix of a roadhouse. ■
PHOTO BY TRASK BEDORTHA
Dexter Lake Club is located at 39128 Dexter Rd., Dexter, 937-4050,
www.dexterlakeclub.com
GREGG AND SHANNON STEWART
PHOTO BY TODD COOPER
pizzas • slices • calzones • salads & more!
local meats & organic greens from sweet leaf farms
house roasted chicken & sausage
bottles to go
HAPPY HOUR 3-6PM DAILY
11am-10pm everyday
541.636.3737 • 1123 Monroe Street • Eugene
BEST
TH AI
FOOD
DAILY
DA
AILY DEL
DELIVERY 4:30-9:00pm
chow.eugeneweekly.com
BUBBLE
TEA
BE S T
L UNCH
BARGAINS
4 PM - 2:30 AM DAILY
Happy Hour 4-9pm
MARTINI SPECIALS & FREE POOL
DELIVERY AVAILABLE
4:30-9:00pm
Open Daily: 11am-9:30pm
4575952A16
SOUTH EUGENE
115 W. BROADWAY
jamesons-bar.com
CHOW! Winter 2012 7