It’s called The Magnolia Kitchen and it’s located on Pioneer Road – the street that leads to the Red River Ski & Summer Area. Barbara Cerveny and son Benjamin are the operators of this new establishment and will offer visitors the opportunity to enjoy something different: a taste of the genuine South.
“We like to call it Mississippi Home Style Cooking,” says Benjamin. “Basically what that means is that these are a lot of recipes from my childhood. She (Barbara) has a ton of years cooking for large groups in Mississippi. What we’re looking at is fried chicken, fried catfish, and two rotating proteins and pulled pork on occasion, but it’s going to be more of a North Carolina style barbecue. It’s vinegar based. I don’t know how many people in this town have ever had it, but I’m sure it will go over well.”
There will be a large salad bar. They plan to have beer and wine and will serve homemade bread, muffins, cornbread and hush puppies.
The Emporium Gift Shop and Li’l Willie’s Ice Cream, Sweet Treat and Takery is located at 410 W. Main (Highway 38.) “The shop will have retail on one side, with gift items like pottery, dishes, kitchen stuff – a few T-shirts maybe – and some clothing,” says operator Kelly Cherry.
“The other side of the building will be an ice cream shop with sweets, and eventually – probably next summer – we’re going to have a takery which will have pre-prepared food that will be packaged so you can take it home and heat up or cook.”
Kelley points out that the building was formerly an ice cream shop and they will be serving Blue Bell.
The Red River Angler & Sport Shop has a new location. Sloan Covington has moved next door to The Dairy Bar Restaurant on E. Main. The shop offers fishing equipment, area info, trail maps, camping supplies, rock climbing gear in addition to booking guided fly fishing trips, guided white water rafting, guided horseback tours, guided rock climbing, and OHV rentals.
The award-winning Noisy Water Winery, headquartered in Ruidoso NM, is opening a Tasting Room on E. Main. They have been a part of the Red River Art & Wine festival for several years and will be open all summer.
The Rail Haus is located in the Alpine Lodge on W. Main and was formerly The Brass Rail Theatre. The large multi-purpose facility has been renovated and will be the site of wedding receptions, workshops, meetings, reunions and will again host the Wild Rivers Plein Air Festival July 20-21, including the Artist Awards Reception on Saturday night.
Several historic properties have changed management and, in some cases, ownership:
Sam and Christi Allen are the new owners of Aspen Park Guest Ranch, located on Highway 578 (Upper Valley Road). The lodge has been inactive for several years and the Allens have taken on the task of rebuilding the legendary property which dates back to the 1930s.
River Ranch will be operated this summer by the Kiker family, owners of Frye’s Old Town, Jewelry Lady and Kiker construction. Cabins and hookups are ready.
Matt Dietz, new owner of Pioneer Lodge, built in the late 1920s, is in the process of renovating 16 cabins at Main and Pioneer Road for eventual nightly rental.