History

History of The Cabin 

In 1933, during the Great Depression, an unemployed tile setter, who was also pretty much a dreamer, saw an old cabin deep in the woods off Lake Shore Boulevard, and fell in love with it ... his name was "Andy" Anderson.

The Cabin was made of rough-hewn logs, consisted of two rooms and a lean-to kitchen. It was built fifty years before as a hunting lodge for the Bliss family on Western Reserve land. A man had been trying to run it as a beer parlor, and hated it. So in October 1933, with a borrowed fifty-dollar bill, Andy bought The Cabin. The building was badly in need of repair. The chinking between the logs was gone and sunlight filtered through the cracks. The only heat was from the big fireplace, and the bar was an old plank across two saw horses.

But Andy was undismayed, he got busy working eighteen to twenty hours a day to make the place weather-proof, cooked hamburgers until he had money enough for dinners, then cooking and serving them along with old-fashioned Wooden Shoe beer and Genessee ale. He added a coal buring stove and an inside toilet for the ladies. He built a small new bar with the beer taps on the back wall, so the beer seemed to flow directly from the logs.

The animal collection began with a mounted deer head that had been gathering dust in a friend's attic, and just grew. It was Andy's vision to preserve the atmosphere of the hunting lodge with each addition of a new hunting prize.

In January 1944, Bud Handy teamed up with Andy, and took over the operation of the kitchen. He took great pride in cooking delicious food and providing personal service for which the Cabin is still well known.

For a little over twenty-two years, Andy lived to see most of his dreams come true before he passed away in January, 1955. Since then both Bud Handy and Betty Hylkema have continued the Anderson tradition. They hope you'll be pleased each time you visit, and that you'll FEEL the joy and warmth that has been built into "The Cabin."

1994-Present Day

In May of 1994, one year after a devastating fire, the Beliches and the Durkoskes rebuilt the Cabin to closely resemble the original structure. They wanted to preserve a Willowick "landmark" which had become a source of fond memories for so many people.

We hope you come and enjoy the ambiance and sample our fine cuisine to the glow of the two original fireplaces. The Cabin continues to help create wonderful memories in a warm and friendly atmosphere.