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| - Photograph by: Ronny Salerno |
The abandoned remains of the Der Dutchman restaurant in Waynesville, OH.
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| - Photograph by: Cameron Knight |
Last summer Cameron and I were coming back from the gun range in Waynesville when he pointed out this location. Even with my shoulder aching form the kickback of his World War 2 era, bolt action Soviet rifle, we stopped to look around for a minute.
(My images were shot digitally with a Canon 60D, Cameron's on film with an Olympus XA)
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| - Photograph by: Ronny Salerno |
An empty fountain, boarded up windows and weeds cracking through the brick paths - the only sound was coming from the occasional car on Rt. 42 and the water of the Little Miami River rushing behind the building.
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| - Photograph by: Ronny Salerno |
Just under an hour north of Cincinnati, the abandoned area was once home to "Der Dutchman," an iconic Waynesville restaurant. The complex also once featured an Amish themed gift and furniture store as well as a bakery.
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| - Photograph by: Cameron Knight |
In October 2010, a kitchen fire began tearing through the structure during a breakfast rush. According to the
Dayton Daily News, the fire is believed to have started from a malfunctioning chicken roaster. Everyone inside escaped safely, but the building was left with significant damage.
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| - Photograph by: Ronny Salerno |
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In 1973, local couple Bill and Helen Lemey had opened up "1776," the original restaurant that occupied the property. In the late 80's, "1776" was purchased and renamed as "Der Dutchler." The complex expanded into a larger restaurant building.
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| - Photograph by: Ronny Salerno |
The restaurant and adjacent attractions were a signature draw of Waynesville even through 1999 when the property was purchased by Dutchman Hospitality Group. Der Dutchman enjoyed positive reviews on dining review sites like
Yelp, where comments like this could be found:
"Always busy. There's a little gift shop, bakery, and Amish foods shop.
The restaurant is great. The menu is on the placemat. Order from there or get the buffet. Nice salad bar with all the usual fare. There are many prepared salads plus a very yummy Amish dessert.
The food bar has Amish noodles, veggies, and gravies. The meats include turkey, roast beef, fried catfish (Fridays) and my favorite -fried or broasted chicken.
Service is good. Homemade desserts are yummy.
If you get there during the main dining times, you may take a complimentary ride on an Amish horse carriage. "Dutch" is always happy to give you a ride around the parking lot.
(footnote: they are closed on Sundays.)"
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| - Photograph by: Cameron Knight |
Following the fire in October, Dutchman Hospitality Group announced that they would not be reopening the restaurant and planned to close their additional businesses on the site such as their bakery, furniture and gift shops. According to the
Dayton Daily News, the damage was estimated at $1.5 Million.
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| - Photograph by: Ronny Salerno |
Three years later and the site still looks pleasant. The architecture is nice, the lawn is still mostly groomed and gazebos dot the landscape along the river. If you step around back though, you can see where the end began:
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| - Photograph by: Ronny Salerno |
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| - Photograph by: Ronny Salerno |
Once one of the most iconic restaurants in Warren County, there doesn't seem to be any plans to reopen or renovate the site that sits there like a scene from an Amish apocalypse.
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| - Photograph by: Cameron Knight |
Update | Oct. 22, 2017:
- Der Dutchman has been torn down.