OLD MILL FACADE FACELIFT PRESERVING ‘OLD SLOAN’S’ FAMILY RESTAURANT TRADITIONS

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — Gordon Sloan would have loved Miranda Yang.

She’s a chip off the old centre block.

The chipper, glad-handing new owner (last year) of The Old Mill — town’s legendary Sloan’s Restaurant — is undergoing a facelift of the family’s iconic business building.

“It’s still open” and she’s intent on preserving its main street heritage on Muskoka Road South that for decades was the downtown core for many diners.

Miranda Yang is the very personal owner, along with her husband, of the Old Mill, which remains open as work continues a couple more weeks on refreshing of its front. PHOTOS Mark Clairmont

She says the façade is a little rough, so the squared logs and landmark look needs an update.

The inside will remain preserved with its pioneer timber feel and tables and chairs that still date back to the Second World War.

Good thing, too, because it’s gone through many not so kind iterations.

Yang says the Muskoka rock will remain.

And while she tried to bring back the large wooden sign that hung over its front door and was the signature image on post cards and menus, the Sloan’s family wouldn’t part with it at their Brydon’s Bay cottage.

She hopes to have the work complete in a couple of weeks.

Meanwhile she and husband Alan continue to serve up the fine food that continues to come out of their kitchen feeding new generations of family diners.

The Old Mill is both old and will soon be new again.

It’s preserving the history of old wood mills, logging and boat builders at the Muskoka Wharf, while keeping up to date with the ever-changing cuisine tastes of new and old winter and summer season Canadian residents.

Now if she could make the famous blueberry pie that would really  bring back the customers who love the big buffets, but want a taste of they really remember.

Watch and wait this summer?

A log cabin in the middle of the main street. The old Sloan’s is now the new Old Mill Family Restaurant. And a makeover is preserving the outside, while maintaining the interior charm dating back 80 years or more.

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