The Laughner family has closed the Loon Lake Lodge in Castleton, ending a 122-year run of
operating restaurants in Indianapolis. Chip Laughner opened the wilderness-themed restaurant with a seaplane affixed to the
roof in 1998, after the family's once-booming cafeteria business had faltered. "After 12 great years we have chosen
to go into other avenues," the Laughner family says on the Loon Lake website. "We would like to thank all of our
patrons who supported us throughout the years. At this time we say Au Revoir, or as Roy Rogers said 'Until we meet again.'"
The 13,000-square-foot building on 2.6 acres northwest of Interstate 69 and 82nd Street is being offered for sale with an
asking price of $2.8 million, said Steve Delaney, a principal with Sitehawk Retail Real Estate. The restaurant chain Quaker
Steak & Lube, based in Sharon, Penn., is considering opening a restaurant in the building. Hotel developers also have
expressed interest in the site, which is near several hotels including a Hampton Inn, Drury Inn and a Hilton. The last restaurants
carrying the Laughner name shut down in 2001. The chain, in business since 1888, already had been downsizing its Laughner
Cafeteria and Dutch Oven restaurant businesses when in 2000, a judge sentenced Richard Laughner, Chip's cousin and company
president at the time, to prison for soliciting sex from a juvenile. Shortly thereafter, cafeterias in Franklin, Indianapolis
and Kokomo closed. Watching the business' demise was brutal for 83-year-old Charles Laughner, who had led the restaurants
in their heyday. He retired a few years ago but remained involved, with son Chip, in operating Loon Lake.
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Welcome to Property Lines, Indy's source for neighborhood real estate news. Your host is Scott Olson, IBJ's real estate beat
reporter. Edited by Cory Schouten.
Laughners exit restaurant business after 122 years with Loon Lake Lodge closure
August 17, 2010
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It's also across the street from Fogo de Chao and Morton's....
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Yep, the haters are trying to make good news bad. I guess it is hard to get people to believe the series is dying when they are gaining new sponsors.
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David Copperfield! I remember watching his specials on TV when I was little.
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Don't forget this is next to an MMA gym, a pawn shop, and some abandoned spaces.
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Good project for Zionsville - A group who has owned the property for many years has waited and worked patiently to bring highest and best use development to a major corridor, and mix that in with the great downtown you have. Win Win. All the Best to Pittman Partners and Zionsville.
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Quaker Steak and Lube had "coming soon" to Indianapolis for a while, on their website. I really don't know about all of the "anti-chain" sentiment. There are great examples of both chain and locally owned restaurants here. I'll take more NEW of both, as long as they are good.
Even with this loss, if you think Indy doesn't have a lot of great local eateries around, you need to open your eyes and get out of Castleton. Granted, we could use a few less chains, but a visit to a chain should be a rarity given the plethora of local options these days.
The Indianapolis restaurant scene has come a long way in the nearly 15 years I've lived here.
Indianapolis by no means, wins the award for most chains. Many other cities have just as many, if not more. If you're tired of chains then seek out the good locals we have - and there are many, but you may have to drive south of 86th Street.
I remember eating at the Laughner's on the east side with my grandparents as a kid. It's a shame they all closed and I still think of it whenever I drive past that weedy lot where it used to be.
Charles could no more be held responsible for that persons actions than Beurt Servaas could be blamed for your incorrect ident as Charles's brother. Lets remember, from the beginnings of downtown in 1888 to Riverside amusement park in the early 1900's where some of our great grandparents as children enjoyed Laughners food and hospitality, to Laughners drive-in where many of us and our parents cruised the 50's, to Dutch oven where as many as 5000 pies were sold each year the day before Thanksgiving, the cafeterias from Kokomo to Terra haute and all over the city, countless celebrations and family gatherings were held through many generations that in most hearts are priceless. "Johnathons Keep" one of the finest upscale dinner houses in the country, a business and family that survived countless rough times including THE GREAT DEPRESSION, who always were totally and completely Indiana, have left our scene Everyone should stand and applaud a great resilient family. There is none better. God Bless you Charles and yours....Jim Roberts
I see nothing wrong with chain restauraunts. If they are moving into the area then they obviously feel at ease with the local business environment which I see as a good thing. And like many have pointed out, Indianapolis is no longer a city devoid of local options. All you have to do is open your eyes and get out of Castleton and Greenwood. It's funny that we equate the lack of popular chain retail destinations with not quite being "big time", but at the same time put down the presence of national chain food places.
But, even if Loon Lake was local, it had the feel of some schlocky chain.
richardtaylor
business for sale sunshine coast