Crestline’s historic “World Famous, Stockade Whiskey and Grub, Est. 1954” restaurant is currently undergoing some upgrades to its interior under the direction of its new owners, Chip Anzalone and Kyle Lake, who purchased the restaurant last September from its previous owner, Carol Dason, who had owned and managed it for the past 15 years.

The Stockade had seen a series of at least three previous owners, since its 1954 opening as Chateau Café Piland, operated by Lil and Newt Piland, who also built and operated the exclusive Club San Moritz Supper Club and the Yodeler in Dart Canyon.

During a walkthrough with The Alpine Mountaineer, Anzalone pointed out some of the many changes being made in the now mostly stripped and bare dining room, which now has a new flooring similar to the rustic planks covering the barroom floor.

“The dollar bills stapled to the walls and rafters containing signatures of previous visitors through past decades will stay in the bar, but they are gone from behind the bar and gone from the dining room,” Anzalone said, adding, “Also gone from the dining area are of all the antique kitchen pots, pans, ladles, lanterns, drills and other tools and implements from a bygone era.”

Meanwhile, in the front barroom, “We have replaced all of the lighting fixtures and all of the tables and chairs are being replaced with new high tables and chairs.”

Asked whether the rustic, one-of-a-kind barstools will stay in place, he said, “They are unique; of course they will stay right where they are. Also, there will be two padded booths along the rear wall of the bar.”

Then, he pointed out a rustic, carved face of a cowboy that had been completely covered with signed dollar bills and hidden from view in recent years. Also discovered in the bar was a beautiful, almost thee-foot-long, classic, oval-framed picture of a scantily clad lady that has been carefully cleaned, restored and replaced above the doorway leading into to the dining room.

Other upgrades to the bar include a new surround-sound loudspeaker system that extends out to the covered patio behind the kitchen. “On weekends, nationally known touring musicians and bands will be playing, along with local bands that we want to support and which we hope will gain national recognition as well,” Anzalone said.

Also new to the bar, he added, will be new taxidermies. “We are looking for additional taxidermies and we would appreciate help from the community, if they have any taxidermied animals that they could provide us with.

Anzalone added that the kitchen has been outfitted with new ovens and cooking surfaces, while the outdoor patio just past the kitchen is an area where customers can still enjoy a meal while watching bands play.

Also staying in the barroom is the pool table, which will soon be surfaced with black felt to replace its current green felt top. “We will have a new beer-on-tap dispenser, a new refrigerator behind the bar and we will have a whiskey selection not to be beat by anybody else on the mountain,” Anzalone said.

When asked whether longtime Stockade chef Ramone will still be manning the kitchen, he replied, “Of course – it wouldn’t be the Stockade without Ramone and his excellent selection of barbecued ribs and other barbecue items.

“Soon,” Anzalone said, “The old menu will be revamped and improved with many new menu items, including bison burgers and prime rib, as well as weekly, exotic menu items this coming spring and summer such as alligator dishes created by co-owner Kyle Lake, a seasoned and schooled chef.”

Anzalone, who also owns the soon-to-be-opened Yetti Saloon in Skyforest, said, “We want to preserve and promote local history by having a plaque designating it as a point of local historical interest.”

According to Anzalone, he plans a “soft opening” as soon as upgrades are completed.