Local Legends Series, Vol. 3: Vernon’s Legacy - The Place That Brought Us All Together!
Vernon’s Lakeside wasn’t simply a restaurant — it was the rhythm of Cedar Creek Lake.
The sign out front might have said “Lakeside,” but what it really offered was belonging — a place where Friday nights stretched into stories and where you never had to explain why you stayed longer than planned.
To the Nights We’ll Never Forget
If you spent any time at Vernon’s, you know the memories come fast and vivid — small scenes that capture what made the place matter. You can still see them if you close your eyes.
The bands you didn’t mean to stay for, until the bass hit and the dance floor filled — the first of many “Good Old Days” that would come to define lake life.
The bartender who slid your favorite beer across the patio bar the moment you walked in, no words exchanged.
The early New Year’s toast, raised hours before midnight because midnight was overrated when you already had everyone you needed.
The boat that nearly sank in three feet of water, while half the deck offered “helpful” advice between fits of laughter— the kind of story that still makes you grin, even now.
Those moments were the heartbeat of the lake — imperfect, spontaneous, alive. They made Vernon’s not a business, but The Place That Brought Us All Together — a living room that just happened to have a dock.
Cheers, friends — it’s finally your turn to kick back and soak up a little lake life.
When the lights finally dimmed, it felt like more than a closing. It was a pause — the end of one song and the beginning of another. Vernon’s taught this lake how to connect — and how to love each other a little deeper.
So here’s to Chris, Eliana, Angle, and the entire Vernon family:
we raise a glass to the nights we’ll never forget and to the family who made them possible.
And to what comes next.
Because as much as we’ll miss the patio breeze, we’re selfishly grateful to have you — for football Sundays, firepit nights, impromptu lunches, and the kind of ordinary moments you once gave up for us.
So many friendships were formed at Vernon’s Lakeside that we couldn’t let them fade. The regulars decided to keep the tradition alive with the Vernon’s Lakeside Old Times Club — a way for all of us who gathered there week after week to stay connected.
It’s a powerful testament to the Vernon family and the community they built. We may not meet at the same patio anymore, but the spirit of Vernon’s lives on. This time, Chris will be at the table with us — along with Eliana and everyone who once stood beside them, still serving this community in their own special way.
Vernon’s Legacy Collection:
In honor of the family who brought us all together.
This limited-edition collection was created with Chris’ blessing to celebrate the memories — and the family — that made Vernon’s Lakeside such a special part of Cedar Creek Lake.
100% of proceeds will be donated.
No profits are being kept — every dollar from this collection goes directly toward small acts of appreciation for the Vernon’s Family and their contribution to our community.
A date night and thank-you gift for Chris and Eliana, in support of their next chapter,
A thank-you gift for Kaylee, whose beautiful photo inspired this collection,
And a night out for the Vernon’s Lakeside Old Timers Club — to gather again and relive the good old days together.
Because some places — and some families — leave a mark that time can’t erase. ❤️
