In an old schoolhouse from the 1920s, Dave’s 209 restaurant stands out as an oasis for riders as they tame The Rattler, N.C. 209, running from Lake Junaluska to Hot Springs in Western North Carolina.
As tempting as it is to pour on the throttle in the long straightaway, motorcyclists shouldn’t ignore the converted schoolhouse, for a tasty meal can become a highlight of their tour of the area.
The popular diner, decorated with motorcycle movie posters, sits in a long valley before the road begins its twisting climb into the Pisgah National Forest and onward to Hot Springs. Nearby, adventure riders can tackle the dirt road heading across Max Patch to Tennessee. Just south, N.C. 63 climbs over Doggett Mountain on its way to Asheville. To the north, The Rattler gets more challenging as it clings to the side of the mountain in the national forest.
In the former Spring Creek High School, visitors will find owner Dave Thomas greeting customers and often manning the kitchen. Thomas serves up mouthwatering American food while also showing his appreciation for the local community.
“I’d been here before, but I fell in love with it all over again and the idea of opening a restaurant in an old schoolhouse was really unique,” said Thomas, who spent 25 years working in the restaurant business. “Being on The Rattler and being a biker myself, I was like this is great.”
Spring Creek High School was founded in 1923, making this year its centennial. The stone building with a vivid green roof has long been a landmark in this area. Wood floors creak loudly as visitors enter the aromatic space, filled with stacks of vintage yearbooks and photographs, biker memorabilia, and old arcade games. A trip to the restroom is a short walk down the high-ceiling hallway, evoking grade-school flashbacks.
“Everything we do here is tied to the building and the history. We are trying to embrace that, and people really react to it because they don’t expect it,” Thomas said.
Thomas notes the history of the restaurant, pointing out demolition photographs, class pictures, old employees and honorable community members. Plaques dedicated to donors who helped save the building adorn many of the restaurant’s booths.
In 1990, Spring Creek High School was shut down after the county decided to consolidate schools. It sat vacant for 15 years before the community decided to restore it.
“The restoration was done by the community, there were no outside donors, just people who put their own personal money into it,” Thomas said.
Spring Creek now serves a community center whose updated facade has replenished the community. Coupled with Dave’s 209, the center holds physical therapy classes, aerobics and a hair salon.
Thomas created the vision for his restaurant with everyone in mind, giving it the feel of a welcoming county diner mixed with a school rec room and the poster-clad walls of a moto-movie buff.
“Doctors, lawyers, all kinds of people ride motorcycles, you can be any kind of person and be a biker, so this place should be that — a place that is open to everyone,” he said.
Thomas said he uses certified free range black angus beef with no hormones or antibiotics and charges a fraction of the price of competitors. The menu features affordable food for everyone, from juicy burgers to savory hand spun milkshakes.
“I’m not going to eat at a place that charges $40 for a burger. Unless you’re putting gold flakes on it, I don’t see how it’s worth it,” Thomas said. “We are really trying to support each other and look out for each other, not only in the products we use, but also the events we have.”
Thomas also brings his Dave’s 209 food truck to events at Harley-Davidson of Asheville, Highway 191 Motorsports and other motorcycle gatherings across Western North Carolina. The food truck often sets up at the larger motorcycle rallies in Hot Springs and Maggie Valley.
At the height of the riding season, Dave’s 209 fills with dozens of bikes as riders take a break before tackling the challenging roads ahead. It’s not unusual to see waves of cruisers, adventure bikes and sport-touring bikes fill the lot outside the old converted schoolhouse.
“We have our Euro biker groups that come through. Then we get our Harley guys and everyone’s happy, having a great time. It’s cool to see the blending between everyone,” Thomas said.
“It is awesome to work here, it is also very chaotic in the summertime, but I get to put on a show and sass the bikers and it’s a lot of fun,” said Ashlyn, aka “Sassy,” the manager of Dave’s 209 for the past six years.
From the porch, diners get a view of the parade of motorcycles passing along 209, often accompanied by the unmistakable rumble of a big bike, a sound Thomas himself enjoys.
As a 15-year rider, the restauranteur proudly owns a 2014 Harley Wide Glide, choppered up with ape hangers.
“A friend of mine told me a line: when you’re getting a motorcycle, do you want to take your bike to the store to get the milk, or do you want to see where the milk was made?” he said.
The Harley allows Thomas to go as far as he wants, comfortably, and comfort is a theme he ensures at Dave’s 209 with an embrace of community, motorcycle culture and history.
“We are in a really amazing spot.” Thomas said. “It is a beautiful ride. This is one of those places that is off the beaten path, a pleasant surprise that people don’t expect. When you hit this straightaway it just opens up and people fall in love with the scenery and what is out here.”
For more information, www.daves209.com.
— Savannah Fowler
