By Sandy Balayan

May 2026

Hopefully by the time this goes to print, the new bar at the Knox Trail Inn will be up and running. Owner Brooke Tame has been eyeing this project for quite some time. The bar she inherited when she took over the KTI was in an S-shape making it hard, especially for one person, to negotiate. The shape inhibited quick action and efficient service. So, demolition began but with the added challenge of keeping the restaurant and bar functional for everyday use. The old bar was cordoned off with a fake wall after all the tables and accessories were cleaned out. A makeshift bar was set up in the main dining room during construction. Voila! No interruption of service and no mess!

Brooke had in mind exactly what she wanted: a horseshoe shaped bar with more room for stools with a small stand alone counter on the side. New state-of-the art equipment and more draft lines will make the new bar efficient and up to date. “We will be able to even add a blender station to offer new and exciting drinks. The new bar will be easier to negotiate and so much more functional. I am really looking forward to working at it and showing it off to all of our customers,” said Brooke. Brooke’s father Mike is spearheading a construction team that includes friends volunteering and a very special uncle from South Carolina. “My uncle came up to give us his time on this project. He is a general contractor. I can’t thank him enough.”

The biggest surprise thus far has been that there were five, yes five, layers of flooring that had to be ripped up to bring the floor down to the base. New flooring has been installed and equipment delivered. The six-week window for this project is moving quickly but so is the construction and Brooke is confident that they will be ready to unveil the bar on May 1st. “I’m super excited,” says Brooke.

Brooke is also excited by the programming she is planning with her staff. A craft fair, hotdog eating contest, clam bake with raw bar, a family fun night and a sing-along with dancing are all in the planning stages along with other new and fresh ideas. They will also continue their trivia night, musical bingo, karaoke, live bands and leagues. In her almost three years at the Knox, Brooke has really hit her stride and promises that she will always strive to keep the Knox Trail Inn the place to be in Otis. Good food, good drink and good friends are all the ingredients needed to make this place the true heart of our community. Thanks to Brooke and her staff for the job they are doing at the KTI.

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