About Us
ORIGINAL MARGARITAVILLE
Come for the Food. Stay for the Atmosphere.
Our picturesque venue—located in an old gristmill alongside a waterfall—provides the backdrop for a fun and relaxed dining experience. In addition to the spacious indoor dining room and bar, there is extra seating during the warmer months on the wrap-around porch and 10,000-square-foot deck.
Outdoor dining at its best, you can sit outside on the porch by the waterfall, where in the summer the light mist will cool you off, or grab a drink on the deck where the aroma of smoked meats wafts in the air along with the sounds of live music on summer weekends.
A locally owned restaurant, The Original Margaritaville opened in 1981 long before singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett opened his chain of restaurants and trademarked the name—making this the original one with no association with Jimmy Buffett. Today under new ownership, The Original Margaritaville is your go-to place for fabulous food, and, of course, some margaritas or other favorite cocktails.
So whether you come by car, motorcycle, jet ski or kayak, we look forward to welcoming you!
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Dining Room & Bar
Open year-round, The Original Margaritaville serves an appreciable menu and cocktail selection in its indoor dining room and bar.
A unique venue, our dining room is an original grain storage facility that was attached to an 1831 gristmill. Sandusky was known as an agricultural hub during the 1800s and gristmills were used to grind grains. Gristmills required large amounts of running water to turn the large stones and no better location in the area could be found other than this one. Largely visible from every seat, some 72 million gallons of water fall over our falls every day at a constant year-round temperature of 48 to 52 degrees. Never freezing, it was an ideal water source for the activities at hand. Here, farmers brought their grains to be processed for resale and, in the process, socialized with their counterparts.
The social traditions of our building continue today as The Original Margaritaville has established its presence as a social gathering spot in this old mill since opening in 1981. Our waterfall is now the focal point of both our dining room and our deck, and the building’s original stonework that is nearly 200 years old can still be seen throughout the dining room.
Outdoor Deck & Bar
Summertime brings a flurry of activity to the Lake Erie Island “vacationland” area, and Margaritaville tops the list of must-stop destinations. Our 10,000-square-foot outdoor deck hosts live musical entertainment Fridays through Sundays during the summer and, in the process, plays host to thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts.
On the deck, which is equipped with its own kitchen. A full bar complements our food offerings and provides a perfect vantage point from which to experience the sound and fury of our waterfall.
Traditionally voted among the "must see" locations on the Great Lakes, we welcome you to The Original Margaritaville!
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