7980 US-191 (9 miles north
of town)
Monticello, Utah, 84535
Phone: (435) 587-2351
Website:
http://www.canyonlandsbestkeptsecret.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LineCampSteakHouseRunninIronInn/
October 8, 2018, Roy and I
were celebrating 15 years together; 15 years of being best friends, lovers, companions
and the strength for each other. What
better place to celebrate than at Line Camp Steakhouse, a restaurant made
strong by Bob and Jane Musselman. They
had a strong marriage as well, and everyone can rightly say that Bob was,
indeed, a character. After his passing,
locals wondered what would happen to the inn & steakhouse, and that’s where
daughter, Bobby Jane Gregory, comes in.
With experience in the
hospitality industry, there was very little thought about taking the place
over. Oh, it’s frustrating at times,
especially trying to repair Bob’s amateur attempts at handyman work. Then, looking at the tablecloths and table
settings picked out by mom, Jane; the fond memories far exceed the
frustrations. Around the walls of the
restaurant are hunting trophies donated by locals, photographs of Musselmans
long past, and odds and ends of items that tell a sort of history of
Monticello. It’s fine dining, in a
hunting lodge, where cowboys can hang their hats & spurs, and everyone
becomes friends during a delicious dinner.
Bobby Jane and her hubby,
Jerrod, made a few changes to the menu, added a few lighter items, and have
plans of creating dishes for vegetarian/vegan tastes. For the warmer months, an outside bar, with
food offerings of tapas and appetizers, is on the creative board. While we had an anniversary dinner, wedding
receptions, birthday parties, or any other type of celebration can be arranged
for at the Line Camp. The Roughlock
Resort is still accommodating guests at the Runnin’ Iron Inn; most recently
visiting was a Corvette car club, and then a motorcycle club. Soon, decorations for the holidays will begin
appearing, the Christmas tree to be adorned with handmade porcelain ornaments. Need a place for the office or family holiday
party, give Bobby Jane and Jerrod a call to arrange a date.
I mentioned food, so best
to get to the enticing descriptions. To
start off our meals was a colorful salad of greens, tomato, black olives, red
onion, green bell pepper, cucumber, croutons and house made dressings. Sounds like a meal in itself! Next came Bob’s famous garlic toast and
cowboy beans (each servings in its own little pot). While they can be eaten separately, I enjoy
doing the British style beans on toast; oh so yummy! Poor Bobby Jane tried to take my little pot
of beans away before I was totally finished, and got the Cokenour glare. Of course who doesn’t remember Bob’s joke
about the beans, “Each batch only has 239 beans in it. Know why?
Otherwise, it’d been 2-farty!”.
The salmon grilled on a
cedar plank has been changed up; no longer with maple syrup and pecans. Now it is lightly seasoned with lemon pepper
and salt, allowing the full flavor of the salmon to shine through.
One of the newest items on the menu is a
grilled pork tenderloin, lightly seasoned again, with the taste of the grill
enhancing, not covering up. The pork was
moist and flavorful all throughout its full two inches of thickness. Baked red skinned potatoes, serves with sour
cream and parsley, was our choice and they were perfect! Don’t fret potato lovers, Bob’s Roughlock
potatoes are still an option.
The food served at the
Line Camp is locally sourced from Blue Mountain Meats; quality is always before
quantity. If the product doesn’t meet
expected standards, off the menu it comes.
The wait staff are very friendly, knowledgeable on the menu items and
aim to please.
Looking round at diners
who had wandered in, or were staying at the Inn, all seemed to be enjoying the
atmosphere and the food. Several of the women,
and yes, me included, wandered outside to watch the antics of the outdoor
felines, or even play with them ourselves.
We laughed and said what adorable kitties they were, while the men
stayed inside and just shook their heads at us.
Bobby Jane shared a childhood memory of when she was a child. Whenever she was out walking about, all the
family cats would follow her in a line.
Her mother, Jane, could always find her, just by following the last cat
in the line.
Well, the Roughlock
Resort/Runnin’ Iron Inn/Line Camp Steakhouse are still alive and doing well;
whether a weary, hungry traveler looking for a soft bed and a hearty meal. Or just one of the locals wanting to reminisce
while enjoying an Elk tenderloin (another new menu item), enjoyment will be
found at the Line Camp Steakhouse.