On a quiet Wednesday summer afternoon, a group of vacationers sit at a comfortable wooden table under a colorful teal umbrella on the open-air plaza of the historic
Lonz Winery at
Middle Bass Island.
A cooling breeze blows in from Lake Erie, just next to the plaza, while they sip drinks and munch on snacks from the
Island Grind coffee shop, located in the winery’s former press house.
The group’s dog sits with them, relaxing in the sunshine, too.
This welcoming, laid-back vibe is exactly what Island Grind owner Jane Wolnik wants to offer with the businesses she has brought to Lonz pavilion, which is owned by the state of Ohio and leased to Wolnik by the
Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
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Kristina SmithThe iconic tower of Lonz Winery is seen in the distance from the glacial grooves, which are also located at Middle Bass Island State Park. Since ODNR repaired and refurbished the plaza in 2015, Wolnik opened Island Grind in 2021 and then speakeasy
Prohibition in 2022 in the press house and has added the open-air seating on the plaza, as well as George’s Bar, a bar named for former Lonz owner George Lonz that includes seating overlooking the lake and neighboring South Bass Island and its iconic
Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial.
“This is where I want to be when I’m on vacation, sitting overlooking the water and listening to live music,” says Wolnik, who lives on the island. “I like that daytime vibe.”
The pavilion includes a stage for live music, which is scheduled regularly on weekends. Performers scheduled for August and early September include ABBA tribute band Super Troupers, a saxophone player who performs popular music and singer/songwriter Lexi Lew of Nashville, Tenn.
These additions are the latest improvements to
Middle Bass Island State Park, which includes the Lonz pavilion. The winery, which is what visitors arriving on the
Miller and
Sonny-S ferries see as they dock, dates to the early 1860s and was open until a balcony collapsed in summer 2000, killing one person and injuring 80.
Work started with ODNR, which bought the property in 2001, added a primitive
campground in 2006 and redeveloped the Middle Bass Island Marina, which is regularly booked full on weekends, in 2008.
“Middle Bass has one of the most beautiful marinas on Lake Erie and, frankly, anywhere,”
ODNR Director Mary Mertz said. “It’s breathtaking when you pull up in your boat. How can we enhance that?”
Since then, the state has built a spacious shelter house with a stone fireplace that quickly became a popular spot for weddings and reunions.
ODNR has turned the Lonz limestone wine cellars into a museum area where visitors can see artifacts from the winery’s early days, from machines that were once used to make the wine to giant casks that held it to the business’ gothic signs through the years.
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Kristina SmithThe Ohio Department of Natural Resources is renovating the historic Lonz Mansion at Middle Bass Island. Throughout the paved park trail, visitors can read interpretive panels about the island’s history, George Lonz and his
winery, the glacial grooves in the park and more.
ODNR is also restoring the once-dilapidated mansion of George Lonz and turning it into a museum with lodging. It is expected to be open to visitors in 2025, Mertz says.
These features give visitors a variety of opportunities to enjoy the park and learn about the island, she says. Thanks to Island Grind and Prohibition, they also can enjoy a meal or snacks during their visit.
“We really want to make it a worthwhile, education and fun visit,” Mertz says. That’s what we’re looking for to share the story of Middle Bass Island.”
There’s something special about enjoying the lake views and laid-back live music while sitting beneath the iconic copper tower that was George Lonz’s astronomy tower and one of the defining features of his winery.
These offerings bring together the variety of experiences the island offers, from its resorts and pools to the general store.
“This is just a different niche,” Wolnik says. “I’m hoping we’ll see more visitors come and experience the history of Middle Bass Island. There’s just so much history here.”
Celebrating that history is one of the reasons she chose to add the speakeasy, Prohibition, to the press house. Connected to the Island Grind, Prohibition’s door is nondescript with a curtain in front of it and a gold key on a sign marking it.
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Kristina SmithCustomers enjoy hand-crafted cocktails at Prohibition. Inside, it gives a cozy, yet posh, vibe. A chandelier hangs above the round, comfortably upholstered booth. The shelves of the wooden bar feature high-end bourbon, Lonz brand wines (bottled by Firelands Winery in Sandusky under the Lonz name) and other liquors.
On a cabinet next to the bar are historic pictures of flappers, as well as a framed post card stamped in 1925 that detailed a grape juice order from Lonz Winery.
The menu is a booklet of 1920s craft cocktails that the bartenders hand mix. The expresso martini is one of the signature cocktails, and it’s offered throughout the day, including breakfast. The food menu features small, shareable plates, such as Brussels sprouts and charcuterie, and flatbreads. Prohibition also offers weekend supper specials.
“I had this vision for the speakeasy to take it back to the early days of Lonz,” Wolnik says. “I was trying to get something that would tell the history of the property. It really is complemented by the mansion restoration.”
Island Grind serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as coffee, ice cream and other treats. In contrast to Prohibition, it is brightly lit and features island artwork by artists Michelle Brunner and Sarah Cochran.
Visitors enjoying the dog-friendly patio and George’s Bar can also order food and drinks from Island Grind and Prohibition. The small, intimate press house building, built in 1956, was a good fit for each business, and the demand for coffee on the island was even greater than Wolnik had expected.
The goal is to strike a balance between Middle Bass’ laid-back vibe and history while still bringing people to the island to enjoy it. So far, it’s working well, Wolnik says.
“Middle Bass is like our secret,” she says. “We want to try and keep that quaintness and serenity we have here.”
Island Grind, Prohibition and the pavilion are open from April through November. Getting there: The Miller Ferry runs from Catawba Point to Middle Bass Island, and the Sonny-S ferry runs from downtown Put-in-Bay on South Bass island to Middle Bass Island.