Before the Pub, Rusty dabbled in a little bit of everything. From his humble beginnings of lifeguarding at a local pool and flipping pizzas, to flipping houses and becoming a yacht captain; his life seems to revolve around three things: building projects, the service industry, and water. Those three just happened to come together when he took on the monumental task of transforming a modest garage into Barren River’s latest hotspot – Rusty’s Lakeside Pub.

“When I moved to the lake there was no nightlife whatsoever. So I just built the type of place I wanted to go to.”

The original building was a simple garage, once filled with a mix of artwork and “funky junk.” Owned by Rusty’s uncle, John Erskine—owner of Paradise Point—it was John who first floated the idea of transforming the space into a restaurant. Rusty agreed and purchased the property, setting his sights on what would become the Pub. He had long wanted to open a bar, ever since he was old enough to enjoy nightlife.

It was a team effort. It took a year to transform the simple, two bay garage, tripling its size. Randall Erskine, Rusty’s brother, created the massive sign atop the building, and together the brothers built the bar itself, shaping it into an artistic focal point in the main space. Sarah Cline (business partner + best friend + culinary mastermind) played an integral role in determining the layout of Rusty’s Pub. Elle, Rusty’s fiancé painted and planned alongside him, after a decade working together in yachting. Friends came from all over the country to share their time helping Rusty paint, clean and decorate the Pub.

When asked what it was like to go from 14 years of yachting to opening a restaurant Rusty laughed. “The learning curve was a 90. First bar I ever worked at is the one I owned… Kinda stupid of me.”

In the aftermath of building and designing the Pub, Rusty jokes that his role has changed, earning him the nickname “Maintenance Mascot”.

He says Elle and Sarah are the ones who run the show. From events and weekly specials to merch and social media, the duo keep everything moving day to day—while he “just shows up to fix things, make new slushie recipes, and buss tables”. 

When asked what his biggest challenges are in running the Pub, he replies emphatically: “Refrigerators! I’m constantly repairing them. I make just enough money to buy the next refrigerator.” 

Around the pub you’ll find homage paid to the surrounding woods and lake, photos of Rusty’s friends and life on the water, and a recurring theme of…. Bigfoot.
“I wanted the Pub to have a woodsy, summer vibe,” said Rusty. “I love the mystery of the woods. I like mythical creatures. I think life would be boring if there was no Bigfoot or aliens in the world. It’s more fun to have a little mystery.”

Rusty’s Lakeside Pub continues to serve up great food, a lively atmosphere, and the best slushies you’ve ever tasted—courtesy of your favorite “Maintenance Mascot,” still keeping the mystery (and the refrigerators) alive.

Written by Jess Erskine
Artwork, logos and web design for Rusty’s Lakeside Pub are created by Jess Erskine