After several years of planning and months of design and construction, the Golden Lamb — Ohio’s oldest inn and longest continuously operating business — celebrated the reopening of its newly renovated and reimagined Black Horse Tavern on Monday.

“This is absolutely incredible for the community. I’m just blown away,” Mayor Amy Brewer said at the relaunch event. “This is what Lebanon is about — working together, collaborating, making it happen.”

To mark the occasion of the relaunch, Ohio Senator Steve Wilson, who is a long-time Warren county resident, presented the Golden Lamb with a proclamation from the State Senate.

“The history and the way this place is tied to the community is just unbelievable,” Sen. Wilson said. “This place is Lebanon’s living room. This place is where friends and family celebrate and socialize.”

The renovation of the Black Horse Tavern is the largest undertaking for the Golden Lamb since the opening of the tavern in 1964. The project will ensure that the Golden Lamb continues to be an anchor in the Lebanon community for decades to come.

“My grandfather saw the grandeur of this inn that no one else saw, and over 50 years, with the help of my grandmother, he created a national reputation,” said U.S. Senator Rob Portman, whose family has owned the inn for the past 93 years. 

“Today, I believe, he is smiling down on us. He would be so proud of the passion and dedication of the Golden Lamb team. It is their unique hospitality that is the reason why we are the longest continuously operating business in Ohio.” 

The Black Horse Tavern has a long history as a community gathering place.  Today, it features a menu of Golden Lamb favorites, classic tavern fare, and seasonal, farm-fresh specials, sourced from the Golden Lamb’s own farm. 

“It was our goal to create a dramatic and welcoming space that tells community stories, captures the inn’s classic charm, and treats decor as both art and artifact,” General Manager and Operating Partner Bill Kilimnik said. 

“In the last couple of years, we’ve been working hard towards this vision for an evolved Golden Lamb. We started with the Charles Dickens Room renovation last fall and have taken extensive steps to honor our rich history while enhancing the experience of every guest who chooses to spend time with us."

To keep true to the building’s legacy, master woodworkers and carpenters were brought in for touches like the custom flooring, milled from centuries-old wood.

“The inspiration for the project came from artisans and craftsmen from days gone by,” Kilimnik said. “The Black Horse Tavern has been brought to life by an amazing and talented team of modern masters, who we sincerely thank for their efforts in bringing our neighborhood gem to life.”

Among the amenities that guests to the Golden Lamb will now enjoy:

• A new 60-seat, outdoor, southern-style porch, providing alfresco dining and entertainment for the first time in the Golden Lamb’s storied history

• A completely renovated main tavern room with an indoor fireplace and enhanced bar area with eight taps. Among those taps is the Golden Lamb’s first beverage that’s unique to us — our Black Horse Tavern Golden Lager — produced by Warped Wing Brewery

• A reimagined gift shop offering a unique array of products from local crafts-persons

The Golden Lamb invites guests to join us in toasting this new era. Make your reservations to be among the first to try our new Black Horse Tavern Golden Lager!

Finally, help us in extending our warm thanks to the extremely skilled group who made this project possible:

• Steve McGowan & Brave Berlin Team who were instrumental in concept development

• Jenna Prenger, Senior Designer and Christi Kratzer, principal of Reztark Design

• Greg Snyder, lead architect from RDA

• Scott Brunka & the City of Lebanon

• All of the folks at the building, zoning, and health departments in Warren County

• Kevin Scott, Grace Pillar and Tracy Hallahan of Bunnell Hill Construction

• Dan Aubrey, A&A Wall Systems

• Ken Hays, Beagle Masonry

• Tim Herberth & the Carpentry Team at Herberth Construction

• Steve Brewer, our millwork expert from Stull Woodworks, and the Stull family team (Brian, Jordan, Josh, and Luke)

• Mike Holliday, M&S Flooring

• Danny Lacey, Bluford Jackson Wood Flooring

• Scott Weiler, The Painting Contractor

• Nick & Steve, Kings Electric

• Jeff Weller, Weller’s Heating and Cooling

• Mike Hiatt & team from A-1 Sprinkler

• Jim Hammock, Holland roofing

• Dean Neiheisel, Parson & Prows concrete

• Eric Kinder, Towne Construction

• Jerry & Jordan Monnin, True Edge Steel

• David Stone, Stone’s Fine Woodworks

• Rick Miller, Rick Miller Communications

• Bob Lillie, Ohio Windows

• Steve Carnevale, Reading Rock

• Chip Glaescher, The Schaffer Company

• Nathan Chamberlin, Extreme Audio & Visual

• Dan Jones, Dan Jones Painting

• Jim Rack, Rack Draft Services

• Mindy & Tony Moore, Cardinal Landscaping

• Josh Johnston, Johnston Lighting

• Mike Goldberg, Fabric-Form Awnings

• Ric White, Premier Window Fashions

• Tyler Tepee and the folks at LCNB

• Becky Gephart, Picture This

• Roy & Joanna McCutcheon, The Black Barn

• Bill Otto, Beacon Hill Financial

• Mike Geygan, Minute Man Press

• Margaret Perkins, East Main Productions

• Nick, Tara & John from Warped Wing Brewing

Visit the Golden Lamb's Facebook page to see our full album of photos from our Relaunch Celebration.