Fire causes significant damage to popular restaurant near Walkerton

The Dunkeld Tavern is seen fully engulfed in flames in Bruce County, Ont. on Sunday, March 1, 2013. (Courtesy Bruce Tannahill)

A popular restaurant near Walkerton was damaged in a weekend fire.

OPP say they responded to the Dunkeld Tavern on Bruce County Road 3 in Bruce Township shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday.

Firefighters from Walkerton, Hanover and Paisley were called in to battle the fire, which caused “considerable damage” to the building.

According to reports, the fire destroyed a large addition to the restaurant’s original 1868 building and heavily damage the interior of the original building.

Bruce Road 3 was closed for most of Sunday due to the fire. Through the day Monday, many customers stopped by the site to survey the damage for themselves.

“I think it’s really sad,” said Peter Schmalz.

“It used to be my watering hole, for half a century.”

Firefighters remained onsite Monday as well, putting out hotspots that flared up occasionally.

Damage is estimated at $500,000.

The owners of the restaurant were on vacation at the time of the fire.

Adam Scammell was a regular at the restaurant, regularly showing up for a birthday party or just to eat some wings. He says he liked the restaurant’s atmosphere.

“They knew us by name, and they were always friendly and greeted you as soon as you walked in the door,” he told CTV.

Officials with the fire marshal’s office say the fire isn’t suspicious, but the exact cause may never be known.