Tavern on the Lake, the low-slung bar and restaurant tucked into the Lake Weatherford Marina, is suddenly staring down a very uncertain future. Owners Randy and Sheila Plyler say a possible overhaul of how the marina is run could cut off key revenue streams that help keep the doors open. Regulars are not taking that news quietly: supporters have launched a petition and are gearing up to pack the next Municipal Utility Board meeting.
According to reporting in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the City of Weatherford owns the marina property and leases it to Plyler, who recently received notice that the Municipal Utility Board was considering ending the operating agreement for most marina operations. As word spread, 3,677 people signed a petition urging the city to back off. City spokesperson Erin Spicer told the paper that Plyler's contract will be discussed in executive session and said the city wants to add a hike-and-bike trail and other improvements around Lake Weatherford. The tavern even grabbed a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo this month in the new Taylor Sheridan spinoff "Dutton Ranch," a bit of screen time that helped sharpen local focus on the fight, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
When and Where the Board Will Meet
The Municipal Utility Board is scheduled to meet at noon in the council chambers at Weatherford City Hall, 303 Palo Pinto Street, where trustees are set to review the marina operating agreement. The city calendar lists the time, location, and agenda posting requirements, according to the City of Weatherford.
City guidance also explains how residents can sign up to speak during public comment and notes that speakers are generally given a limited time at the microphone, per the City of Weatherford.
About the Tavern
Tavern on the Lake operates at 210 W Lake Dr inside the Lake Weatherford Marina and is known for live music nights, a lakeside patio, and a menu that leans on burgers and fried catfish to draw in both boaters and nearby residents. Local listings describe it as a year-round restaurant with a full bar, regular community gatherings, and outdoor seating that looks out over the water. Tourism write-ups and neighborhood guides cast it as a central social hangout for Lake Weatherford visitors and locals alike, per Experience Weatherford.
Supporters Push Back
Friends and customers are organizing to stand up for the Plylers, and members of the Parker County Pickers guitar group are expected to show up at the meeting in person. In prepared remarks shared with the paper, guitarist Darryl Ross wrote, "Randy and Sheila do not simply run a business at the lake. They serve as a vital community partner." Plyler told reporters that he and his wife are grateful for the outpouring of support and remain hopeful that some kind of compromise can be reached. The board will take up Plyler's contract in executive session before any public action is taken, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
What the Decision Could Mean
Supporters warn that if the board ends parts of the marina operating agreement, Tavern on the Lake could lose ancillary revenue from boat slips, the bait shop, and event income that has helped keep the business running. Plyler could, at least in theory, continue to operate the restaurant under some new arrangement, but regulars and friends say it would be tough to make the numbers work without the broader marina business in the mix.
The upcoming municipal vote will decide whether the proposed makeover, which city officials say would bring a hike-and-bike trail and other public benefits, actually goes forward and how that will reshape life along the lakeshore for the neighborhood and the tavern that sits at its center.
