the original roadhouse

America has loved its roadhouses. The "roadhouse" or "road house" acts as a restaurant, serving light meals, especially in the evenings. It has a bar serving beer or hard liquor and may feature music, dancing, and perhaps a billiard room. Most roadhouses are located along highways or roads in rural areas or on the outskirts of towns, serving as either a destination for casual travelers or a quick respite for the passersby. Early roadhouses provided lodging for travelers but, with the advent of faster means of transport than walking or horse-drawn carriages, that tradition waned quickly in the 20th century. 

The River Styx Tavern opened in 1931 as the first licensed tavern in Lebanon Township. From the first days of its 21-foot horseshoe shaped bar, to many lively nights in the ensuing decades, the River Styx contributed mightily to life in the northern corner of Lebanon Township.