The future of the Bulloch House remains uncertain

The future of the Bulloch House, once a historical gem in Warm Springs, Ga., remains uncertain a year after the 123-year-old building burned to the ground.

The Bulloch House Restaurant that was housed in the building has adapted well to a temporary location, where business has resumed as usual, said Peter Lampert, the property’s owner. Yet, he hopes to rebuild the restaurant where the historical building once stood.

“We’re still dealing with the insurance company, and we’re not 100 percent sure if we’ll go back or stay in this new place,” Lampert said. “It comes down to how much money they’re going to release.”

The iconic Bulloch House was built in 1893 by Benjamin F. Bulloch, co-founder of Bullochville, which is now Warm Springs, according to the restaurant’s website. Bulloch, his brother and a cousin owned and operated Bulloch, Bussey and Company, playing a prominent role in the history and development of the town.

The building burned down June 10, 2015, in an early morning fire that devastated the community.

In December, the restaurant reopened at an old opera house, which was once the Magnolia Tea Room. Lampert said business is back to normal, and customers remain loyal.

“We have the same employees, the same attitude,” he said. “It’s no change, just a different location.”

The only exception is Saturday hours, which have been changed to 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Lampert purchased the Bulloch House in 2010. He said he was drawn to the property because of its historical significance. There are only a few traditional, Southern-style restaurants left in Georgia, he explained, and the Bulloch House helped attract many visitors to Warm Springs over the years.

“People come here to go to the Bulloch House, go to the Little White House, and then shop in Warm Springs,” Lampert said. “And the merchants were really struggling here during the six, seven months we were not around.

“We’re trying to make Warm Springs, again, like it used to be: a hopping place where people come, especially around holiday time,” he said. “And without the Bulloch House, it’s just not the same.”

This story was originally published August 2, 2016 at 5:59 PM with the headline "The future of the Bulloch House remains uncertain."