A Much-Needed Refresh for the Lodge
One of our major goals at the Elks Lodge has been to replace the flooring throughout the entire building. Last year, we took on a small—but challenging—remodel of the front bar room. Over time, this space had become more of a storage area than a welcoming gathering spot. The outdated wood paneling and worn flooring gave it a classic look that had seen better days.
Tommy and I saw an opportunity to kickstart the lodge’s flooring project during our wedding. Instead of gifts, we asked our guests to contribute to the Flooring Fund. Thanks to their generosity, we were able to replace the front bar room flooring and update the space entirely. The transformation was incredible!
Before and after pictures of the front bar area.
Expanding the Project: A New Look for the Lobby
Our current Exalted Ruler, Bryan Bianchi, has made it a priority to refresh the entire lodge. A big step in that direction is replacing more of the flooring. Bryan and his wife, Valerie, generously donated funds to continue the project, starting in the lobby. The new flooring will extend from the front bar, through the lobby, and past the members-only door into the club room. This much-anticipated update is scheduled to happen in just a few days, and we couldn’t be more excited!
Future Flooring Plans
While these updates are a huge step forward, we’re not stopping there. We have big plans to continue improving the flooring throughout the lodge:
- Club Room: The carpet in this space is due for replacement, but we’ve decided to stick with carpet to help with noise control during live music events.
- Lodge Room: The lodge room features a large hardwood dance floor in the center, surrounded by carpet along the outer edges. We aim to replace this carpet with carpet squares, which will make future maintenance easier.
Making It Happen
Our lodge is a place we cherish, and seeing it come back to life through these improvements fills us with pride. As members and custodians, we are committed to making upgrades that will keep our lodge welcoming and beautiful for years to come.
To fund these projects, we’ve been hosting fundraisers and working hard to build up our Flooring Fund. It’s been a long journey, but we’re getting closer to our goal. We will likely need to hold a few more fundraisers to complete the club room and lodge room flooring. If you’d like to contribute or help in any way, we’d love to hear from you!
Thank you to everyone who has supported this effort. Your generosity and dedication are what make our lodge a truly special place!