Dillon's Grill
Good Food, Local History and a Story Built in Stone
142 NE 5th St, Prineville, OR 97754
Phone: 541-447-3203
www.dillonsgrill.com
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A Prineville Gathering Place with a Story to Tell
In downtown Prineville, Dillon’s Grill offers a comfortable place to enjoy a good meal, meet friends and experience a little local history. Known for its burgers, barbecue and hearty American favorites, Dillon’s welcomes both longtime residents and travelers looking for a place to settle in and enjoy themselves.
But there’s more to Dillon’s than what’s on the menu. The property has been connected to Prineville’s business community since the horse-and-buggy days, and the restaurant’s current owners have a personal connection to the building that began long before they owned it.
Discover the Dillon's Grill PATHWAY™
Sometimes a PATHWAY begins with something as simple as stopping for lunch. At Dillon’s Grill, you can enjoy burgers, barbecue and a little piece of Prineville history, all in the heart of downtown.
The property was once home to a saloon and livery dating back to 1895. And here’s a twist: Jay Knudtson completed the restaurant’s exterior river-rock masonry in 2006, years before he and his wife, Christina, became its owners.
That’s a story worth discovering. And when you’re finished, downtown Prineville has plenty more to explore just a short walk away.
Come do a PATHWAY!
Downtown PATHWAYS™
Dillon's Grill Extended Audio Introduction
Downtown PATHWAYS™
Dillon's Grill Transcription
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Dillon’s Grill — A Story Built in Stone
Welcome to Dillon’s Grill in downtown Prineville, where a good meal comes with a pretty interesting story.
Take a look at the river-rock masonry outside the restaurant. Back in 2006, when Dillon’s was being built, that stonework was Jay Knudsen’s first commercial masonry project.
He probably never imagined that years later, he and his wife, Christina, would become the owners.
But the story of this location goes back even further. In 1895, the property was home to Dillon’s Saloon and Livery, serving a community where horses and wagons were part of everyday life.
The businesses changed, the years passed, and eventually Dillon’s Grill opened here in 2006.
Today, it’s a place to enjoy burgers, barbecue and time with friends.
And when you’re ready to explore a little more, you’re already in the heart of downtown Prineville, with local shops and businesses nearby.
Enjoy your visit, and come do a PATHWAY!”
You’re on a PATHWAY to What’s Next?
Scan the PATHWAYS™ QR Marker inside to discover another story, piece of history, or community heritage connected to Prineville.
Continue Your Downtown Prineville PATHWAY with Options Below:
Golden Coffee – Not ready for a meal yet? Golden Coffee, a block down and one block over (4th St and Main) is a local favorite.
Bowman Museum – Expand on the history seen or heard at Rick Stebers gift store, with a nearby trip to Crook Counties keeper of history.
From Horses and Wagons to Burgers and Barbecue
The Dillon’s name reaches back to 1895, when L. Dillon established a saloon and livery on the property.
At a time when horses were essential to transportation and commerce, businesses like these served travelers, ranchers and residents moving through a growing community.
Over the years, the property saw a variety of uses, including blacksmithing, horseshoeing, horse trading and other commercial activities. The original buildings were destroyed by fire in 1928, but the location remained part of Prineville’s evolving downtown landscape.
In 2006, Dillon’s Grill opened on the historic site, bringing a familiar name into a new era.
A Story That Came Full Circle
There’s another piece of Dillon’s history that you can see before you even walk through the door.
When the present restaurant was being built in 2006, Jay Knudtson took on his first commercial masonry project, completing the exterior river-rock work. It was an important step in his career, but he had no reason to imagine that one day he and his wife, Christina, would own the restaurant itself.
Years later, that’s exactly what happened.
Today, Jay and Christina carry the Dillon’s story forward as its owners. The stonework Jay helped create remains part of the building, connecting his early work to the business he now helps operate.
It’s the kind of local story that makes an ordinary stop a little more interesting.
Come Hungry. Stay a While.
Dillon’s menu features burgers, barbecue, ribs, brisket, sandwiches, salads and other American favorites, with a casual atmosphere suited to lunch, dinner or a visit with friends.
Whether you’re a Prineville regular or discovering downtown for the first time, Dillon’s offers something worth stopping for: a good meal in a place where more than a century of local history meets a new
generation of ownership.
And before you leave, take another look at the river rock outside. Now you know a little more about the hands that put it there.
