A New Hidden Gem: PK Ice House

Story by Steve Nussbaum | Photos by Erika Carter

 A new business going in on FM2353 this August could prove to be music to Possum Kingdom Lake visitors’ ears.

 Four old friends are teaming up to bring a Lukenbach-style venue to PK. Dan and Felecia Ongley, along with Christina and Pecos Clark, have pooled their resources to open up PK Ice House.

 The lake area already had several entertainment options, but the added expansion in this sector this year is helping to turn PK into a destination spot for live music.

 The two couples have been friends for several years and said they enjoy traveling together to off the beaten path locations to find “local joints with character†– in other words, places that give visitors a feel for the area.

 That’s exactly the type of atmosphere they want to create at PK Ice House: a place that gives off a true Possum Kingdom vibe. The building is located at 359 FM 2353, just across the street from the Possum Kingdom Chamber of Commerce.

 Their venture got its start when Felecia Ongley drove by the building one day and saw it was for sale. She said she had been in it several years ago, back when a gift shop occupied the space.

 The building is a hodgepodge of structures that have been grouped to create a unique space. Most recently, it housed a “vacation rental by owner†shop, more commonly known as a VRBO.

 Felecia Ongley took a look inside and immediately saw a vision of what the space could be, so she called her friend Christina Clark and said, “Come check out this place.â€

 Christina Clark said the rough-looking exterior of the building made her a bit skeptical of her friend’s idea, but she was sold once she saw the rustic charm of the space and heard the vision Felecia Ongley had for a Texas-style icehouse.

 Once she was on board, the two friends’ husbands were along for the ride as well.

 Many know Ongleys as the local power couple behind the very successful Bluff Creek Marina and The Cliffs Marina. Felecia Ongley went to work for Bluff Creek in 2012, three years before her husband sold his trucking company and the two of them bought in to the marinas.

 Dr Shawn W Clark aka “Pecos†is the director and founder of Texas Alternative Home Schools, a network of home schools covering the entire state of Texas. The four reasoned that as long as they could do it together, they were ready for the challenge.

 To help get the business off the ground, the two couples have tapped into the expertise of the Ongley’s daughter, Hailey, who has 12 years of experience working and managing several large chain restaurants. The four friends also have hired Stephen Bueno as their chef and kitchen manager. The building is a series of buildings and additions that have accumulated over the years, but the one constant is the rustic character that bring all the rooms together. For example: While she was renovating the space, Felecia Ongley said she looked at one of the rooms and had an idea for a door that would allow access to an adjacent room. Lo and behold, peeling back some tin on the wall revealed a door that already was there.

 The space has many rooms that will be used for private events, game rooms, and bar and restaurant seating, and out back is a patio and bar space that seems tailor-made for watching televised sporting events.

 Next to the outdoor space is an open grassy area to allow youngsters to run around and play, and plans call for the addition of family-friendly games to this large outdoor space.

 The building is much bigger inside than it looks from the road, and the couples are adding a commercial kitchen to the space, with new and modern equipment.

 The unique layout of the building gives the four friends the opportunity to offer their business as the site for a large wedding, or for a place to have a private dinner for a small group. The menu was still a work in progress as of press time, but plans are for it to be “a simple Texas menu with a twist.â€

 If track records are good indicators of success, this endeavor among these four friends should flourish. Business on FM 2353 is growing, and that could provide plenty of opportunities for PK Ice House to attract people to the area that aren’t necessarily on the lake.

 It’s a new adventure for the four old friends, and we can’t wait to see the finished product.