The legendary Lions Den Hotel is up for sale.
Any grey nomad who has ever driven the iconic Bloomfield Track in far north Queensland will almost certainly have stopped at the pub, with its famous and instantly recognisable front entrance.
Current owner Jude Fry, 70, told the Cairns Post it was time to ‘give someone else a crack’ at running the sprawling property, which comes with the pub and a spacious camping and caravan park along the Annan River.
“I’m really sad about it because I love it, but it’s time to move on as it’s a big job on your own,” she said. “I knew when the time came to sell I’d be able to move it on pretty quickly because of its reputation … it has been a lot of fun but I’m selling the whole lot, and it will sell itself.”
It seems that Ms Fry might have been inspired by some of her customers as, once the hotel is sold, she plans to hit the open road herself.
“I’ll stay busy, I don’t want to sit in an armchair and watch TV,” she told the Cairns Post. “I’ll get out and do what everyone else does and go see the rest of Australia.”
The pub, established in 1875, sits across almost three hectares and comes with powered and non-powered sites, safari tents and ‘glamping’ options.
Ms Fry said she would miss the characters and conversations.
“Coming from the land, when people walk in and if they have a pair of jeans or a cowboy hat on I like to go and introduce myself, it has so much character,” she said. “I’m going to miss it all and everyone, it has been a great challenge.
Ms Fry has owned the hostelry since 2015. Harcourts Innovations agent Shaun Bishop said he was already receiving strong interest from interstate buyers.
