For nearly seven decades, the building at 363 Green Valley Road was where El Dorado Hills went for live music, scratch-made sauces and all-day breakfast. It was a family-friendly sports bar that WhatNow Sacramento called the community's original roadhouse. The purple paint is gone now. The building is dark blue and white, and the sign out front says Lake House.
From what the partners have said publicly, the next version of the building keeps one part of the old roadhouse front and center and plays down another. Breakfast and brunch stay. Live music is planned only in a limited way. Here's what that could mean for Waterford's corner of El Dorado Hills, along with what's on the neighborhood's own calendar while the building is still papered over.
What has been confirmed, and by whom
The Purple Place opened in 1955 and served its last meal in August 2022. Folsom Times reported that the building then sat empty for years while people wondered what would replace it. Two El Dorado Hills residents, Eric Rushing and Thomas Holzmann, are developing the new concept with the property owner.
Rushing has spent nearly three decades in Sacramento hospitality, with Goldfield Trading Post, Ace of Spades, Holy Diver and The Cabin among his venues. WhatNow Sacramento reported that Lake House is the first thing he has built in his own neighborhood. He has lived in El Dorado Hills for 15 years. Holzmann is newer to the restaurant business. Folsom Times described him as bringing a local connection and an interest in building something that fits El Dorado Hills.
Holzmann explained the reasoning to WhatNow Sacramento in July:
"I know that a lot of people miss having a restaurant in that area, and we do too. Eric and I are both residents of El Dorado Hills, and we're very excited to bring something new to the community."
Old roadhouse, new plan
Put the descriptions from the two outlets side by side and you can see which parts of the Purple Place carry forward.
| The Purple Place, 1955 to 2022 | Lake House, as described in July 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Family-friendly sports bar and roadhouse | Bar and restaurant with a lake-inspired atmosphere |
| Food | Scratch-made sauces, all-day breakfast | New American comfort food, with breakfast and brunch at the center |
| Music | Known for live music | Limited live entertainment, not planned as a concert venue |
| Seating | Indoor | Indoor, possibly outdoor |
| Exterior | Fully purple | Dark blue and white |
The Purple Place's all-day breakfast was part of what people remembered it for. Folsom Times also described the old building as a Sunday brunch spot, alongside family dinners and live music. Holzmann told WhatNow Sacramento that breakfast and brunch will be "a centerpiece of the experience," and that the menu is still being worked out with well-known local chefs.
Live music is scaled back. Folsom Times reported that Lake House may include live entertainment in a limited way but is not being planned as a concert venue. According to Folsom Times, the concept is meant to move the building forward without completely erasing what made it so recognizable.
The opening date is still a target
In mid-July, Holzmann told WhatNow Sacramento that the partners were aiming to open before the end of 2026, with no firm date. Folsom Times' report a few days earlier said opening timing, hours and a full menu had not been released yet. As of mid-October 2026, we haven't found any newer public update with a soft-opening date, hours or a final menu.
That leaves about eleven weeks of 2026 to hit the target. Until there's an announced date, treat "before year-end" as the partners' goal, not a reservation you can make.
Waterford's own gatherings fill the gap
While the Green Valley Road building has been dark, the Waterford HOA has kept its own calendar of events. The association's site lists seven events with 2026 dates.
- Spring Fling, March 28
- Annual Garage Sale, May 2 or 3, listed as TBD
- Summer Sunday, June 7 or 14, listed as TBD
- Fourth of July Parade, July 4
- Summer Fiesta, September 20
- Boo Bash, October 18
- Christmas in the Park and Lights Contest, December 13
Two events are still ahead this year. Boo Bash is this coming Sunday, October 18. Christmas in the Park and the Lights Contest fall on December 13, inside the same end-of-year window Lake House is aiming for. One housekeeping note: the calendar on the HOA homepage is still headed "2025 Calendar Upcoming" even though every entry carries a 2026 date. It's worth checking the dates through the association's resident portal before the day.
The neighborhood's namesake green space is Waterford Park, a 1.15-acre neighborhood park at 2617 Carnelian Circle. The El Dorado Hills CSD lists a lawn, picnic tables, a fountain and a children's play structure there, open sunrise to sunset. The HOA's schedule follows the seasons, from Spring Fling through the December lights.
Mornings already have a route
If Lake House opens on the breakfast-first plan it has described, it will join a set of morning outings that already exist close to Waterford.
Art Weisberg Park, 2560 Francisco Drive. The CSD lists picnic tables, barbecues, horseshoe pits, a drinking fountain, oak trees, open space and short walking trails. In June 2025, CSD park ambassadors repainted the split-rail fence and refreshed the horseshoe pits, according to a district board report.
New York Creek Nature Trail. This 1.5-mile unpaved, shaded walking trail runs between Art Weisberg Park and the Community Park on Harvard Way. The same CSD report lists Waterford Park and the New York Creek Trail among the parks and trails the district has adopted for volunteer care. If you want a longer walk, our piece on Lake Forest Park and The Summit's trail covers the next park up Francisco Drive.
Browns Ravine at Folsom Lake. California State Parks' winter hours start November 1 and run through March 31. During that stretch, Browns Ravine opens at 7 a.m. and closes 30 minutes after sunset. If you launch or walk there early, the opening time is the number to know before your first November trip. For more on the lake side of the neighborhood, see our Waterford lake lifestyle guide.
A brunch-centered restaurant on Green Valley Road would add a place to eat to that morning routine.
What to watch for next
A few concrete things will show whether Lake House is getting close.
- An announced date. So far the only timing on record is the partners' "before the end of 2026" goal, told to WhatNow Sacramento in July.
- A published menu. Holzmann said the menu was still being developed with local chefs, so a released menu would be a real step forward.
- News on outdoor seating. WhatNow Sacramento described outdoor seating as possible, not confirmed.
- What "limited" entertainment ends up meaning. Folsom Times was clear that the space isn't being planned as a concert venue, so the first event listings will show what the owners mean by limited.
For a broader view of how El Dorado Hills shopping and dining is changing this year, our guide to what's new at El Dorado Hills Town Center in 2026 covers the other big set of openings in town. You can find more about the neighborhood itself on our Waterford neighborhood page.
When a long-empty landmark near your street comes back, it's natural to wonder what that means for your own home. The Friedrich Team follows Waterford and the Green Valley Road corridor closely and is happy to walk you through recent sales nearby. If you're curious where your home stands as Lake House gets closer to opening, request a free home valuation.
