A Belton Tradition 

In 1952, when the Army Corps of Engineers began construction on the Belton Dam, a man named Frank Smith saw an opportunity to serve the workers building what would become one of Central Texas’ landmarks. What started as Frank cooking meals for those dam workers soon grew into something bigger—by 1954, he opened Frank’s Lakeview Inn, a restaurant perched on the shores of Lake Belton. From its very beginning, it became the go-to gathering place in Central Texas for life’s most meaningful moments—graduations, after-prom dinners, first dates, anniversaries, and everything in between.

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Frank’s vision for community didn’t stop there. He later opened Frank’s Marina, giving locals and visitors alike the chance to fish, boat, and truly experience Lake Belton. After a fire damaged the original restaurant, Frank rebuilt it larger and more vibrant than before, even adding a lively nightclub known as The Anchor Club. For more than three decades, his establishments thrived, cementing their place as cornerstones of Belton’s social life, until Frank’s passing.

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In 2005, a group of local investors came together to preserve his legacy, purchasing Frank’s Marina and Lakeview Inn with the shared goal of keeping this lakeside tradition alive. Embracing the spirit of Frank’s original vision—being a central part of the Belton community—they reopened in 2008 as Dead Fish Grill, a fresh chapter for a place that has always been about more than food: it’s about memories, milestones, and moments that last a lifetime.