The opening of Olympia's Ranch House BBQ Restaurant is the latest casualty of the winter storm dump. "We're on complete hold," said an exasperated co-owner Melanie Tapia when I talked to her on the phone a few minutes ago. She had hoped that the restaurant would reopen by Jan. 2 – just over a year after a mudslide closed the barbecue restaurant, located off of Highway 8 just outside Olympia in Thurston County.

But with heavy snow that has delayed construction and county inspections, Tapia thinks late January is a more realistic opening date.

It's been a terrible 12 months for Tapia and co-owner Amy Anderson. First, a mudslide last December closed the restaurant. Then, a roof fire in November destroyed the roof and some of the interior. The duo had been operating the Ranch House at Olympia's Governor Hotel since last January, but closed that location Nov. 30 after their lease expired.

But with a downside, comes an upside. Tapia and Anderson restructured the interior to include a bar and lounge (they gave up office space to do that), but much of the character will remain. "Our goal is to make it feel just like the old Ranch House. That’s what people want," she said. The menu won't change a bit. Despite the fire, none of the champion bbq trophies were destroyed. They'll be on full display, just like they always have been.

Check back here for updates as the opening nears.

Ranch House BBQ: 10841 Kennedy Creek Road S.W., Olympia; 360-866-8704. Website here.