Dorothy Zehnder was a legend of the popular Bavarian Inn in the tourist town of Frankenmuth, Michigan, where she worked for more than 80 years.
- Died: July 9, 2023 (Who else died on July 9?)
- Details of death: Died at her home in Frankenmuth, Michigan, of natural causes at the age of 101.
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Dorothy Zehnder’s legacy
Zehnder joined the staff of Bavarian Inn – then known as the Fischer Hotel – as a waitress in the 1930s. She and her husband, the late William “Tiny” Zehnder, took over the restaurant in 1950, renaming it the Bavarian Inn and turning it into a destination for tourists from around the world. She oversaw the restaurant’s kitchen, developing its recipes and training the chefs to cook them to perfection. Over the years, the Zehnders built the Bavarian Inn into one of the biggest family-run restaurants in the U.S., serving nearly one million people a year. They expanded its offerings to include a lodge, a water park, gift shops, and more.
The Bavarian Inn became “known for their chicken dinners” – the phrase is painted over the restaurant’s door. Zehnder shared the Bavarian Inn’s recipes for chicken and other dishes in cookbooks she wrote, including “Come Cook with Me” and “From My Kitchen to Yours.” A beloved icon of her community, she continued working at the Bavarian Inn all her life, even past the age of 100.
Notable quote
“I eat the chicken every day, whether it’s the fried chicken, the chicken sandwich, or the chicken pasta.” —from a 2016 interview for mlive.com
Tributes to Dorothy Zehnder
Full obituary: Saginaw News
