Papa’s Country Store

You can tell by the reviews who lives up here & who doesn’t. Fact is, Papa’s isn’t a full grocery, but the owners have always been good people who try to cater to the community — not just passers-​by. They carry your typical gas-​station stuffs, have decent gas prices and good service — all things that those driving through could ask of a small gas-​station. For those of us who live here & occasionally need something we aren’t willing to drive 30 minutes into town for, they carry a decent spread of frozen, fresh, canned & even baked goods (Anna’s Bakery). Are you going to have your choice of every brand or type? Nope, but you’ll get what you need to complete the meal or satisfy your craving. My family has been up here since the 50’s. I personally have lived here almost continuously (not counting time away for school and such) since 1988. Specifically since the latest owner took over (George), I’ve never had stale or bad food come out of Papa’s. The ground meat one person refers to is has never been an issue. I always check dates on perishables and when I’ve even found one close to date, they typically have it on sale, so they are on top of it. I will say there have been times when I feel like the store’s a bit claustrophobic because it is very small and I don’t really like how crowded the register has become now (feels more and more like an AM/​PM rather than a small-​town store), but they are good to and for the community. We’ll keep them ;)

I just love this place. Papa’s keeps their gas prices reasonable, so I always fill up here. The selection of food and supplies in the market is great and way better than I expected for a little store in a tiny mountain town. They carry a limited but good selection of fresh produce. Even the wine selection is decent!!! The people who work here are stellar individuals, too. I have never experienced rudeness or mistreatment. Keep up the good work, y’all!

I love this place! Always there for snacks or whatever you need in the kitchen. Very friendly staff!

Growing up here this was our go to store! Always a go to for your missing ingredient or even if you have a late night sweet tooth. I love this little store and everyone there is super friendly!

This store just keeps getting better. The staff is wonderful. There is a produce section now. Try the Tochigan Farms salsa. It’s locally made and better than any salsa out there!

They have lots of good things to pick up however they do not have any IPA beer. But they do have some other good choices.
Trendi is awesome. She’s in here a lot when we stop in. It’s nice to have locals here
It’s a very friendly store and they have gas too.

I’ve Been going to Lake Hughes about 10 years or more, this is «The» Gas station and store in town. The gas is priced normal not gouging you because you are a half hour from the next station. They have lots of hard liquor, beer, soda, water. Have had the ice creams on a hot day, they have fresh cookies I always get, chips and candy, lottery tickets everything you would expect at a liquor/​country store really. This is a good as it gets in the middle of nowhere.

I find the other reviews really funny… but so have to disagree with them. I live in the area and go there often for a matter of convenience (the closest larger stores are approximately 30 minutes away… NOT an hour like someone else stated). I have purchased chips, ice cream, sodas, juices and candy here and NEVER had ANY issues at all… and I have been going here for about 13 years now. Also, they have weekly deliveries so everything is pretty fresh… so I am unsure what the other posters are speaking of… the staff is GREAT and help out in community events all of the time (the latest being providing fireman/​police and forestry with water, sodas and whatever else when they were fighting our HUGE area fire… if your don’t like mom and pop stores… than stay in the city…

I am a huge fan of this little country store. The produce is pretty expensive, but it’s an hour closer than any other place around so you pay for convenience and the gas you save by not driving down the hill. The gas prices are actually excellent, though. The staff is friendly. It’s basically what you would expect from a mom and pop type convenient store. This place is one of my favorite memories of Lake Hughes.

Small little hole in the wall convenient store up in Lake Hughes right across from the Rock Inn. I go here whenever I have that have to have pick me up while I’m at my friends house up in the Hughes. Great for those cravings or have to have cold drink. I just wonder how fresh their items are given this is like in the middle of nowhere. The diet pepsi i got tasted old and flat, but its better than driving 45 minutes down the hill to get to something better.

After a lake side walk, being hot and thirsty, I stopped in to get a cup of ice. It was free for a small cup, though medium and large cups would have cost 50 cents.
The staff here looked bored, until a recent local college grad walked in. They chatted with her, seemed honest to goodness happy that she returned to town, even if it was just for the end of summer. They inquired about her family too. I guess that’s what happens when you reside in a small town. Made me feel like I was back in the 60’s or 70’s, long ago on Mayberry Lane from the Andy Griffith TV show.
The small cup of ice (which was more like a large cup) kept me cool on the car ride down the mountain. Sometimes ice can taste awful, these ice cubes tasted fresh, though it was a long twenty four miles down the hill.

Nothing too exciting here, just your run-​of-​the-​mill, middle-​of-​nowhere gas station and store. I work close by so it’s a great option for a mid-​week soda or snack. The service is always great. The other reviews are likely spot-​on with the food reviews, but I haven’t tried the food (and won’t). Everything else there is great!

Looks like Gina burst my bubble at being the first to review this place…
Like she said, its in the middle of nowhere. We bought two ice creams that were old and stale. I’m a big It’s It fan so when I saw a flavor I hadn’t seen in a while, I thought it was brought back. I just checked their website, and no, the ice creams are just plain OLD and obsolete.
This place is good if you need gas, alcohol or a canned good and you are too lazy/​stupid to go anywhere else (i.e. a tourist who doesn’t know any better and find this pathetic «lake» interesting) but other than that, do yourself a favor and pass on food!
Of course, this place is meant to be what it is… a place to get nick-​nacks in the middle of nowhere without competition.

Being that this is the only grocery store/​gas station in town, it works for me. I used to live up here for all of 5 minutes.
Don’t eat the fresh food. Stick to the beer and anything in a can. I got deathly ill because my ex thought it would be a good idea to buy the ground meat to make hamburgers from… I’m not exactly sure what sort of animal it came from…