Step Back In Time At 15 Old School Cowboy Saloons Still Around From Texas To California
Saddle up for a journey through the Wild West’s most authentic gathering spots that have stood the test of time!
These historic saloons once welcomed legendary gunslingers, outlaws, and frontier heroes.
Today, the preserved establishments invite modern visitors to experience cowboy culture firsthand, with original bar tops, swinging doors, and stories etched into every weathered plank.
1. Saloon No. 10 (Deadwood, South Dakota)
Picture yourself standing in the very spot where Wild Bill Hickok took his final breath! The legendary lawman was shot during a poker game here in 1876, forever cementing this saloon’s place in frontier lore.
Visitors today can enjoy live poker, soak in the authentic western décor, and even see the chair where Hickok sat holding his infamous “dead man’s hand” of aces and eights.
Every corner seems to echo stories from the Wild West’s rowdiest days.
2. Menger Bar (San Antonio, Texas)
Right next door to the Alamo stands this gorgeous mahogany marvel that opened in 1859. Teddy Roosevelt recruited his Rough Riders here, leaving behind a legacy as rich as the bar’s paneling.
Hand-carved woodwork replicating London’s House of Lords pub creates an atmosphere of refined frontier elegance.
Cowboys and cattle barons alike have bellied up to this historic bar for over 160 years, making it a true Texas institution.
3. The Mint Bar (Sheridan, Wyoming)
A neon bucking bronco has welcomed weary travelers to this Wyoming institution since 1907. Stepping inside, visitors find themselves surrounded by hundreds of wildlife trophies watching their every move.
Local ranchers still tie their horses to the hitching post outside before coming in to gather.
The spot’s iconic slogan – “Just follow the light of the bucking horse” – has guided generations of cowboys through Sheridan’s doors in search of authentic frontier hospitality.
4. The Palace (Prescott, Arizona)
When wildfires threatened old Prescott in 1900, loyal patrons lifted the ornate 1880s Brunswick bar and carried it to safety across the street!
Such dedication speaks volumes about this Arizona landmark. Famous frontier figures like Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday once knocked back drinks here.
The original pressed tin ceiling still gleams above, while the rescued bar continues serving patrons beneath chandeliers that have illuminated cowboys and tourists alike for generations.
5. Glur’s Tavern (Columbus, Nebraska)
America’s oldest continuously operating tavern west of the Missouri River has been welcoming guests since 1876. Buffalo Bill Cody himself once marked a successful hunt here by treating the entire town.
The unassuming white clapboard building holds a treasure trove of frontier history within its walls.
Little has changed over the decades – the same worn wooden floors that supported cowboys’ boots now carry modern visitors eager to experience an authentic slice of Nebraska’s pioneering past.
6. Crystal Palace (Tombstone, Arizona)
Gunshots from the O.K. Corral showdown might have echoed through these very walls! Wyatt Earp’s brother Virgil was shot through the Crystal Palace’s windows during Tombstone’s lawless heyday.
Originally opened as the Golden Eagle Brewery in 1879, the establishment later transformed into the Crystal Palace we know today.
7. Iron Door Saloon (Groveland, California)
Quirky dollar bills stapled to the ceiling create a peculiar canopy in California’s oldest continuously operating saloon.
The massive iron doors that give the place its name were installed to prevent destruction during frequent fires.
Live music still rocks the rustic wooden interior where prospectors once traded gold dust for whiskey shots during California’s wild gold rush days.
8. Heinold’s First and Last Chance Saloon (Oakland, California)
Jack London did his homework at these very tables! The famous author gathered inspiration for his adventure novels while eavesdropping on sailors’ tales at this tilted waterfront bar established in 1883.
Built from the timbers of an old whaling ship, this tiny establishment earned its name by welcoming sailors with their first stop upon returning from sea – and their last before setting out again.
9. Bank Saloon / Jack’s Bar (Carson City, Nevada)
Politicians and cowboys have been cutting deals at this corner establishment since 1859! Originally called the Bank Saloon, it later became Jack’s Bar while maintaining its status as Nevada’s political watering hole.
Recently restored to its former glory, the historic stone building once again operates under its original name, welcoming visitors to experience the same bar where Nevada’s territorial history was shaped.
10. Buckhorn Bar (Laramie, Wyoming)
Cattle rustlers and railroad workers once rubbed elbows beneath the watchful gaze of hundreds of mounted animal heads. Since 1900, this taxidermy-adorned tavern has served as Laramie’s unofficial living room.
The massive moose head centerpiece has witnessed countless Wyoming stories unfold. Cowboys still stomp snow off their boots at the door before entering this unchanged time capsule where the frontier spirit lives on.
11. Cowboy Bar & Outlaw Cafe (Meeteetse, Wyoming)
Bullet holes still pepper the ceiling from rowdier days when disputes were settled the old-fashioned way!
This authentic 1893 establishment proudly preserves its frontier character right down to the century-old spittoons.
The original cherry wood bar stretches beneath a collection of antique guns, creating an atmosphere so authentic you’ll half-expect to see dusty desperados burst through the swinging doors at any moment.
12. College Inn Bar (Douglas, Wyoming)
Ranchers have been settling bets over whiskey shots here since the 1906 construction of this quintessential cowboy dive. Despite its name, you won’t find many college students – just authentic western hospitality.
The rustic interior remains virtually unchanged from its early days, with worn wooden floors that have supported generations of boot-wearing patrons.
Old timers still gather around the pool table telling tall tales while newcomers marvel at the collection of weathered cowboy hats adorning the walls.
13. Million Dollar Cowboy Bar (Jackson, Wyoming)
Saddle up – literally! Genuine saddles serve as stools in this iconic Jackson Hole landmark that has been welcoming guests beneath antler chandeliers since 1937.
Silver dollars embedded in the counter glitter beneath the lights while cowboy murals and wildlife mounts look on.
Live country music continues to draw crowds to the sprawling dance floor, where tourists and real-life wranglers kick up their boots together after long days exploring the nearby Grand Tetons.
14. Plains Hotel Bar (Cheyenne, Wyoming)
Ghosts of lovestruck cowboys and betrayed brides reportedly haunt this elegant 1911 establishment!
The historic Plains Hotel Bar has witnessed everything from Prohibition-era speakeasy operations to wild Frontier Days celebrations.
Ornate woodwork and stained glass create an atmosphere of frontier refinement rarely seen in western saloons.
15. 1880 Union Hotel / Saloon (Los Alamos, California)
Hollywood westerns have frequently featured this perfectly preserved 1880s saloon! The magnificent carved bar and authentic period details make it a filmmaker’s dream and a history buff’s paradise.
Wells Fargo stagecoaches once stopped directly outside, delivering travelers to this Central California oasis.
The saloon’s original poker tables still host games, while the antique piano occasionally springs to life with ragtime tunes that transport visitors back to the days of oil boom prosperity.
