Wyoming’s Best Bars and Roadhouses

Wyoming’s Best Bars and Roadhouses

If any state can compete with Alaska for its rugged natural beauty and abundant wildlife, it’s Wyoming. Home of Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Teton Mountains, visitors come from around the world to view them and enjoy Wyoming’s other scenic wonders like the Devil’s Tower National Monument, the large rock formation that was the centerpiece of the movie Close Encounters of a Third Kind.

Because most of the state is still cloaked in wilderness, sports-minded folks come from far and wide to hunt, fish and ski. Campers and hikers travel back-country trails, and boaters have hundreds of miles of river and streams they can follow. Horse fanciers can take the reins of cow ponies and join real cowboys on working cattle ranches as they put in a long day’s work. For the more sedate crowd, photographic safaris filming the wild animals of Yellowstone Park and the towering mountains of the Rocky Mountain range are a favorite endeavor.

All of this tourism translates to business opportunities for the state. Besides the obvious jobs related directly to outdoor sports, an infrastructure catering to visitors made up of lodging facilities, restaurants, and retail stores provides thousands for jobs for the locals. And because many of the visiting sports people are young, single and energetic, Wyoming is well known for its number of unique and fun-loving bars and roadhouses.

The least populated of all 50 states, numerous Wyoming bars and saloons are geared to servicing the hordes of party-seeking, fun-loving visitors looking for a place to unwind and enjoy a brew or two after a day on the slopes or a return from the wild country.

Because of the western flavor of Wyoming, you might already have a mental picture of the typical Wyoming bar and roadhouse. Wood floors, pine-board walls, mounted animal heads towering over rustic bars festooned with fancy glass backboards and old-time pictures and cowboy memorabilia gracing the walls can be found in almost of the Wyoming bars. And its whiskey drinks, partner. Order a cocktail with a colorful umbrella in the glass and you’ll probably be laughed out of the place.

Here is a list of some of Wyoming’s most favorite bars and roadhouses and their location:

Olympic Hotel Saloon (Buffalo) The original Olympic Hotel was a two-story log saloon and gambling hall built on the Bozeman Cattle Trail in 1880. Its regular customers included Buffalo Bill and Calamity Jane. The notorious Sundance Kid and Butch Cassidy would often leave their nearby Hole-in-the-Wall hideout for a night of drinking and gambling. By the early 1990, it had evolved into a fancy hotel and restaurant that would serve such guests as Teddy Roosevelt and Ernest Hemingway. After a century of operation, time finally caught up to the Olympic in 1980 and it closed its doors. In the late 1990’s, investors refurbished the grand old building and restored it to its original splendor that can be seen there today

The Dip, Medicine (Bow) This bar features sprawling landscape murals on the floor, ceiling, walls and tables accented by the world’s largest bar made out of jade. A 40-foot slab of the greenish mineral was cut from a single boulder mined in the nearby mountains. The owner, Bill Bennett, is a local artist who often does his painting right in the bar.

Woods Landing Bar and Dance Hall (Woods Landing Resort) Built in 1927 atop 24 railroad boxcar springs, this quaint old bar will put an extra hop in your step as you dance on a truly unique dance floor. Now on the National Register of Historic Places, the joint jumps with live music by local and regional bands every Saturday night.

The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar (Jackson) This Wild West saloon boasts holding Wyoming’s first state’s first liquor license and prides itself in maintaining the pioneer-era spirit of old Wyoming. The priceless collection of Western memorabilia on display is a wonder to behold. Spend a few hours drinking here perched on one of the saddle barstools and you’ll leave feeling like a real genuine cowboy or cowgirl.

The Elkhorn Bar (Bondurant) Game hunters attracted to the nearby Gros Ventre Wilderness near Bondurant flock to the Elkhorn Bar to show off their hunting trophies inside the establishment just the way they’ve been doing it for the past 40 years. It’s not unusual to see a fresh black bear, mountain lion or deer carcass stretched out along the bar during hunting season.

The Buckhorn Bar (Laramie) The Buckhorn is not for the faint of heart. The place can get rowdy and raucous at times when a mixed crowd of college students, bikers, cowboys and senior citizens get together. The place has calmed down somewhat over the years, but you can still see the bullet hole in the mirror behind the bar jealousy over a flirty waitress erupted into gunfire. Today, good times are had by all during the weekend live music shows.

Wonder Bar and Grill (Casper) In the old wild west days, the motto at the Wonder Bar was whiskey for the men and beer for the horses or any other mammal that made it through the front door. In 1942, original owner Al Swanson allowed cowboys to gallop right up to the bar and order a round for himself and his horse then ride right back out into the rear alley. That’s changed of course. Cowboys and cowgirls hitch their four-legged pals outside before coming to drink the house-brewed beers.

Silver Dollar Bar (Jackson) Another Wyoming saloon listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the bar is inlaid with 2,036 silver dollars from 1921. Because of the silver content of the coins, it’s famed for being the wealthiest slab of wood in the country. The Silver Dollar Grill also is known for its mouthwatering daily game specials, local steaks and seafood.

Bunkhouse Bar and Grill (Cheyenne) Often called the “Best little roadhouse in Wyoming,” the Bunkhouse is a tourist favorite. Steaks and Rocky Mountain oysters head the menu, live bands play on Friday and Saturday nights. Horses and mules are often hitched out front.

The Roadhouse Brewing Co. (Jackson Hole) The Roadhouse brews beer as bold as the surrounding snow-capped Teton Mountains. They are passionate about their beer, the brewing process, history and the brewing culture. The Roadhouse family of brew masters strives to cultivate and enhance the local Jackson Hole beer experience.

Rezeride Roadhouse Saloon (Riverton) This is one pub people that strays from the norm and one you’ll probably not remember for long. But for those looking for a change of pace from the cowboy and western themed, this just might be the place for you.

Favorite Biker Bars-
Wyoming has long been a favorite destination spot for touring bikers. A national registry of biker bars lists three additional bars to the list above.

The Outlaw Saloon
312 South Greeley Highway
Cheyenne, WY 82007

The Iron Horse Saloon
222 W. Main St
Newcastle WY 82701

Dime Horseshoe Bar
111 N 3rd
312 Broadway St
Sheridan, WY 82801

Texas Roadhouse
1931 Bluegrass Cir.
Cheyenne, WY 82009

Yellowstone Park

After a day of geyser watching, hiking and photographing animals. Visitors at Yellowstone have a number of fun bars and roadhouses in the park to choose from to unwind from an adventurous day. They include:

Buffalo Bar & Grill
Slippery Otto Pub
Madison Crossing Lounge
The Bear Pit
Trouthunter Bar & Grill
Bar N Ranch
Old Faithful Inn
Happy Hour Bar