Local Watering Holes for big/unique taxidermy

[SoDak_23]

Maybe not the best time for this thread due to Covid but I just moved out west (CO) and am looking forward to exploring over the next few years and love old bars/restaurants with cool taxidermy. Anyone have any local favorites?

Mine is Saloon 10 in Deadwood, SD.


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[Afhunter1]

Buckhorn Exchange, Denver

Not sure any can top that one.

 

[KClark]

Buckhorn Exchange, Denver

Not sure any can top that one.

Easy. Foster's Bighorn, Rio Vista CA

 

[Lark Bunting]

When we go hunt in NE, Ole's is a very cool stopping point. Olesbiggame.com

 

[Miboy86]

The Buckhorn saloon in San Antonio Texas is pretty cool, do believe Teddy Roosevelt and the rough riders drank there.

 

[def90]

The Buckhorn in Denver.. or the Bucksnort in Pine Co for some kitschy mounts and down home mountain atmosphere.

 

[DAJtheHunter]

Head over to the Wyman mueseum in Craig. If you have kids take them along for the scavenger hunt.

 

[Southforkguy]

Occidental Saloon in Buffalo WY is awesome

 

[Afhunter1]

Easy. Foster's Bighorn, Rio Vista CA

I’ll have to ck that out if I ever get out to CA but looking at pics of it I don’t think it would upstage the uniqueness of the Buckhorn Exchange with its colorful history and oddities. Hopefully I will get a chance to go there someday and see. Anytime I’m in Denver I always go get a buffalo ribeye at the Buckhorn. Amazing food too.

 

[NV HUNTER]

Ely Nevada ....Racks

 

[Crowmangler]

The Gun Barrel.. Jackson, WY

 

[Runningwater]

The Mint Bar, Sheridan WY

 

[hutty]

I'll second the Occidental in Bighorn...great mounts, better stories and plenty of left over bullet holes

 

[jmav58]

The Mint Bar, Martinsdale Montana.


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[NCSU_Lewis]

If you are down south of the Gila, definitely recommend stopping at the Adobe Deli in Demming. Looks out on the Floridas, tons of awesome taxidermy, and the steak was awesome last full meal before a Gila elk hunt

 

[browning2480]

Anything in Casper? Will be there at the end of September

 

[Runningwater]

Not for taxidermy, but for a classic old place for food/drink the Pasley Shawl restaurant or the Antelope Bar in the old Higgins hotel in Glenrock (right outside of Casper) used to be great when I lived in Douglas...

Anything in Casper? Will be there at the end of September

 

[gwtravis]

The Buckhorn Saloon in San Antonio is a tourist place now on Houston street. Teddy Roosevelt did however recruit over beers in the historic Menger Bar across the street from the Alamo in the Menger Hotel. It's a cool place if you ever get stuck touristing in San Antonio. No mounts though.

 

[ahlgringo]

The Days Inn hotel in Thermopolis WY is a pretty cool place. Safari grill inside has an unbelievable taxidermy showcase (including a silverback shoulder mount that may or may not be real ). Guy that used to own the hotel was a prolific big game safari hunter. Cool mounts and stories. Food is meh, but private hot springs for guests is nice. Worth staying there if you are in the area.


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[Nickofthewoods]

Here are my favorites. I have a bit of an infatuation for places like these.

Highline Cafe and Saloon, Hartsel, CO.

Not close to much but after a day of fishing in South Park this bar hits the spot. There are some big Trout and Elk decorating all of the walls.

Antlers Cafe and Bar, Yampa, CO

This place was really cool back in the 90's and has since changed ownership. A lot of the cool old taxidermy was still on the walls last time I was there a few years ago.

Trapper's Lake Lodge, Trappers Lake, CO

Way cool place to have a beer, a rustic lodge in the middle of nowhere with some cool fish mounts and a big Moose head among others.

Bailey Rustic Station, Bailey CO

If you are ever stuck in traffic on 285 this is a cool place to stop for a beer and a burger with some big Elk shoulder mounts and if I remember right a full size taxi'd black bear.

Pagosa Bar, Pagosa Springs CO

Locals type bar with some massive Mule Deer heads. One of the last places in Colorado where you can legally smoke a cigar inside.

Gold Coin Saloon, Central City, CO.

One of the oldest bars in Colorado and is the definition of "Hole in the Wall". Entrance has old swinging saloon doors and some of the coolest old taxidermy I have seen with some big Mule Deer, an Elk, foxes, squirrels, and even an old Golden Eagle mount from the 1930's.

Lander Bar, Lander, Wyoming

Historic bar with cool atmosphere, awesome burgers and lots of cool taxidermy including a massive Bull Trout right above the bar.

Virginian Hotel, Medicine Bow, WY

Headed to Casper from Denver/Ft Collins? Check out this historic bar in the old train depot in nowhere Wyoming. Now run exclusively by meth-heads but still has some cool old Elk Heads hung around. My buddies and I asked for a tour of the old hotel and you couldn't pay me to stay in that creepy place. I don't know what's scarier, the Methed-out employees or the certainly haunted old building.