17 Old School Cowboy Saloons That Still Exist Today

There’s something downright magical—almost cinematic—about stepping into a genuine Old West saloon.

The moment those weathered swinging doors creak open, it feels like you’ve strolled straight onto the set of a Clint Eastwood movie. The air smells of aged wood, old whiskey, and untold legends. Creaky floorboards whisper secrets of high-stakes poker games, outlaw duels, and boots worn thin from dusty cattle drives.

I’ve spent years crisscrossing America, hunting down these relics of a rowdier past—authentic watering holes where cowboys once slugged back bourbon, swapped tall tales, and occasionally shot each other over a bad hand or a better woman.

These aren’t just bars; they’re time machines with barstools. Each one offers a shot of history (and whiskey) in equal measure. So if you ever find yourself in one, tip your hat, order something strong, and raise a glass to the wild, wild days of the untamed frontier.

1. The Palace Restaurant and Saloon (Prescott, Arizona)

Whiskey nearly spilled from my glass when I learned The Palace has been serving drinks since 1877! This Prescott landmark survived a devastating fire in 1900, with loyal patrons rescuing the ornate 1880s Brunswick bar – carrying it across the street to safety while the building burned.

Walking through the swinging doors feels like stepping onto a movie set, except everything’s authentic. The 24-foot hand-carved oak bar has witnessed countless cowboy deals and card games. Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp once knocked back shots here during Prescott’s wild mining days.

Modern visitors can enjoy fine dining while soaking in the atmosphere where Virgil Earp once worked as a bartender. The original tin ceiling, vintage photographs, and occasional gunfight reenactments make The Palace Arizona’s oldest frontier bar and a true time capsule of Western history.

2. Crystal Palace Saloon (Tombstone, Arizona)

Tombstone’s Crystal Palace Saloon knocked my boots off! Originally opened in 1879 as the Golden Eagle Brewery, this watering hole witnessed the town’s infamous silver boom and legendary characters who defined the Wild West.

Gunsmoke practically hangs in the air of this meticulously restored saloon. The mahogany bar gleams beneath grand chandeliers, creating an atmosphere that would feel familiar to the Earps and Doc Holliday who frequented this establishment before the O.K. Corral shootout. I couldn’t help imagining their conversations while sipping my beer.

Today’s visitors can enjoy cold drinks, live entertainment, and occasional historical reenactments. The walls decorated with authentic period photographs tell silent stories of Tombstone’s rowdy past. Located on Allen Street in “The Town Too Tough To Die,” the Crystal Palace remains a must-visit portal to genuine frontier history.

3. Silver Dollar Saloon (Leadville, Colorado)

Holy smokes, the Silver Dollar Saloon blew my mind! Perched at 10,152 feet in Leadville, it might be the highest historic saloon in America. Established in 1883 during Colorado’s silver mining boom, this place oozes authentic frontier charm.

The showstopper is definitely the magnificent back bar carved from a single mahogany tree. Legend has it Doc Holliday dealt cards here while recovering from tuberculosis in Leadville’s thin mountain air. Buffalo Bill reportedly tossed back whiskey at this very counter.

I spent an entire evening chatting with locals beneath the original pressed-tin ceiling. The walls practically vibrate with stories of mining fortunes won and lost. Even today, visitors can enjoy live music, dancing, and drinks in the same space where silver barons and desperate miners once mingled, making it a living museum of Colorado’s wild mining history.

4. White Elephant Saloon (Fort Worth, Texas)

Cowboys still stomp dust from their boots at Fort Worth’s legendary White Elephant Saloon! I nearly dropped my Lone Star beer when the bartender pointed out bullet holes from the infamous 1887 shootout between Luke Short and Jim Courtright. Talk about authentic Texas history!

Originally established in 1884, this Fort Worth institution served thirsty cowboys driving cattle up the Chisholm Trail. The current location in the historic Stockyards district perfectly captures the spirit of the original. Hat-shaped brands decorate the ceiling, commemorating notable patrons who’ve visited over the decades.

Live country music fills the air most nights, making it impossible not to tap your boots. The poker tables still host serious card players, though thankfully without the deadly consequences of frontier days. With its weathered wood, Texas memorabilia, and genuine cowboy atmosphere, the White Elephant remains an essential pilgrimage for anyone seeking authentic Western heritage.

5. Pioneer Saloon (Goodsprings, Nevada)

Ghost stories and Hollywood legends collide at the Pioneer Saloon! My spine tingled when the bartender showed me the still-visible bullet holes from a 1915 poker game gone wrong. This atmospheric Nevada watering hole has been serving drinks continuously since 1913, making it one of the oldest in the Silver State.

Clark Gable famously spent three days drinking here in 1942 while awaiting news about his wife Carole Lombard’s plane crash on nearby Mount Potosi. The “Gable Room” preserves this somber chapter with newspaper clippings and memorabilia. The saloon’s stamped tin walls came from a Sears Roebuck catalog, shipped piece by piece to this remote mining community.

I nursed my whiskey at the original bar while chatting with motorcycle riders, history buffs, and locals who swear the place is haunted. Just 30 minutes from Las Vegas, this authentic frontier establishment offers a genuine taste of the Old West that Vegas casinos can only imitate.

6. Red Onion Saloon (Skagway, Alaska)

Would you believe I found an authentic Wild West saloon in Alaska? The Red Onion Saloon in Skagway knocked my thermal socks off! Built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, this notorious establishment served as both a saloon and brothel for weary gold seekers.

The madams kept track of their working girls with a clever dolly system – dolls positioned up meant the lady was “occupied,” while dolls positioned down meant she was available. Today, costumed staff lead hilarious brothel tours upstairs while the first floor serves as a lively saloon with period decorations and original fixtures.

Prospectors’ graffiti still adorns the walls alongside vintage photographs of the “soiled doves” who once worked here. I sipped Alaskan beer beneath the original pressed tin ceiling, imagining the thousands of fortune hunters who passed through on their way to the Yukon goldfields. The Red Onion perfectly captures the raucous spirit of America’s last great gold rush.

7. Buffalo Bill’s Irma Hotel Bar (Cody, Wyoming)

My jaw dropped when I first laid eyes on the cherrywood bar at Buffalo Bill’s Irma Hotel. This magnificent 25-foot backbar was a gift to Buffalo Bill Cody from Queen Victoria herself! The legendary showman built this hotel in 1902, naming it after his daughter Irma.

Buffalo Bill held court at this very bar, entertaining celebrities, European royalty, and fellow Wild West performers. The place practically oozes frontier history. Bullet holes allegedly made during rowdy nights still mark the ceiling, though the staff won’t officially confirm their origin.

I savored a buffalo burger while soaking in the atmosphere of genuine Western history. The walls display fascinating memorabilia from Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. Located in the town that Cody founded as a gateway to Yellowstone, the Irma’s bar remains virtually unchanged since frontier days. Mounted animal heads, vintage photographs, and period fixtures make this an essential stop for any Western history enthusiast.

8. Jersey Lilly Saloon (Langtry, Texas)

Judge Roy Bean’s infamous “Law West of the Pecos” saloon still stands! I felt goosebumps walking into the Jersey Lilly, where this eccentric justice of the peace dispensed frontier justice with a law book in one hand and a revolver in the other from 1882 to 1903.

Named after British actress Lillie Langtry (whom Bean obsessively admired but never met), this combination saloon-courtroom-billiard hall remains almost exactly as Bean left it. Weathered wooden floors creak beneath visitors’ feet as they examine original artifacts, including Bean’s desk, pool table, and the iron stove where he burned court documents he didn’t like.

Located in tiny Langtry along the Mexican border, the saloon’s rustic walls display vintage wanted posters and period photographs. The Judge’s living quarters attached to the saloon contain his humble bed and personal items. Though no longer serving drinks, this National Historic Site perfectly preserves one of the most colorful chapters in Texas frontier history.

9. Buckhorn Saloon (San Antonio, Texas)

Holy cow – or should I say holy horns! The Buckhorn Saloon’s collection of antlers nearly took my eye out when I first walked in. Founded in 1881 by Albert Friedrich, this San Antonio institution began with a simple policy: trade your antlers or horns for a beer or whiskey.

That tradition created what’s now the world’s largest private collection of horns and antlers. The original mahogany bar stretches 40 feet long, beautifully carved and polished by nearly 140 years of cowboys’ elbows. Teddy Roosevelt supposedly recruited Rough Riders here, while Pancho Villa allegedly planned the Mexican Revolution over whiskey at these tables.

Today’s visitors can enjoy Texas craft beers surrounded by an astonishing museum of Western oddities, including a two-headed calf and rattlesnake art. Located just blocks from the Alamo, the Buckhorn combines authentic frontier atmosphere with bizarre taxidermy displays that have to be seen to be believed. It’s Texas history with a seriously strange twist!

10. No. 10 Saloon (Deadwood, South Dakota)

The hairs on my neck stood up when I realized I was standing exactly where Wild Bill Hickok was shot! Deadwood’s legendary No. 10 Saloon marks the spot where Jack McCall gunned down the famous gunslinger during a poker game in 1876. Wild Bill’s final hand – aces and eights – is now infamously known as the “Dead Man’s Hand.”

While the original building burned in Deadwood’s 1879 fire, the current saloon faithfully recreates the historic atmosphere. Daily reenactments of Wild Bill’s murder draw crowds of tourists, but I preferred quietly sipping whiskey at the bar, imagining Calamity Jane’s drunken antics and Seth Bullock maintaining order in this gold rush boomtown.

Gaming tables still offer poker and blackjack, though thankfully without deadly consequences. The walls display fascinating historical photographs and Western memorabilia from Deadwood’s lawless days. With its weathered wood, swinging doors, and authentic frontier atmosphere, the No. 10 perfectly captures the spirit of the Black Hills gold rush.

11. Occidental Saloon (Buffalo, Wyoming)

Bullet holes in the ceiling stopped me in my tracks at the Occidental Saloon! These aren’t staged tourist attractions – they’re authentic remnants from when Wyoming cowboys would fire their six-shooters in drunken celebration. Established in 1880, this magnificent watering hole hosted everyone from Butch Cassidy to Theodore Roosevelt.

The magnificent backbar arrived by wagon train in the 1880s and has served drinks continuously since Wyoming’s territorial days. I ran my fingers along the original bar top, feeling the scratches and dents from countless cowboy elbows. The Occidental witnessed violent conflicts during the Johnson County Cattle War, when wealthy ranchers clashed with homesteaders.

Located inside the historic Occidental Hotel, the saloon’s walls feature vintage photographs of Buffalo’s early days. The original pressed tin ceiling and woodwork remain intact. Live music still fills the space where Owen Wister reportedly gathered material for his novel “The Virginian.” This authentic frontier establishment perfectly preserves Wyoming’s rough-and-tumble ranching heritage.

12. Miners and Stockmen’s Steakhouse & Spirits (Hartville, Wyoming)

You wouldn’t believe Wyoming’s oldest bar is tucked away in tiny Hartville (population: 62)! My motorcycle nearly fell over when I spotted this historic gem. Established in 1862 during a copper mining boom, Miners and Stockmen’s has served drinks continuously for over 160 years – surviving boom, bust, and Prohibition.

The current building dates to 1915, though portions may be older. Walking across the worn wooden floor feels like stepping back in time. The walls feature decades of dollar bills signed by visitors, creating a peculiar wallpaper of currency. Legend claims Calamity Jane once danced on the bar top during particularly rowdy nights.

Despite its remote location, the steakhouse serves incredible food alongside frontier atmosphere. The original back bar features beautiful woodwork and vintage mirrors. Old mining equipment decorates the walls alongside cattle brands from local ranches. This authentic establishment perfectly captures Wyoming’s dual heritage of mining and ranching in a setting that remains virtually unchanged from frontier days.

13. Bird Cage Theatre (Tombstone, Arizona)

Good grief, the Bird Cage Theatre knocked my socks off! This combination saloon-gambling hall-theater-brothel operated 24/7 for eight solid years during Tombstone’s 1880s silver boom. Legend claims 26 people died in gunfights here, and 140 bullet holes still riddle the walls and ceiling.

The theater earned its name from the small private boxes (called “bird cages”) suspended above the main floor where prostitutes entertained wealthy clients. These cribs still contain original furniture and fixtures. The basement poker room hosted the longest-running poker game in history – continuing non-stop for eight years, five months, and three days with minimum buy-in of $1,000 (roughly $30,000 today).

Unlike many Western attractions, the Bird Cage closed in 1889 and remained sealed for decades, preserving its contents exactly as they were during frontier days. Walking through feels like entering a perfectly preserved time capsule. Original paintings, the grand piano, gambling tables, and even personal items remain exactly where they were left in 1889.

14. Million Dollar Cowboy Bar (Jackson, Wyoming)

Saddle up to the bar – literally! My thighs were sore after spending an evening perched on genuine western saddles that serve as bar stools at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. This iconic Jackson Hole watering hole has been serving drinks beneath neon bucking bronco signs since 1937.

While not as old as some frontier establishments, the Million Dollar perfectly captures Wyoming’s ranch culture. Knotty pine walls display impressive wildlife mounts, including massive grizzly bears. The inlaid silver dollar floor and massive stone fireplace create a mountain lodge atmosphere that feels authentically Western.

I tapped my boots to live country music on the famous sprung dance floor designed for serious two-stepping. The bar has hosted countless celebrities over the decades, from Hollywood stars to actual working cowboys. Silver dollars embedded in the countertop glint beneath the glow of antler chandeliers. Located on Jackson’s town square, this legendary establishment perfectly balances authentic cowboy heritage with tourist-friendly Rocky Mountain charm.

15. Menger Bar (San Antonio, Texas)

Holy smokes, the Menger Bar blew my history-loving mind! This magnificent mahogany masterpiece is an exact replica of London’s House of Lords Pub, painstakingly crafted in 1887. The paneled ceiling, beveled mirrors, and intricate woodwork make it one of America’s most beautiful historic bars.

Located inside the historic Menger Hotel (right next to the Alamo), this legendary watering hole is where Theodore Roosevelt recruited his Rough Riders in 1898. The Colonel’s table still stands in the corner where he charmed and cajoled cowboys into joining his famous cavalry regiment. Generations of Texas Rangers have wet their whistles here between assignments.

I sipped a Shiner Bock beneath original oil paintings while imagining the countless historical figures who’ve done the same since 1859. Cattle barons, military officers, and oil tycoons have all clinked glasses in this atmospheric establishment. The Menger perfectly preserves San Antonio’s unique blend of Texan, Mexican, and Victorian influences in a setting that feels virtually unchanged from frontier days.

16. St. Elmo’s Fire House No. 1 (Virginia City, Nevada)

Stepping into St. Elmo’s feels like walking onto a Hollywood Western set – except it’s all authentic! This 1862 Virginia City saloon witnessed the legendary Comstock Lode silver boom that turned dusty prospectors into millionaires overnight. Mark Twain likely hoisted drinks here while working as a newspaper reporter in this very town.

The original bar remains intact, though it’s been moved from its initial location. Antique gaming tables still host poker games beneath brass chandeliers and red wallpaper that recreate the opulent atmosphere of Nevada’s silver mining heyday. A vintage piano occasionally springs to life with period tunes.

I struck up a conversation with a bartender dressed in period attire who shared fascinating stories about the saloon’s colorful past. The establishment’s walls feature historical photographs of Virginia City’s boom days. Located on C Street in one of America’s best-preserved mining towns, St. Elmo’s offers a genuine glimpse into the luxury and excess that massive silver wealth created in this remote mountain boomtown.

17. The Mint Bar (Sheridan, Wyoming)

Neon cowboys have been roping neon calves above The Mint Bar since 1949, but this Sheridan institution has been serving Wyoming ranchers since 1907. The moment I walked in, my nostrils filled with the unmistakable aroma of leather, whiskey, and authentic Western heritage.

The Mint’s most striking feature is its unique wall covering – hundreds of cattle brands from local ranches burned into cedar panels. I spent an hour just studying these distinctive symbols that represent generations of Wyoming ranching families. Stuffed critters peer down from every corner, including mountain lions, bears, and the impressive jackalope (a mythical rabbit with antelope horns).

Ranchers still gather here after cattle auctions, creating a genuine cowboy atmosphere no theme bar could ever replicate. The worn wooden floor has supported countless boots doing the two-step to live country bands. Located on Sheridan’s Main Street, The Mint’s slogan perfectly captures its authentic appeal: “Just follow the crowd to The Mint Bar – where the West is still wild!”