Cheyenne, Wyoming. Population: 64,000. It's a small town, yet there is no shortage of bars.
The railroad came to Cheyenne in the 1860s and with it, lots of men. All of a sudden there was a market for saloons and, ahem, second-story brothels with secret tunnel exits. The town is said to have had 60 of them at the time.
As I reflect on my first visit to the Cowboy State, I doubt the brothels there exist as they did in the 1900s, but many old bars and saloons still stand. One thing's for sure: There is no shortage of places to drink in Wyoming's capital city. Below, six solid spots I loved and wouldn't hesitate to return to the next time I'm looking for some good old (and new) fashioned Western fun.
A saloon and restaurant known for accommodating big rigs and horses in its parking lot, Bunk House Bar & Grill serves Western comfort food and encourages dancing on Friday and Saturday nights when a live band takes over the stage.
The space is kitschy with taxidermy animals perched above the wooden bar sign (the bar and stools are all made of wood, too). The booze selection is simple with a full liquor bar and eight beers on tap. I didn't see this for myself, but the bar's website allows drunk patrons to sleep it off in the parking lot free of charge-if they arrive in a camper, of course.
Cheyenne's Outlaw Saloon is huge. The 26,000 square foot honky tonk boasts live bands seven days a week, including some well-known country music headliners. There are two stages here (one indoor, one outdoor), pool tables, slot machines upstairs, and five bars throughout. The dance floor, as you can imagine, is pretty roomy, too.
There is a cover charge at the Outlaw, but the drinks are so cheap, who cares? It's the perfect place for people watching and you may even spot a bar brawl on your way out. Doesn't really get more country than that.
I visited three breweries during my short visit to Cheyenne. What started as a home brewing hobby, Freedom's Edge Brewing Company is family and dog-friendly (and a family affair, owned by one local man and his two sons-in-law). Grab a flight or a pint and then head on over to the next stop of your mini beer crawl.
Accomplice Beer Company is a fun and lively spot where you can actually choose your glass and pour your own brewski. Its Instagram says it's the only self-serve craft brewery in the USA and this alone makes it worth your while.
DanielMark's Brewing Company is a standalone building with a spacious back patio. Its owner, Daniel, started brewing beer at home back in 2006 and now, 12 years later, has a 7 bbl (seven-barrel brewing) brewery located inside an old carriage house.
For specialty cocktails, light bites and laid back lounge service, head to Paramount Ballroom in Downtown Cheyenne. At first glance, Paramount may seem totally out of place, but somehow ends up working in the tiny, Western town. A little glam, a little hipster, Paramount is housed in the old Capitol Ave Theater building, which hosted live touring performances.
Paramount is known for its handcrafted cocktails made with fresh juice and local spirits. Cocktails are named after shows that that were performed in the space between 1905 and 1910. The theater, which burned down in the 1920s, was rebuilt in 1938 as the Paramount Theater (a movie theater until it burned down again in 1981).
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