Distinctly Montana Magazine

“ i had found the Montana bar— the social sanctuary of the West.” Sip n Dip, Great Falls Here are some notes about bars described much more fully in the book: LIVINGSTON Murray Bar in the Murray Hotel, 201 W. Park. Said to have inspired Jimmy Buffett’s song, “Livingston Saturday Night.” Has a U-shaped bar, upraised area for bands, a good-size dance floor, photos of notable people, and notes about their fishing flies. EMIGRANT The Old Saloon, 210 Railroad Lane. Built in 1902 and largely unchanged. Gold scales from when gold was discovered in the gulch (1864). Oak bar with mirror spanning the length in back of it. Wood burning stove. Red flock wallpaper. In 1910 a man pocketed $10,000 in one poker game. PRAY The bar at Chico Hot Springs is the counterpoint to Chico’s elegant dining room. The gateway to the hot pools, it’s small, busy, with a creaky wooden floor, but on Saturday night when the place is rockin’, everyone is relaxed. It’s not unusual to see a pair of old dancers struttin’ their stuff in fine style. BUTTE While the M & M was long known as “Butte’s living room,” other bars are favorites too: Helsinki Yacht Club, The Met Tavern, The New Deal Bar. On St. Patrick’s Day the whole town is packed with people going from one to the other. Some people go just to join the crowds and eat corned beef. DILLON Metlen Hotel & Bar, 5 S. Railroad Ave. This fancy bar was once in Bannack when it was the capital. On sum- mer evenings, doors are opened to let breezes in. Walls are clean, knotty pine; dark red furnishings; healthy plants. Since this area, along with Wisdom and the Wise River, are sporting paradises, the clientele are often hunters, fishers, and ranchers. GREAT FALLS Sip n Dip, O’Haire Motor Inn, corner of 7th and 1st Ave. S. Here you can settle into a booth or pull up a stool to the bar and look onto a pool of mermaids swirling about as colored lights blink and a pianist plays your favorite tunes. Gentlemen’s Quarterly listed it as the lead of 10 bars “worth flying to” in April 2003. www.distinctlymontana.com 49

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