Question of the Day - 02 December 2021

You’re asking about the Pioneer Saloon in Goodsprings, a historical mining town of about 200 located about 23 miles southwest of M Resort by taking the Jean exit off I-15 and driving nine miles on NV161. It was founded in 1900 and named after one Joseph Good, who watered his cattle at the local spring. The rest is history … lots of it.

The Pioneer Saloon was indeed opened in 1913, built by respected local businessman George Fayle. The clientele, on the other hand, wasn't always quite so respectable. One was caught cheating at poker in 1915 by another player who pumped three slugs into him to fatal effect. Visitors can still see the bullet holes in the Pioneer wall, as well as the coroner’s report that attests to the shooting. Those walls, by the way, are Sears & Roebuck stamped tin, some of the last that can be found in the U.S.

The furnishings are original, too: the dining tables, the 1860 potbelly stove that provides heating, and the imposing Brunswick bar, imported back in 1913. Cigarette burns on the barto[ were supposedly left by Clark Gable as he was waiting in Goodsprings for word on the fate of his young wife Carole Lombard, whose plane crashed, killing all aboard on nearby Potosi Mountain. There’s even a free-of-charge Lombard/Gable museum on the modest premises.

The Pioneer is also known for its Ghost Burger, featured on the Food Network.

At age 108, the Pioneer is still going strong, having found new owners in the form of businesswoman Stephanie Richter and musician Old Man Liver. They just held a grand reopening of the Pioneer. “We,” Richter told the Las Vegas Review-Journal, “were in the process of looking for a bar and noticed the Pioneer Saloon was available, it just spoke to us. It’s a piece of Nevada’s history, and we wanted to be stewards of taking care of that place.”

They have their work cut out for them. Richter redid the kitchen and restrooms, and even the Ghost Burger wasn't safe from refurbishment. Old Man Liver’s Red Menace is now an added kicker to an old favorite. (His whiskey will also be on the liquor list.)

The musical lineup is also bound to change. “We have a big following of folks who really enjoy the country and classic rock bands that play out there today,” Richter told the R-J. “That’s a vibe that will continue, but we’re going to experiment and expand on that over time.” She added, “We want Pioneer Saloon to be truly world-famous, but at the same time we know we need to give it its true identity. It’s not a steakhouse; it’s not an all-day egg cafe. It’s a saloon. We want it to be approachable to everyone and anyone who comes out. And we want to be known for really great saloon and bar food.”

And ghosts. The Pioneer is said to be haunted, although the spirits are apparently benevolent.

The Pioneer offers the following disclaimers to guests: “Card Sharks are shot on site [sic]. Horse Thieves are hung out back. Street Girls bringing cowboys in to the saloon must pay for room in advance.” Who says the Wild West is dead?