There was a certain magic spiraling through Sphinx Park’s legendary Bucksnort Saloon on June 10. Sure, the full Buck Moon cast an ethereal light on everything. But tricks of the moon these were not: The Bucksnort was, against all odds, open for its first service in three years – and, as at all great bars, the night buzzed with the promise of the new within the comfort of the old.
Wedged in the runoff between Schuyler Gulch and Elk Creek in the Jefferson County foothills just outside of Pine, the Bucksnort started out as the single-room Sphinx Park Mercantile in 1919. As is often the case with ramshackle high-country construction, various structures got grafted onto the thing over time – morphing it into a local square-dance venue, then a live music hall, then a classic bar and restaurant, until, by the 1970s, it had come into its own as the Bucksnort Saloon. Then came a series of ownership changes.
But now it's back, and judging from their comments on the Westword Facebook post, that's very good news. Says David:
A true gem of Colorado mountain life. Against all odds, she's back! So glad I got to be a part of the revival. The energy on the first night I went was the same welcoming, at-home feeling. Just like meeting up with an old best friend you haven't seen in ages. It's imperfectly perfect, exactly as it always had been. Long live the Bucksnort!Adds Michael:
Finally something goes right. Congrats and kudos to the new owner!!Recalls Dawn:
I fondly remember in the early '90s living on Elk Creek Road and walking the mile to the Bucksnort in the summers, as well as showing up to watch Bronco games with all the locals in the snow, since we couldn’t get coverage on TV up there.Remembers Norman:
Really enjoyed riding up there and having a cold one. Would love to do it again. Went up there last year and it was largely all dug up as it looked like they were installing a septic tank or the like. This is good news.Adds Levi:
I once got hammered there in the late morning with two friends. One of my friends and I had stayed the night. We woke up, and one of our friends that lived there asked, "Want to go to the Bucksnort?", which I'd never heard of. We go there, end up going through three pitchers between the three of us... oh boy, what a way to start an afternoon.Wonders Peggy:
Is there more parking?Responds Nichole:
Keep it small. You don't need any more parking. This whole state is gonna be one huge parking lot. Grew up here. It will never be the same....Comments Jessica:
We have very fun memories of the Bucksnort, very glad it’s reopened!!Offers Jay:
Gotta go put my dollar back up, it looks like.Replies Terry:
I loved the Bucksnort! Glad to hear that it is open again. I wonder if I still have some of my dollar bills hanging on the walls?The Bucksnort is back, but most of the dollars pinned to the ceiling and walls did not make it to the new owner. It's never too late to invest in more memories, though! Have you been to the Bucksnort? Post a comment or share your memories at [email protected].
