The Legendary Silver Dollar Saloon - Atlas Obscura

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The Legendary Silver Dollar Saloon

This notorious dive has been serving up both kinds of spirits since 1879. 

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The walls here are covered in paintings, photos, and memorabilia from the saloon’s long and storied past. This family-owned and operated establishment has numerous photos and paintings of past generation proprietors, guests, and even ghosts. The noose that ended the life of the last man hanged in Leadville now hangs from the rafters over the bar, and a glass case under the bar reverently holds the shoes reportedly worn by a little girl who died in the tunnels under the saloon, who haunts the basement to this day.  

Several paranormal teams have visited the saloon, and they claim that there are eight spirits in residence there. The family members and employees who work and live there have reported heavy footsteps, televisions turning off and on, and being pushed on the basement stairs. Their experiences and the accounts from the paranormal investigators lead them to believe that the spirits are mostly benign; however, the girl in the basement has been known to become violent, and some staff members refuse to enter the basement after dark. 

Famous clientele of the saloon over the years include “the Unsinkable” Molly Brown, Oscar Wilde, and Doc Holliday, who allegedly shot a sheriff across the street from the bar. Although the decor has remains largely unchanged over the years, the bar menu has gotten a more modern upgrade. Alongside classics like wings with a whiskey-honey glaze and house-made pickles, you’ll find chicken-fried yak with cream gravy and a lamb French dip with garlic-rosemary jus. 

Know Before You Go

The bar is open daily starting at noon.

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October 3, 2024

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