Bale of Hay Saloon

Montana's oldest watering hole, operating out of an 1860s log building in the historic gold rush town of Virginia City.

The Bale of Hay Saloon stands as Montana's oldest watering hole, located on Wallace Street in the historic gold rush town of Virginia City. Originally built before 1867, the small, one-story log building with a false front first housed a grocery and liquor business operated by J. F. Stoer starting around 1869. Stoer served local miners and frontier townspeople during the height of the Alder Gulch gold boom. In the 1890s, businessmen Smith and Boyd acquired the property and converted it fully into a saloon. Because they also owned the livery stable directly next door, they jokingly named the establishment the Bale of Hay, in reference to the actual hay bales stacked outside for the horses. The saloon operated under this name until 1908, when the local gold boom faded and the building was shuttered, sitting vacant for nearly four decades.

The saloon's modern era began in 1946 when preservationists Charles and Sue Bovey purchased the property as part of their extensive efforts to save Virginia City from decay. Charles Bovey added the covered front porch, restored the interior, and reopened the establishment as a working historic saloon. During this restoration, Bovey brought in a massive, intricately carved wooden back bar and mirror dating to the 1880s, which originally stood in a saloon in Benchland, Montana. The interior was also decorated with historic taxidermy, vintage paintings, and turn of the century coin operated amusement machines, including a rare mechanical violin. This highly authentic atmosphere caught the attention of Hollywood, serving as the primary set for the saloon scenes in the 1970 film Little Big Man starring Dustin Hoffman. Photos from the movie shoot still hang on the walls, alongside memories of Jack Nicholson's visit in 1975 during the filming of The Missouri Breaks.

In 1983, a severe fire broke out in the rear of the building, destroying the roof but leaving the original front facade and floor relatively undamaged. To reopen the saloon while meeting modern building codes, a new interior structure was built inside the original log shell, complete with a four foot deep concrete foundation, sheetrock walls, and a vintage tin ceiling salvaged from the historic Mint Saloon in Great Falls, Montana. Today, the property is owned by the Montana Heritage Commission and operated by seasonal concessionaires. Visitors can sit beneath the famous Nymphs and Satyr painting, a replica of William Bouguereau's classic work that underwent professional conservation in 2017. The saloon serves a selection of Montana microbrews, including local favorites like Moose Drool and Pig's Ass Porter, alongside classic spirits. During the summer season, which runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the saloon hosts events such as the Montana Micro-brew Festival and Brothel Days, which features bed races down Wallace Street, and serves as the departure point for nightly ghost tours.

Coffee & Craft — Roadside fuel stops curated by Basecamp West. The best coffee shops, craft breweries, diners, and eateries worth the detour on your next Western road trip.