Iron Door Saloon

California's oldest continuously operating saloon, featuring historic granite walls and a famous dollar-bill ceiling.

The Iron Door Saloon, located along Highway 120 in Groveland, stands as California's oldest continuously operating saloon. Originally constructed sometime before 1852 by James Tannahill, the building first served as a general store known as the Granite Store. Because Tannahill was appointed Groveland's first postmaster in 1863, the building also housed the town's original post office. The structure itself is a geological anomaly in Tuolumne County: it is the only historic building in the area constructed from solid granite blocks rather than local slate rock. Its side walls are composed of schist rock and mortar, while the roof was originally built with three feet of sod covered by tin to insulate and protect the interior. In 1896, Giacomo DeFarrari purchased the property and converted it into a tavern called Jake's Place.

The saloon received its current name in 1937, following the installation of the heavy, swinging iron doors that still frame the entrance. Manufactured in England, these doors were shipped around Cape Horn at the tip of South America, sailed to California, and then hauled by mules across the Tuolumne River via Wards Ferry. They were installed primarily as a fire prevention measure, allowing proprietors to seal the building during the frequent fires that swept through Gold Rush towns. That same year, a second story was added to accommodate card games, billiards, and pool. Today, the interior functions as a living museum of the Sierra Nevada foothills. The walls are lined with historic photographs of Yosemite Valley, John Muir, and the Hetch Hetchy Valley before the construction of the O'Shaughnessy Dam. Taxidermy mounts of elk and deer overlook the dining room, while a massive vintage timber saw hangs precariously over one corner of the bar.

The most famous feature of the saloon is its ceiling, which is covered in thousands of wadded-up dollar bills pinned with thumbtacks. This tradition began during the Gold Rush, when miners would write their names on bills and tack them to the ceiling to ensure they would have money for a drink when they returned from the goldfields. Today, patrons still throw bills to the ceiling, with an estimated four thousand dollars suspended above the bar at any given time. Looking closely at the ceiling also reveals several bullet holes, which date back to a rowdy period in 1987 when the saloon was a rough-and-tumble biker bar. The establishment transitioned to a more family-friendly atmosphere after it was purchased in 1985 by Pete Barsotti, a legendary stage manager and right-hand man to rock promoter Bill Graham.

Now celebrating four decades of ownership by the Barsotti and Loh families, the saloon is operated by Pete's daughter, Corinna Loh, and her husband, Chris. In 2024, the culinary program received a major upgrade when Chris's twin brother, Chef Steve Loh, took over the kitchen. Chef Steve, who previously ran the kitchen at Oakland's acclaimed Mua and cooked at the Michelin-recommended Bardo, introduced Asian-influenced weekend specials, including marinated Korean short ribs and ahi tuna ramen, alongside classic pub fare like burgers and fish and chips. The saloon remains a vibrant community hub, hosting live music on weekends, karaoke nights, and the annual Dollar Party fundraiser, which benefits local youth programs.

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