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I love sending people to the Pioneer Saloon because it feels like stepping into a different Nevada, dusty, quiet, and full of real history, just a short drive from all that neon. It’s one of the oldest bars in the state, and once you hear the stories inside these tin walls, you’ll understand why it’s stayed a favorite day-trip stop for locals like me for years.
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One of Nevada’s oldest bars, still pouring drinks
Built in 1913 by Clark County Commissioner George Fayle, the Pioneer Saloon still wears its original stamped tin walls, manufactured by Sears & Roebuck and shipped in by mail order. The mahogany bar itself is even older, dating to the 1860s and traveling from Maine around Cape Horn before landing here. It’s a genuine slice of Old West Nevada that never stopped operating as a working bar.
Bullet holes, a card game gone wrong, and Clark Gable’s long wait
Look closely at the tin walls and you’ll spot real bullet holes from a 1915 shooting after a card game turned deadly over accused cheating. The saloon’s most famous story, though, is from 1942, when Clark Gable reportedly sat at this bar waiting for word after his wife, actress Carole Lombard, was killed in a plane crash on nearby Mount Potosi the night after she’d stayed in the area. A small memorial room inside displays plane wreckage and memorabilia from that story.
Grab a burger, a drink, and wander the history
Most people stop in for a burger and a cold drink, and the saloon’s ghost burger has picked up Food Network attention, alongside flapjacks and hearty BBQ plates. Pair it with a walk around the tiny Goodsprings ghost-town-adjacent townsite, or make it one stop on a bigger loop with Nelson’s Eldorado Canyon and the Seven Magic Mountains.
Address, hours, and the drive
The Pioneer Saloon is at 310 NV-161 in Goodsprings, NV, about a 40-minute drive southwest of the Strip via I-15 and the Jean exit. It’s typically open daily from around 9am, staying open until 10pm Sunday through Thursday and until midnight Friday and Saturday, with the kitchen closing a bit earlier. Hours can shift, so check ahead if you’re planning a specific stop. Fall’s cooler temperatures make this an especially nice time for the drive out and a stop on the porch.
This is one of my favorite fall picks in my Las Vegas fall things-to-do guide.
Book Your Visit
Let someone else drive, and pair the saloon with more of the area’s history.
Small Group Pioneer Saloon, Nelson Ghost Town & 7 Magic Mountains
A small-group day trip that pairs the saloon with Nelson’s ghost town and the Seven Magic Mountains.
Book This TourGhost Hunt in Goodsprings from Las Vegas
A guided paranormal-investigation-style outing through Goodsprings for anyone who wants to lean into the ghost stories.
Book This TourSome links are affiliate links; we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
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Lori Ballen
REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty Las Vegas, leading The Ballen Group. A lifelong Las Vegan sharing the best of the valley.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this site are affiliate links. Portions of this content are generated by AI.
