Old colorado saloons & Bars

All of the bars and saloons that are listed on this page are still in business today. This list is a work in progress and this is not intended to be an all inclusive list. If you know of a bar/saloon in CO that is older than 1859, please send an email to admin@coloradoskiauthority.com.

Chronological List of Historical CO Bars/Saloons

1859 – Buffalo Rose Tavern, Golden, CO This saloon was established as the International Bowling Saloon in 1859. In the early 1860s this building also functioned as a meeting place for the Colorado Territorial House of Representatives. The original building was demolished and rebuilt in 1902. The establishment was re-named as the Buffalo Rose Saloon in 1985.

1862 – The Mint, Silverthorne, CO This is the oldest bar in the State of Colorado that is still in operation, and is still using its original name and building structure. When this saloon was built; Colorado had not been made a state yet, and the north and south were just beginning the Civil War.

1879 – Gold Pan Saloon, Breckenridge, CO The Gold Pan Saloon was originally called the Herman Strauss Saloon. The Herman Strauss Saloon was renamed the Gold Pan Saloon in 1905.

1883 – Silver Dollar Saloon, Leadville, CO This Saloon was originally named the Board of Trade Saloon. The establishment was re-named as the Silver Dollar Saloon in 1935 (After prohibition).

1889 – J-Bar, Aspen, CO This historic bar is located inside of the Hotel Jerome. The J-Bar still serves a milkshake that was invented sometime around the prohibition era that is called the “Aspen Crud”. The milkshake includes 5 scoops of french vanilla ice cream and 3 ounces of bourbon. There is no credible evidence that this drink was invented during the prohibition era… However, it is unlikely that a speakeasy would be discussed and written about in the local newspapers.

1893 – Buckhorn Exchange, Denver, CO The Buckhorn Exchange is often mislabeled as being the the oldest bar in Colorado. This bar does possess state liquor license #1… however this was not issued until several years after prohibition ended.

1895 – New Sheridan Bar and Chophouse Restaurant, Telluride, CO The New Sheridan Hotel was first built in 1891. The hotel burned to the ground in 1894 and was rebuilt the following year. When the hotel was rebuilt in 1895, the historic New Sheridan Bar and Chophouse Restaurant were included inside of the new structure.

1901 – The Minturn Saloon, Minturn, CO This saloon has the credential of being the oldest bar in Eagle County that is still in operation. The Minturn Saloon is located just off of rt 24 in Minturn, CO.