Not far from Las Vegas, in the (ghost) town of Goodsprings, lies the Pioneer Saloon, established in 1913. The saloon, like the town, has a storied past that began in those last days of the Wild West, and it remains the stuff of legend. The hit post-apocalyptic video game Fallout: New Vegas begins there, in Goodsprings, which is reflected in the saloon as a decorative cooler sporting the game’s fictional “Nuka-Cola” branding. The bar still carries cigarette burns said to have been left there by Clark Gable, who visited in 1942, awaiting news of his wife, who had died in a plane crash. Three bullet holes in one of the saloon’s walls tell the tale of a poker game gone fatally wrong.
And the legend continues:
“As recent folklore would tell it,” co-owner Stephanie Richter told What Now Las Vegas in a Thursday-afternoon email, “Old Man Liver, who is the face of the Pioneer Saloon, won the saloon in a high-stakes poker game one crazy night.”
The Pioneer Saloon serves drinks and a few longtime classic dishes that will remain at the forefront of its brand as it transitions under new ownership: the famous Ghost Burger and Haunt Dog. The burgers have been updated with a new touch, a seasoning referred to as the Red Menace, and the menu also features the “Steak on a Stake” and chicken kabobs dubbed “What the Cluck.”
“In addition,” Richter said, “our Hot A F*** Sauce adorns every table just waiting to be tried by those who can handle the heat. Chili is another house specialty, made from a secret family recipe.”
Construction will be undertaken in the coming months, as the restaurant updates its restrooms and, most importantly, its kitchen.
“This will allow us to really deliver on great food. In the meantime, we are grilling some pretty amazing burgers.”
Unsurprisingly, however, a new ownership that has so fittingly come to be a part of the saloon’s story has no interest in altering its fundamental character. Updates to the saloon are intended to keep it true to its history.
“It is important for the Pioneer Saloon to emerge from new ownership with a clear identity – it isn’t a steakhouse or an all day egg café,” Richter said. “It is a saloon, loved by many, and will be loved by more as we introduce others to its history, charm, and really great food.”
