I see the Billings Gazette i running a contest for best bar in Montana.

I always liked the Montana

http://billingsgazette.up...stid=30025

WildHorse.....for the win......

My top ten:

1. Montana Bar....Miles City
2. Al and Vics....Missoula
3. The Crystal.....Bozeman
4. Yellowstone Brewing Co.....Billings
5. Montana Bar...Glasgow
6. Silver Dollar...Missoula
7. Lake View Bar...Ft. Peck
8. Timber Bar...Big Timber
9. Miller's Crossing...Helena
10. Oasis...Wolf Creek

M&M...Butte

It has changed hands since I have been there,and probably fixed up too much to qualify in the same category. The old Jersey Lilly in Ingomar. I especially liked the Bull pen and the Heifer pen.

[This message has been edited by Lorin Dixson (4/11/2011)]

The M&M was open for St. Pat's and is now closed. Last I heard, the new owner was trying to get the place fixed up and reopened.

The Montana Bar in Glasgow has more character than any other bar in Montana! One of my favorites has always been Stacey's bar in Gallatin Gateway... It has a small town atmosphere amidst a metropolis of suburbs in Gallatin County. Their food is great, drinks are cold and weekend entertainment enjoyable! When I lived in Bozeman, it was nice to go to Stacey's, it reminded me of home--walking in to a Bison-like scene...where the people were actually friendly, it was a nice quiet change to the sometimes overbearing bars in the city...

You can't beat the Bison Bar

Will no one pour out a lonely 40oz in memory of the Alta?

Let's not forget Leon Park from back in the day.

In my opinion thats a toss-up between the Montana Bar in MC and the Pony Bar...love em both!

Lots of good bars mentioned. I'll throw another out there: The Sip 'n' Dip in Great Falls.

As far as old closed bars....can't forget the Hathaway Bar.

I prefer Maloney's, for a bar in Butte.

For classic "old west" I prefer the Montana in MC.

And not to nit-pick Mule Train, but it is acutally "Al's and Vic's" both owners having possessive apostrophes to denote ownership. And, it definitely belongs on the list - great bar. Although, having a list of Montana bars with no bars from Butte does cause me to question your judgment.......

Any body here old enough to remember when Clyde had the Powder River Club?

The Triangle in Sidney! Great food, nice dining area, friendly atmosphere and home to more than one good dancing night and packed house for a wedding dance or band!

(The following is a political reference.)

I bet Rick Hill's favorite is the "Sip 'n' Dip."

Not being a person that spends a lot of time in bars, what is your criteria for a good bar? For me it's always been a pool table and a juke box that's not being plugged by teenagers but I've never spent enough time in one to become part of the crowd there.

How about Klamm's or Barney's.

Don't forget the Jersey Lilly. The Old Saloon in Emigrant if for no other reason except the scenery.

The Rhino in Missoula.

The R bar in Bozeman until they remodeled. Then it blew up.

The Montana is definitely my favorite, and descent beers on tap for Miles City.

julie hartman? my favorite bar is a snickers bar, gold bar, and four bars on my cell when i am hunting....for gettin liquored up, alta

Burnt to the ground. Like your ideology.

Teasers

[This message has been edited by Buck Showalter (4/11/2011)]

Levi Forman wrote:

Not being a person that spends a lot of time in bars, what is your criteria for a good bar? For me it's always been a pool table and a juke box that's not being plugged by teenagers but I've never spent enough time in one to become part of the crowd there.

As a regular at Miller's in Helena, its just nice to sit at a bar where you know everyone and everyone knows.

For example, I walked in yesterday around 4, sat between two guys I know from the bar (who I probably see about once every two months, but I have been talking with them on suck a schedule for the past 5 years). We sat and watched the Masters, and had a good time cracking jokes at Tiger Woods' expense.

You could be doing this with a friend at a friend's house, but at my age whenever I have company it involves a cleaning/tidying up session that I really do not want to do. Why not just go to the bar and shoot the poop with your friends there?

Ambiance is also a factor......many of the great bars mentioned here should be experienced, just for that.

As an example....take the Jersey Lilly. I have been driving from Helena to Miles City to go antelope hunting for 20 years. For the firsy 15 years, I probably stopped at Ingomar maybe twice. Now plan my trips to stop at the Jersey Lilly for either lunch or dinner, depending how we are running, and a beer. I have found that to be an extremely enjoyable way to head to the happy hunting grounds.

No one's mentioned Heiser's and the Corner Bar in Baker. And The Stockman and Rainbow in Wibaux. The set designers for the movie Knockaround Guys with Vin Diesel and Seth Green got the Stockman right. However, the geography was a bit off in a few cases (for example you could see mountains and a Canadian grain elevator logo). The Golden Wheel in Plentywood is now a lumber yard and feed store, but back during the oil boon of the 70s and 80s that huge building would be packed.

Lorin, The Powder River Club if I remember also had little rodeos out back didn't they on the weekends? It was between Miles City and Terry.

last time I was at the jersey lilly it was closed

Gene: The Powder River Club was right at the mouth of the Powder just off the old Highway. I don't remember any rodeos there but they had ropings every weekend in the summer I think. They may have rode some spoiled saddle horses on occassion.I was just a kid then, but loved going down there.

[This message has been edited by Lorin Dixson (4/12/2011)]

How quickly we forget the old 600 downstairs with Gardner oor Paul on a Friday night.

Every time I pass the Rainbow in Wibaux I can't help thinking what assumptions would be made if that place were in San Francisco. I assume that is not the case at the one in Wibaux?

hey buck head, my ideology is burnt down? you go pay young skanky broads to show you thier boobies, all the while complaining about my ideology...you make me smile........

Skanky? I guess they never let you past the velvet rope.

[This message has been edited by Buck Showalter (4/13/2011)]

I know someone bought the Jersey Lily last year and was planning on fixing up and it and reopening it but I haven't heard how that is going. I should take a drive this summer and find out.

The Jersey Lilly was open last July/August when I passed through Ingomar...FWIW

It was open last October when we stopped in for lunch on the way to hunting camp.

so schmuck blowwalter...dod ya fall in love with some stripper chicks?...i dated a few...never fell in love........and certainly never paid a dime to see them naked....so sit in the dark, ultraviolet lit, smoke filled room...watching YOUNG destitute girls demean thierselves by getting naked for a dollar so some tired unatractive trogladite can have something to go home and pummel his bishop to. and then with your holier than thou attitude, come to me and tell me my ideology is flawed...

*tink* *tink* *tink* "Ship???? Is that you????"

No it is not Ship, he was both more entertaining and more coherent.

The Bucket of Blood Saloon, Yaak, MT circa 1980