Goodsprings Pioneer Saloon Las Vegas Day Trip

Goodsprings, Nevada, was once a bustling gold mining town 25 miles southwest of Las Vegas. Today’s main attraction is the Pioneer Saloon, the last remaining bar of a city that had seven during the booming mining days.

Most early buildings in the town were built in the early 1900s, with many falling into decay and being little more than foundations. Goodsprings Schoolhouse was erected in 1913 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The town still has a population of about 200, mostly retired folks.

Around 1918, Goodsprings had over 800 people with stores, seven saloons, a post office, a school, and a grand hotel. A rail line was built to Goodsprings, enabling the shipment of lead and zinc to as far away as Los Angeles and Salt Lake City.

Like most boomtowns, the ore played out, and by the 1950s, Goodsprings was not much more than a ghost town with only a few full-time residents. The only business that, over the years, was the Goodsprings Saloon.

Over the years, area mines produced lead, silver, copper, zinc, gold, and silver. The most successful mine was the Keystone which accounted for over 7 million dollars of gold. With the price of gold soaring, there is a new interest in the hills surrounding hills with an open-pit mine operation working the ground.

Most people go to Goodsprings to visit the Pioneer Saloon, which opened in 1913, making it one of the state’s oldest like most of the buildings in Goodsprings, the Pioneer Saloon was in a state of decay until a Las Vegas entrepreneur purchased it.

Noel Sheckells, who now owns the Pioneer, has sunk several hundred thousand dollars into the old Saloon, fixing the old gal up. The old western bar is a popular destination in Las Vegas, especially on weekends with live entertainment.

Visiting the Pioneer Saloon

The crowd at the Pioneer Saloon tends to be bikers (not the rowdy gang type) but everyday folk who enjoy riding their Harley-Davidsons. You are still welcome if you don’t have a motorcycle, so don’t let that stop you from visiting Goodsprings, Nevada.

Inside the Pioneer Saloon, you will find a memorial room with photos from celebrity visitors and a memorial to Clark Gable and his wife, Carole Lombard, who was killed in a plane crash in the nearby mountains.

Food BBQ to Burgers

If you work up an appetite while visiting Goodsprings, the Pioneer sells “you grill your steaks.” All the fixings, including side dishes, utensils, and sauces, are available. You do the cooking on the BBQ grills in the patio area.

The bar area inside the Pioneer Saloon is adults only and has a cherrywood bar, the usual Nevada slot machines, and the original poker tables. The rest of the saloon is family-friendly; however, this day trip is better suited for adults and history buffs.

Next door to the Saloon is the Goodsprings General Store which sells an assortment of souvenirs and t-shirts, with the top seller being a T-shirt, “Where The Hell Is Goodsprings.” The Saloon’s large patio area is dog-friendly. While in town, take a quick driving tour around the Goodsprings.

A few originals are still standing, but most are just piles of lumber. On the hill, east of the saloon, the footings for the Keystone Gold Mine are still visible. And if you want to venture offroad, there are several other mines in the area. However, most of them are on private property.

Where to the Pioneer Saloon

Goodsprings is about a 30-minute drive from Las Vegas and the world apart from the neon lights of the strip. The town is reached via I-15 to Jean, then west 7 miles on SR 161 to Goodsprings. If you are coming from or leaving Southern California, the Pioneer Saloon is an easy side trip from I-15.

The Pioneer Saloon will be on your right as you enter the town; look for the row of bikes parked in front—Pioneer Saloon in Goodsprings 310 W Spring St Goodsprings, Nevada. The Saloon is open daily, 24 hours. The Pioneer Saloon hosts biker rallies, bands, fundraising events, and weddings. All events need reservations.

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