I had to put this under "Rochford Mall" because there was no entry of this place, which didn't surprise me as Rochford probably only has maybe 50 residents at best. And beings this is my ALL TIME FAVORITE DIVE, I had to add it here. So the place is called . . . .
THE MOONSHINE GULCH SALOON
Go up the road in Hill City next to the Exxon gas station (the road might be called Deerfield Road?) and head for Rochford, a tiny old town nestled in the mountains. I'd ask for directions at the gas station here. It's about 20 minutes up this road from Hill City.
This place ROCKS as the picture will show you. Betsy, the owner, will take you under her wing and tell ya a couple of stories if she's not busy. She makes her own french fries, and they're great, but the burgers are on the super small side.
You don't go here for food. Unless it's her homemade fries. You go here for brews and to hear a yarn or two. This place is in the dictionary for the words "local color."
One time I was here, there were two 80 year old banjo players playing their cute little hearts out and one of them was blind.
Another time, I found Betsy nursing a stray baby deer from a bottle in front of the bar. Another time, she had a milk cow tied up next to the saloon.
The place is a cross between old west stuff, kind of dumpy, yet fun. There's so much stuff nailed on the walls and on the ceiling it would take several hours to see everything.
The BEST part, is to ride on your bike here when they do the annual Michelson Trail Bicycle Ride. Plan it so you'll finish up at this place and have a few brews.
The clientele varies WILDLY from little old men, to bikers, to weird toothless yokels, to clowns--literally, to rich yuppies stopping by for the "quaint factor."
Warning: if you do not like dives or drinking or funkiness or trippy people, or old things, you will not like this joint. read more