Vegas On Two Wheels: Mountain Springs Saloon
I am a huge biker bar fan…and there’s one I love going to just about every other day of the week. Getting there from the center of Las Vegas takes about 30 minutes (on two wheels of course), and it’s a great scenic ride through the mountains. The place is called Mountain Springs Saloon.
I grew up in Florida, which is one of the biggest biker destinations in the world. My childhood was spent on the back of my dad’s Harley, and he would take me to Bike Week and Biketoberfest (both in Daytona) every year. It was a tradition in my family.
The Iron Horse Saloon and Cabbage Patch Bar were second homes to us because my dad would play at each of those places (he’s lead guitar and vocalist for “Big Daddy’s Smokin’ Rock ‘n’ Roll“). Now the reason I mention this is because Mountain Springs Saloon reminds of this part of my life. It reminds me of home. The building is over 60 years old (in fact, I believe it is closer to 70). It started out as a trading post for travelers between Pahrump, NV, and Las Vegas. It’s nestled in the mountains, just off SR 160, which winds through a beautiful valley in the Spring Mountains. The road is well-kept, but if you’re not an experienced rider or have a cruiser, take it easy on the throttle!
The road winds left to right, changing direction quickly. It is a lot of fun to ride, especially with the mountain cliffs towering above you, but taking the road too fast can result in a major wipeout!At the top of a small incline, there’s a slight speed change from 55 mph to 50. This is where you want to really slow down and pay attention because the turn-off and sign for the saloon sneaks up on you…and you could pass it in the blink of an eye.
From the outside, Mountain Springs Saloon looks like a little shack…old, broken, and slightly run-down. It would seem that the building couldn’t hold more than ten or twenty people, but looks can be deceiving. The Saloon is built front-to-back, not outward or to each side. When you enter this place, it screams “Biker Bar.” Dollar bills line the walls like wallpaper, each with a little message to the owner. Some just have a name scribbled on them, or maybe a hilariously-obscene joke. Others tell stories about an experience at the bar…with the owner, a love interest, etc. I spent 30 minutes just reading one wall.
The dollar bills climb to the rafters, where they meet up with bras left by happy patron-ettes. I find the bras to be much more interesting than the dollars. They change design over the years, so you can tell how old some of the bras actually are. Pretty sure one or two of them date back to the 60’s!
The dollar wallpaper continues to the back, where a game room is set up. A dusty, worn-out pool table sits under the glow of a pool table light. The walls here are plastered with Polaroids of friends, family, complete strangers…all coming together to enjoy a bike night, poker run, BBQ, or just good times. These are my favorite kind of decorations, ones that tell stories of the past.
Out back, there are two other buildings. One is a snack shack, where you can mosey on up and grab a pulled pork sandwich, burger, or ribs. The other is a leather and chrome accessories shop. There is also a man-made spring with a few dozen koi swimming around. It wouldn’t be Mountain Springs Saloon without the spring, right?
Bikers come from all over the area to visit this place. Be ready to meet lots of people, from newbie motorcycle enthusiasts to the serious biker-gang member. They all stop in to drink at this watering hole…so remember to be respectful.
And who knows…maybe you’ll make some really good new friends here. I know I have!
[Photos: Greg Bennett]
Greg Bennett is the morning meteorologist on KTNV’s Good Morning Las Vegas newscast. He is an avid Harley rider but also is a huge classic car fan and loves to work on both. In his free time, you can catch Greg riding his bike around town, working out at the gym, hanging out with his Pit Bull (DewPoint), or getting his hands dirty by volunteering across the city of Las Vegas.
