BuckSnort Saloon

by

The Bucksnort

I, Zeb the Duck, had lunch at the historic Bucksnort Saloon in Sphinx Park, Colorado.

Connie (left), Barb (right) and Zeb (top)

Connie (left), Barb (right) and Zeb (top)

Mom and her friends took me to Pine, Colorado and then to the Bucksnort.   A former stage stop and general store in the 1890’s, now is a very popular summer stop.   Let’s go inside.

Entrance to BuckSnort with my friend K-rad

Entrance to BuckSnort with my friend K-rad

The first room has a pool table and this buffalo.

Buffalo watches over pool table

Buffalo keeps his mouth shut

Also old photos and money are on the walls.

Great old photo

Great old photo

People sign dollars and tape the money to the wall.  Proof they were here.  And it is fun.  Look at this poster.  Trying to hire young men to work for Pony Express.

This is not a job for Zeb the Duck

This is not a job for Zeb the Duck

Orphans preferred??   Sounds dangerous to this duck.

Next is the main dining area. Even this elk has signed dollars on him.

Hard to see with money for glasses

Hard to see with money for glasses

And the bar.

Bar with a money backdrop

Bar with a money backdrop

So many signed dollars everywhere. This is a great place. Mom had the featured Buck Burger. It was real good. Sharon had a taco salad.

So good

So good

There was a lot of eating, drinking and talking here.

People could eat outside.

Nice to eat out here

Nice to eat out here

This saloon is nestled in the forested mountains.  Love the rock formation behind the house.

What a view while eating and drinking

What a view while eating and drinking

The Bucksnort is located on Elk Creek.

Elk Creek

Elk Creek

This is popular with everyone, and especially motorcycle riders.  This biker came for lunch also and posed for mom to take his picture.

We like this biker

We like this biker

This place is so pretty and everybody is so nice.  You will love the Bucksnort Saloon.  For more information visit www.thebucksnortsaloon.com Try to go there for lunch this summer.  It is about an hour drive southwest of Denver.

by

PINE, COLORADO AND KENOSHA PASS

Wednesday mom and I, Zeb the duck, took I-70 west to C470 and then south on Highway 285.  We were going to have lunch at Pine, Colorado and then drive to Kenosha Pass to see the Aspen Trees.  It was a beautiful, sunny Colorado day.

We met our friend, K-rad, and then headed to Pine.  We decided to have lunch at the Historic Colorado Saloon, the BuckSnort Saloon.  To get there, we drove into Pine, then turned left on 4th Street, then right on Elk Creek Road.   This mountain road is very scenic.  Even a small waterfall in Elk Creek.

Elk Creek

Elk Creek

When we arrived, ready for lunch, we discovered the Bucksnort is closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

The historic BuckSnort Saloon

The historic BuckSnort Saloon

And this is Wednesday.  Mom…you picked the wrong day.  These might just be winter hours now, but check before you come.  We took some pictures here.  The log building is over 100 years old.

Entrance to BuckSnort with my friend K-rad

Entrance to BuckSnort with my friend K-rad

It is from the 1890s when this was a stage stop and general store.  The BuckSnort Saloon is very popular with motorcycle riders.  One even arrived while we were there.  He was looking for lunch too.

Log buildings near BuckSnort. I am at foot of flag pole

Log buildings near BuckSnort. I am at foot of flag pole

Leaving the Bucksnort we drove back to Pine and had a very nice lunch at Zoka’s Restaurant and Bar.

Zoka's restaurant. I am on K-rad's arm

Zoka’s restaurant. I am on K-rad’s arm

Zoka’s is family owned and has a large deck also.  And, Zoka’s is open 7 days a week.  We all had the pork sandwich.   It is house smoked and has hwy 126 BBQ sauce.  It is usually served with cole slaw on top, but we wanted the cole slaw on the side.  Then we could choose French fries, cole slaw or purple potato salad.  We had French fries.  It was delicious!

Going to Zoka's. I am hungry!

Going to Zoka’s. I am hungry!

Pine is a pretty town with the river and surrounding mountains.  I want to come back here!  And, each of these restaurants allows well-behaved dogs on the patios.  If they like dogs, they must like ducks too.  We are coming back.

We left Pine, drove to highway 285 and south toward Kenosha Pass.  In Colorado we have lots of aspen trees and this time of year (autumn) the leaves turn red for a very short time and then a beautiful gold.  The leaves are rather small and turn and shimmer in the wind.  I love the quaking aspen.  They look so pretty on the side of a mountain, with green pine trees and Colorado’s bright blue sky.  Of course, I love yellow—it is my color!  Kenosha Pass is famous for its aspen trees and gold leaves in the fall.  Can’t wait to see it.  Hope this is the right week for us to be here.

These photos were taken as we approached Kenosha Pass.

Golden aspen leaves

Golden aspen leaves

More gold aspen

More gold aspen

Here is one at the pass.  It shows so many aspen trees on the side of this mountain.

Many aspen and many tourists

Many aspen and many tourists

Then we went over Kenosha Pass to South Park and into the town of Jefferson.  At Jefferson we saw our only bear,

This bear I like

This bear I like

and it was at Jefferson Real Estate, Inc.  Mom said we didn’t really want to see a bear today.  I can agree with that.

I hope you will check out Colorado’s aspen trees in the next few days.  They are beautiful.  I think we will go to another place for more leave watching.  I will let you know.  Even if the leaves are not gold, go to Pine for lunch.  For information visit www.thebucksnortsaloon.com and www.zokas.com.   See you soon for food and beverages.