The Desert Bar: If You Build It They Will Come

Hi Blog.  On January 18, 2014, our friends, Ginny and Eric, picked us up in their Jeep and drove us out to a desert oasis.  The "Nellie E Saloon"is situated in the Buckskin Mountains, in Parker, Arizona, on land that was an old mining camp. The name "Nellie E" refers to the old mining claim, but most folks just refer to it as "The Desert Bar."  You have to drive six miles out into the desert on an old dirt road filled with pot holes, washboard, sand and gravel.  Many travelers don't make the arduous journey.

However, those that do make it are rewarded for their effort.  Out of the vast desert emptiness arises a strange conglomeration of structures.  The smell of charcol grilled burgerts waffs through the air.

It doesn't take long for all the hungry and thirsty travelers to start queing up in the kitchen line.  I wish I could tell you it was a short wait, but Ginny and I ended up spending 90 minutes before we got to order lunch.  Moral of the story is to get to the Desert Bar as early as possible.

However, I wouldn't let the fear of long lines stop me from visiting.  This place is just too cool to miss.  The inside of the saloon is unique in many ways. It has windows that are old glass refrigerator doors, the bar stools are made of steel and they sway from side to side. The top of the bar is brass and the ceiling is made of stamped tin purchased from a factory in Missouri. The saloon is powered by solar energy; the electricity produced in this manner is stored in batteries and run through inverters.

Here are Ginny, Eric and Kathy enjoying a cold drink after their sojourn in the desert.

The rest of the afternoon was spent listening to the soulful sound of Briana Payne Band.

We took the long way back to the Jeep in order to take in some of the local artwork.  Look at all those horseshoes.  There must be a lot of shoeless horses walking around in the desert.

So, in addition to the bar, there is also a church.  The church was started in 1993, completed in 1996. It is made of solid steel and the walls and ceiling are made of the same stamped tin used inside the bar and the roof is made of copper. The names inscribed on the plaques in the church are people who donated money to help build the church. The church is a unique place for weddings and a great photo spot. There are no services held in the church and all religions are welcome - that is, if they make it the six miles up the dirt road!

Folks use whatever means of transportation they can find to reach this watering hole.

Which just proves the old saying, if you build it, they will come!