historic Buckhorn Saloon and Opera House in Piños Altos, New Mexico was an awesome find. When we were in Silver City a couple years ago, it was closed because of the pandemic so we couldn’t visit. This time we stopped by after a hike along Cherry Creek. First about the hike.
Cherry Creek is a cool easy little hike with great scenery. Giant rock cliffs and hoodos line the track and this time of year the creek was flowing still so the hike had it’s own soundtrack. We hiked out almost an hour and then came back. It is easy walking, and it was a wonder more people weren’t out here enjoying the day.
Thirsty after our hike, we headed to Buckhorn Saloon and Opera House.
This mountain-top bar, situated more than 7,000 feet above sea level, first opened in the 1860s. Gold had been discovered in the area, bringing prospectors from all over. The town of Pinos Altos (Spanish for “tall pines”) grew from there. Though abandoned for a time during the early 1900s, today the small town has a population of about 198. The outside of the saloon and opera house look like an old Western movie set. The building is made up of 18 inch adobe walls, and inside it is cozy with brick walls, a thick oak bar and a wood-beamed ceiling. We were the only patrons so early in the day and walked around the different rooms looking at all the art work and old relics.
We chatted with the bartender who informed us the Opera House that is attached hosts monthly dance parties where a local band comes to play and community members gather to dance the night away. THAT would be fun. These days you can rent the space for events but there is no opera. The Opera House is a fun venue that would have been quite a sight to experience back in its heyday.
This place is DEFINITELY worth the visit if you ever find yourself in Silver City.
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