The Making of Dodge City Saloons

By Keith Wondra
Article Reprinted by Authors Permission from the May 9, 2023, Dodge City Globe

     As Frederic Young, Dodge City historian, wrote, “names of Dodge City’s saloons…ring in the ear like the clink of glass mugs on beer taps and the smash of empty glasses against varnished mahogany-the Alamo, the Long Branch, the Billiard Hall, the Alhambra, the Saratoga, the Occident,…the Crystal Palace, the Lone Star, the Old House, the Hub, the Sample Room, the Oasis, the Junction, the Green Front, the South Side, the Congress Hall, the Stock Exchange, and the St. James.  Some saloons…were known only by their proprietors whose reputations were the only advertising needed- Hoover’s, Peacock’s, Beatty & Kelly’s, and Sturm’s.  Some bars ran in connection with hotels, dance halls, and theaters- the Dodge House, the Lady Gay, the Varieties, the Comique, and the Opera House.”

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  Many consider Hoover and McDonald’s Liquor Store and Saloon, which opened in 1872, the first saloon and business in Dodge City. It was south of the railroad tracks on Trail Street, east of Third Avenue. By the end of 1872, five of the thirteen wood-frame buildings in Dodge City were saloons. George Hoover and John G. McDonald moved their saloon and liquor store to the vibrant North Front Street a year later.
    Early Dodge City saloons included gambling within the saloons. South of the tracks had women and music.  They were also one-room shacks with dirt floors while serving watered-down drinks, mainly whiskey.  The railroad's arrival in 1872 allowed saloon owners to update their establishments with fancy wooden bars, artwork, and billiard tables.  The railroad also brought in brandy, champagne, wine, and various types of whiskey.
    More than mere watering holes, the early Dodge City saloons were the heart of a vibrant community. Initially serving the needs of buffalo hunters, their clientele expanded with the arrival of the cattle trade in 1875. This shift was not just a business decision but a reflection of the saloons' role in the community. They were more than just businesses; they were a part of the fabric of Dodge City, fostering a sense of belonging among the cowboys by naming several of their establishments after Texas names and places such as the Alamo, the Alhambra, and the Lone Star.

    In 1877 alone, there were 11 saloons, with the most famous being the Long Branch.  D. D. Colley and James F. Manion opened it in 1876 near the northeast corner of Second Avenue and Front Street.  Two years later, Chalkley Beeson and William Harris bought it and turned it into a refined place with an air of sophistication.  Since dancing was prohibited north of the tracks, Chalkley Beeson’s five-piece orchestra provided entertainment, later becoming the famous Dodge City Cowboy Band.  The Long Branch served alcohol, Anheuser Busch beer, lemonade, milk, sarsaparilla, and tea.  In February 1883, Luke Short bought Beeson’s interests in the Long Branch and partnered with William Harris.  In November, Harris and Short sold the Long Branch to Roy Drake and Frank Warren, who owned it until 1885.

     On the south side of the tracks, where dancing and soiled doves were allowed, the most famous saloon was the Lady Gay Dance Hall and Saloon.  Jim Masterson, brother of Bat Masterson and Ben Springer, opened the Lady Gay in April 1877 on the southeast corner of Second Avenue and Trail Street.  The interior consisted of a platform for an orchestra on one end with a bar on the other.  On July 4, 1878, the Comique Theater opened and was attached to the Lady Gay.  In 1881, Ben Springer sold his portion of the Lady Gay to A. J. Peacock, an owner of several Dodge City saloons.  The Lady Gay was bought in August 1881 by Brick Bond and Tom Nixon and renamed the Bond & Nixon Old Stand.

     By the early 1880s, prohibition had come to Dodge, and several saloon owners had converted their businesses to drug stores and restaurants.  This included the Stock Exchange Saloon, which became a drug store, and the Lone Star Saloon, which became Delmonico’s Restaurant.  By 1885, the cattle trade had left Dodge, and temperance leaders were trying to close the saloons.  The November 27 and December 8, 1885 fires burned down the wood buildings on Front Street and closed the saloons.

Dodge City Saloon War of 1883

​The Dodge City War of 1883  is the story of a bloodless conflict between a gambler named Luke Short and the political structures of Dodge City, who tried to force Short to close the Long Branch Saloon and leave town. Narrated by Brad Smalley, the incident was filled with ominous possibilities for violence and brought several of the most infamous gunfighters in the history of the Old West into Dodge City to seek justice for their friend – Luke Short. The event is best remembered because it produced one of the most iconic photos of gamblers and gunfighters. This photo, taken in celebration of their victory over the political structures in Dodge City, is known as the Peace Commission and stands as a testament to their courage and unity.