Utah has a long, rich history, and in its early years not everything was centered on Salt Lake City. Ogden and the Ogden Valley were thriving, and Huntsville is the spot where Utah’s oldest bar opened back in 1879. Have you visited Shooting Star Saloon?

Shooting Star opened in 1879, long before Utah gained statehood in 1896. It's Utah's oldest continuously operating bar, and it has tons of great stories.
Shooting Star Saloon/Google
You'll find Shooting Star Saloon at 7350 E. 200 S., Huntsville, UT 84317.
Holken Olsen was the first owner, and he managed to operate the bar all the way through Prohibition.
hrcalso/Tripadvisor
Every so often, local law enforcement would come along and arrest him for serving alcohol. He'd serve a short sentence, return home, and start right back up. When the cops showed up the next time, Holken's wife would take the heat and serve the time, while Holken served the customers. You can still see the original cash register at the bar (it's sitting right alongside a new, modern cash register).
The walls of this saloon tell more of its stories.
KenVicLee/Tripadvisor
The large, stuffed St. Bernard head is always a conversation starter. Buck was the 300-pound pet of the owner's friend, and a mascot for the bar. Buck died in 1953, but he still greets customers every day.
Over the years, people from all over the world have showed up at this little, rural saloon, and many have left their mark here.
Shooting Star Saloon/Facebook
There are thousands of dollars (along with other currency from all over the world) pasted on the ceiling here!

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Some people say that this saloon is haunted. Over the years, people have caught glimpses of a man they think might be Whiskey Joe, a patron from years ago who actually started the trend of tacking dollar bills on the ceiling.
Shooting Star Saloon/Google
Whiskey Joe was notorious for never having enough money to pay for his beer. He'd give the bartender a dollar toward his tab, and it would be tacked up on the ceiling. Whiskey Joe would show up the next day with a dollar, and the trend continued.
Other stories include pictures falling off walls, and lights that were turned off at night mysteriously turning back on before staff arrives in the morning.
james marable/Google
Is this saloon haunted? It's hard to say - most of the staff, previous owners and managers insist that it's not.
Whether you visit in hopes of seeing a ghost, or because you want an ice-cold beer after a long day of skiing or playing on Pineview Reservoir, you're also going to want to order a burger.
Ben Meszaros/Google
The burgers here are delicious! Try the Star Burger, which consists of two beef patties, knockwurst, onions, cheese, lettuce, and tomato.
The Shooting Star Saloon is a bar, so leave the kids at home (unless they're 21 - then bring 'em along!). It's open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m..
weldmetal/Tripadvisor

Follow Shooting Star Saloon’s Facebook page to see all the latest happenings there!

If you’re interested in visiting more of Utah’s rural towns, you might want to stop by these 11 rural restaurants that are so worth the drive.

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