132 E. Elkhorn Ave, 970/586-9381, www.thewheelbar.com, Estes Park, Colorado
Open every day except Christmas since 1945, the Wheel Bar is a one-of-a-kind, Estes Park’s oldest and rowdiest watering hole, with a strangely hypnotic wheel rotating behind the bar. Opened by Orlando Nagl and still operated by the Nagl family, this joint has a long and storied history as the town’s de facto bank, gambling den, and pretty much everything else you can imagine in its 60-plus-year history. Attracting tourists and locals alike, the Wheel is the best spot for a post-backpacking bender after going walkabout in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Open every day except Christmas since 1945, the Wheel Bar is a one-of-a-kind, Estes Park’s oldest and rowdiest watering hole, with a strangely hypnotic wheel rotating behind the bar. Opened by Orlando Nagl and still operated by the Nagl family, this joint has a long and storied history as the town’s de facto bank, gambling den, and pretty much everything else you can imagine in its 60-plus-year history. Attracting tourists and locals alike, the Wheel is the best spot for a post-backpacking bender after going walkabout in Rocky Mountain National Park.