Ole's Big Game Lodge, Paxton, Nebraskahttp://olesbiggame.com/Right off I-80 about a half hour west of North Platte, Ne. Years ago when the power plant in Sutherland was being built, we'd stop in for a beer and burger after work. It has a World Class big game display that greets you with a glass cased, 9' Polar Bear that poached out of Russia. Everything from insects to elephant are stuffed and mounted. Back in the mid 70's, the Central/Mountain Time zone went right down the middle of Main Street. At 2:00 am you could close down the bar on the east side and then stagger across the street to Ole's and drink for another hour. Not that I ever participated in that decadent ritual... Ak-hemmm, cough.... The time zone line has since been moved out of town.
Safari Club, Thermopolis, Wyominghttp://www.thermopolisdaysinn.com/index.php/diningHome of the World's Largest Mineral Hot Springs). Stinky sulphur, but really cool stalactites like at Mammoth in Yellowstone.
Same type of mounted display as Ole's only located in an otherwise blase motel next to the Hot Springs State Park. In the winter, world class mule deer on the lawn will be staring at you through the windows of the dining room while you stare back in amazement and think to yourself, "I could pop him in the ear with a .22 and have 'em caped out and in the trunk before anyone would notice..." Wrong!
Alpine Inn, Hill City, South Dakotahttp://www.alpineinnhillcity.com/Half an hour from Mount Rushmore and 10 minutes to the Crazy Horse Monument is another "don't blink or you missed it" town in the Black Hills. On the30 yards of old west boardwalk lies the nondescript Alpine Inn. I hear their German style lunch is fantastic. For supper (which is the only time I've ever stopped in) there is NO menu. You get a Fillet Mignon either large or small with a baked potato and a wedge of iceberg lettuce. Very modestly priced, yet well aged and tender. You really won't get a better tasting one anywhere. The desserts however are to
die for. Incredible hand crafted puffy and fluffy Bavarian pastries that defy description. Fairly pricy they are, but one will satiate two, possibly 3 people.
WARNING! If one should attempt to consume a single dessert per person, the following will happen: Men: in two days, your belt will have shrunk at least 2 holes. Women: Your hips and thighs will increase to the point that when back at Mount Rushmore or in Rapid City, other tourists will want to have their foto taken with you thinking you are Kathy Bates. Take my advice and go with at least 2 other couples and mix/match/share a couple of different desserts.
I hear they have a good German beer selection, but I'm no authority on that. I prefer good old watered down American Bud or MGD. Or perhaps I could choke down a Coors if I had just freed myself after having been staked to an ant bed by Hostiles...
Bonsai, Rock Springs, Wyominghttp://www.urbanspoon.com/r/324/1326822/restaurant/Wyoming/Bonsai-Rock-SpringsIf any of you Yuppies that happen out west and find yourself missing the last Starbucks, Boston Market, Cheesecake Factory, etc back in Denver and need to quell your big city urge to eat some cut bait... WELL HERE'S a deal for you!
Believe it or not, there is a decent sushi bar here in the middle of NoWhere! Not too bad and I've had worse sushi (and more expensive) on the beach in Ventura, CA.
Located about half way between Denver and Salt Lake City on I-80.
Chico Hot Springs, Pray, Montanahttp://www.chicohotsprings.com/Located half way between Livingston (on I-90) and Gardner, Montana (North Gate to Yellowstone Park) lies one of the West's Greatest lodging and culinary jewels hidden off the main road with magnificent views and other amenities. A 100 year old resort spa, it has a Huge outdoor pool naturally fed by SWEET 108°F hot water that goes into a small hot tub (15 X 50 feet) and then overflows into a large 50 X 100' swimming pool. I don't normally go into public hot tubs cuz you know what happens in them... There is constant flow of fresh hot water and the pools are completely drained and refilled EVERY night after the 10:00 PM closing. PLUS there is a bar ten or twelve feet away so you can keep your Rocky Mountain High well maintained. This is clean pure and is the same water served in the restaurant unlike all the H2S stinky springs you may have been too (like in Thermopolis). My favorite time of year there is winter, especially if it is snowing. Nothing like lying in the 100° main pool water at night staring into the inky black Montana night with snow falling on your face.
Oh yes, the restaurant review. It is Montana's only 5 star restaurant. Serving locally grown beef, with green houses and gardens onsite many of the vegetables served are organically grown and very flavorful. In the spring, wild mushrooms are also served.
Oasis Restaurant, Manhattan, Montana http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g45262-d511148-Reviews-Sir_Scott_s_Oasis-Manhattan_Montana.htmlThis is a MUST give him your business for the Veterans out there, especially if you served in Viet Nam... No, they have no war memorabilia on the walls. Just a small, simple, rustic out of the way steak house that has incredibly low prices, combine with top quality and they feed you like you've been bucking tons of hay all day. Which BTW, many of your fellow diners will have been, or at least WORK for their living on the ranches and wheat fields.
Here's the local legend.
Ted Turner and Hanoi Jane stopped in one evening for dinner. Ted owns the largest private ranch in the state near there just in case you give a rat's behind. The owner politely approached Jane and informed her she had to leave. Ted interrupted and attempted to speak and was immediately cut off. "I know who you are and I know who she is." "You can stay if you want but she is not getting served and YOU (looks at Hanoi J.) WILL leave my bar NOW!"
Disclaimer. I've not been there in a couple of years and have heard it has been sold and the new owner is not continuing it's once stellar reputation. YMMV.
Well, that's all I can come with for the moment.
Of course if any of you happen to be in my neck of the prairie (Casper or Cody Wyoming), feel free to contact me for any advice and direction to local attractions. And if I happen to be around, which is very rare, we can pound a few beers, blast a few rounds, rip some trout lips and pass a few road whore stories back and forth. I'll give you a tour of some my unique spots of God's country in this corner of the planet.
Oh yes, I also provide Geological info tours at no extra charge like I did for my Texas LadyBird friend last summer... Or attend one of my "Tactical Weapons training seminars" like I did for these two Sturgis bound misfits, complete with my private 1,000 yard target range (Hit the rock of your choice on the ridge over yonder)...
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