WWW.TAVERNTOURS.COM TAVERN OF THE MONTH

                                                                                      Featured Tavern

Tavern Tours welcomes the  Road House Saloon as the Featured Tavern

In addition to providing monthly information on the north west Wisconsin taverns, Tavern Tours provides the personal side of the business. This time, you could say that tavern Tours went a little "nutty" and invited Pat Curley's Road House Saloon as our Featured Tavern.

Shortly after Pat started business, he started putting peanuts out on the bar. Customers are encouraged to throw the shells on the floor. One night a group at the bar and Pat casually started making up sayings to encourage the people to throw the peanuts on the floor. When you walk in, you will see the signs covering the back bar.  Sayings such as "Bust a nut @ the Road House" and "Nuts in your mouth - shells on the floor".  There are many sayings, and eventually all the nutty statements have crossed over to the bar t-shirts and tank tops.  

Pat bought the Road House in 2001. He wanted a fun job, but when we asked Pat why he bought the bar, he said that it was "temporary insanity!". When he bought the bar,  it was called the Three Little Pigs, and everything was pink. Pat replaced the bar, put in new tile and wood flooring, and wood tables.  In order to replace the bar, Pat had to take a few road trips to the local taverns. Along with donated drink chips from the customers and the drink chips that he collected, the drink chips were molded into the bar. A very entertaining bar top was created. Some of the drink chips from the local taverns are still operating, some not. Oddly enough, you will  not find a drink chip from his own bar! 

Pat is originally from the Twin Cities area. He was in the Marine Corps from 1968 to 1970. With the GI Bill, he attended the University of Texas and graduated with with a communications major. Pat stayed in the Texas area for 20 years, traveled some, and eventually came back to Wisconsin. For 15 years he played bass guitar in a band. He also installed flooring (wood, ceramic, and tile). To this day, Pat will still do an occasion flooring job. He has also picked up the bass guitar and started his own house band.

When you stop in at the Road House you will find Pat there various hours of the day or night. Wednesday is his one day off. For fun he enjoys golfing, motorcycling, and music. When Pat isn't tending bar, he has two other bartenders to help him out. Heather and Jessica alternate their hours to fit their personal schedules. Pat, Jessica, and Heather also get away to have some fun outside of the bar. Pat took them to New Orleans for a week. They also have a bowling party in the winter, and a golf tournament in the summer. The golf and bowling started out with a small group, but has since grown into a Road House party! In addition to the golf and bowling, the Road House has Monday and Tuesday night pool league and a Horseshoe team. The Monday night pool league has won first place for 4 years.  

The Road House has a large dance hall with live music every other weekend. Pat also likes to help out and donates the hall for benefits. In fact, the day that we interviewed Pat, he was cleaning up after a very successful benefit for a local family. The prizes donated were great! An autographed hat from Jack Nicholas, one from Larry the Cable Guy, and a John Deere bicycle. Pat had also called the local churches to see if the women's groups would supply baked goods. He was proud of the pecan pie he won!

Stop at the Road House Saloon to enjoy a cold beverage!  You will be entertained the whole time.  Look out if you stick around too long. Pat will start telling jokes! The peanut signs and drink chips in the bar are just the start of the good time. Don't forget to throw the shells on the floor!