Entry No. 3 — the Detroit file — filed under: haunted
Two-Way Inn
Established in 1876, Detroit's oldest continuously operating bar has served as a brothel, jail, dentist's office, and speakeasy, and is famously haunted by its founder, Union spy Colonel Philetus Norris.
The story
Set along Mt. Elliott Street in Northeast Detroit, 17897 Mt. Elliott St doesn't look like a high-profile historical landmark, and that's entirely the point. Established in 1876—though some local records push the date back to 1873—this place holds the title as Detroit's oldest continuously operating saloon. It was founded by Colonel Philetus Norris, a Civil War Union spy whose checkered resume set the tone for the building's future. Over the past century and a half, the address has done stints as a stagecoach stop, a brothel, a makeshift jail, a dentist's office, and a blind pig during Prohibition.
The name itself hints at its shady past: the double-entry setup allowed patron-friendly escapes during federal raids, while a trap door kept the illicit liquor moving. These days, you're sitting beneath vintage taxidermy and drinking on top of Civil War-era floorboards, but the former owner hasn't entirely vacated the premises. Regulars still keep an eye out for 'The Cowboy'—Norris's ghost—wandering his old quarters, alongside a mysterious 'Lady in White' who allegedly frequents the pool room.
What it's like
Stepping inside feels like slipping into a forgotten corner of 19th-century Detroit, stripped clean of any polished tourism gimmicks. It's an unpretentious dive bar where you can order a cheap pint of Stroh's or a cold Polish beer, grab a cue stick by the pool table, and listen to the floorboards creak. Operating hours can be notoriously fickle, so confirm they're open before making the trip out to Northeast Detroit.
The move: Grab a cheap pint of Stroh's next to the vintage taxidermy and keep an eye out for 'The Cowboy' (Colonel Norris's ghost) or the mysterious 'Lady in White' near the pool room.
- 📍 Northeast Detroit
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 17897 Mt. Elliott St, Detroit, MI 48212
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Hamtramck Disneyland — Follow up a pint at Detroit's oldest saloon with a quick 1.6-mile drive to see a massive folk-art collage built atop two Hamtramck garages.
- The Black Salt — Trade 19th-century ghost stories for modern witchcraft cocktails just down the road in Hamtramck.
- Beth Olem Cemetery — Keep the 1800s secret-history tour going by visiting an 1860s Jewish cemetery entirely swallowed by a active General Motors plant.
Good to know
Is the Two-Way Inn really Detroit's oldest bar?
Yes, it holds the title of Detroit's oldest continuously operating bar, tracing its origin back to 1876 (with some historical accounts claiming 1873).
Who was Colonel Philetus Norris?
He was the bar's founder and a former Union spy during the Civil War. His specter, nicknamed 'The Cowboy,' is said to still haunt the building.
What else did the building used to be?
Before settling in as a neighborhood dive, the structure served as a stagecoach stop, brothel, village jail cell, dentist's office, and underground Prohibition speakeasy.
What should I drink while I'm there?
Stick to traditional dive staples: order a cheap draft of Stroh's or check their selection of Polish beers.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: 2wayinn.com · lookupdetroit.com · scoundrelsfieldguide.com · historicdetroit.org · prohibitiondetroit.com
last checked: 2026-07-21