Entry No. 32 — the Durango file — filed under: saloon
Lone Cone Saloon
The Lone Cone Saloon occupies a building that has stood on Norwood's Grand Avenue since 1889, but the real draw is the bar itself: a hand-built Brunswick back bar originally commissioned for Rico, Colorado's Enterprise Saloon, fabricated in St. Louis, hauled by railroad to Montrose and then by horse team over the mountains to Rico, relocated to the Grand Imperial Hotel in Silverton in 1926, and finally installed here in 1940 — where it has stayed ever since. Norwood is cattle country at 7,000 feet on Wright's Mesa, and the saloon feels exactly like that: pool table, darts, foosball, and a kitchen that punches well above its weight with handcrafted burgers and enormous onion rings. Out the south-facing windows, you can see the 12,700-foot Lone Cone peak the place is named for.
The story
You are sitting in front of a piece of woodworking that has survived more brutal high-altitude transit than most modern four-wheel-drive vehicles. The dark, hand-built Brunswick back bar inside the Lone Cone Saloon was originally custom-fabricated in St. Louis for the Enterprise Saloon in Rico, Colorado. To get there, it was shipped by rail to Montrose, then dragged by a team of horses over raw mountain passes. In 1926, it was uprooted to Silverton’s Grand Imperial Hotel, and by 1940, it landed right here on Norwood’s Grand Avenue. It hasn't moved an inch since.
Norwood isn't a ski-resort suburb; it sits at 7,000 feet on Wright's Mesa in working cattle territory. The saloon building has anchored this corner since 1889, long before asphalt reached this corner of San Miguel County. Step up to the south-facing windows and you get an unfiltered view across the mesa to the solitary 12,700-foot volcanic tooth of Lone Cone peak that gives the joint its name.
Inside, the room ignores modern polish in favor of pool tables, darts, foosball, and heavy timber. The kitchen churns out handcrafted burgers and massive onion rings using local sourcing that shifts with the seasons. It’s the kind of high-desert outpost where ranch hands, touring musicians, and off-grid locals sit side by side along a bar built three moves and two mountain ranges ago.
What it's like
Arrive mid-afternoon when the sun stretches long across Wright’s Mesa and the bar is still quiet enough to claim a central stool. Order a burger off the chalk board, grab a beer, and settle in for a slow game of pool before the evening crowd trickles in. Bring paper cash—connectivity on the mesa can be temperamental and small-town spots appreciate cash. If you've got a dog, clear out to the back patio.
The move: Make the drive up from Durango via Telluride, arrive in Norwood mid-afternoon when the bar is quiet and the light is long, grab two seats at the historic Brunswick bar and order whatever is on the specials board — then stay for a slow game of pool before the two-hour drive home.
📍 Before you go Norwood is about 106 miles and nearly three hours from Durango — plan for a half-day minimum. The saloon is open daily from 11am and closes late, but hours have shifted under different owners, so call ahead or check the Facebook page before committing: (970) 508-7825. The menu rotates seasonally and locally-sourced ingredients mean some items disappear. Cash is wise in a town this small. Dogs are welcome on the outdoor patio. Telluride is only 25 miles east on CO-145, making a natural loop out of the day.
- 📍 Norwood
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1580 Grand Ave, Norwood, CO 81423
Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Dunton Hot Springs — Pair Norwood's horse-hauled back bar with another historic wooden relic—Dunton's 1885 saloon bar down the road still carries Butch Cassidy's carved signature.
- Wood Ear Whiskey Lounge & Noodle Bar — Compare Lone Cone's rural timber with an 1880s extinct white tiger pine bar locked in a Telluride basement.
- The Tunnel Supper Club — Trade Norwood's dusty cattle-country stool for high-concept secret dining down a Telluride trapdoor 25 miles east.
- Ames Hydroelectric Generating Station — Break up the drive between Durango and Norwood by pulling off to see the historic 1891 AC powerhouse in San Miguel Canyon.
Good to know
How far is the Lone Cone Saloon from Durango?
It's roughly 106 miles northwest of Durango—plan for a solid three-hour drive each way via CO-145 through Telluride.
What is the history of the bar itself?
The Brunswick back bar was crafted in St. Louis, hauled by train to Montrose, and pulled by horse team to Rico. It moved to Silverton in 1926 and was permanently installed in Norwood in 1940.
What kind of food do they serve?
The kitchen serves a rotating menu focused on handcrafted burgers, giant fried onion rings, and seasonal specials using local ingredients.
Are dogs allowed?
Dogs aren't permitted inside the historic barroom, but they are welcome on the outdoor patio.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Yelp · norwoodcolorado.com · Tripadvisor · Official site · telluridenews.com
last checked: 2026-06-11