Entry No. 39 — the Grand Junction file — filed under: dark-history
Packer Saloon & Cannibal Grill
In 1874, Alferd Packer led five prospectors into the San Juan Mountains during a brutal Colorado winter and emerged alone — and well-fed. He was tried and convicted at the Hinsdale County Courthouse a short walk from where you're now sitting. The Packer Saloon leans all the way into that legacy: tagline "Alferd Killed 'Em, We Grilled 'Em," a menu featuring the Cannibal Salad and the Lake Fork Philly, and a porch overlooking the same Silver Street where Packer was once sentenced to hang. Lake City itself is the seat of Hinsdale County — the most remote county in the lower 48, with a population under 800 — which gives the whole enterprise a genuinely frontier-weird atmosphere that no manufactured theme bar could replicate.
The story
In the winter of 1874, Alferd Packer guided five prospectors into the San Juan Mountains and was the only one to walk back out in the spring—heavy, well-fed, and wearing his companions' trousers. When local authorities pressed him on how he survived months trapped in deep snow above 9,000 feet, his story unravelled into confessions of murder and cannibalism. He was tried at the Hinsdale County Courthouse, sentenced to hang, and earned an indelible spot in American gallows lore.
Lake City sits tucked inside Hinsdale County—statistically the most remote county in the lower 48 states, with fewer than 800 year-round residents and zero stoplights. Rather than burying its darkest chapter, the town built a saloon around it. The Packer Saloon & Cannibal Grill doesn't wink at the story; it leans in with a sledgehammer, sporting the official slogan "Alferd Killed 'Em, We Grilled 'Em" across its chalkboard menus and pint glasses.
You'll find the place right on Silver Street, just two blocks down from the courthouse where Packer sat trial. The interior carries the creaky, pine-scented patina of a real mountain dive—decked in vintage saws, taxidermy, dark beer signs, and ghoulish memorabilia. Out back, a dog-friendly porch overlooks the dusty streetscape where the judge famously delivered Packer's death sentence.
What it's like
Expect a bustling, relaxed local watering hole that fills up fast during peak summer, especially with OHV trail riders and continental divide hikers pulling off CO-149. You grab a wooden stool or sit outside, order off a menu offering the Cannibal Salad, Lake Fork Philly, and hot San Juan Wings, and wash it down with a cold Colorado draft. Because Lake City shuts down hard once winter sets in, high season brings a steady line, but service moves briskly; call ahead if you're traveling through in shoulder seasons like October or May, as operating hours collapse down to four days a week.
The move: Order the Cannibal Salad and a round of San Juan Wings on the dog-friendly patio, then walk two blocks to the Alferd Packer Massacre Site marker. Pair it with a drive down the Lake Fork of the Gunnison on the way back — the canyon is legitimate.
📍 Before you go Hours vary sharply by season: summer (roughly Memorial Day to Labor Day) runs Thursday–Tuesday 11am–9pm; winter hours shrink to Friday–Monday 11am–8pm with Tue–Thu closed. Lake City sits at 8,671 ft and the sole access road (US-50 west of Gunnison or CO-149 from South Fork) can be icy or closed in shoulder seasons. No reservation system — first come, first served. The massacre site marker is free and open year-round but the interpretive kiosk is unstaffed. Call ahead in spring or fall to confirm they're open: (970) 944-4144.
- 📍 Lake City
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 310 N Silver St, Lake City, CO 81235
Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Gunnison Pioneer Museum — Double down on high-country history by pairing Lake City's cannibal saloon with Gunnison's sprawling seven-acre museum complex, located roughly an hour north up CO-149 and US-50.
- Waunita Hot Springs Ranch — After a macabre lunch in remote Hinsdale County, drive back down the canyon toward Gunnison to soak away the high-altitude chill in natural geothermal waters.
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park - Night Sky Programs & AstroFest — Extend your detour through Gunnison County into the night by pairing the remote San Juan wilderness vibe with stargazing over the abyss at the nearby Black Canyon.
Good to know
Where was Alferd Packer actually tried and where is the massacre site?
He was tried in 1883 at the Hinsdale County Courthouse, located two blocks south on Silver Street. The actual massacre site lies about two miles south of town along CO-149 near the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, marked by a historic stone monument.
Do I need reservations to get a table?
No, seating is strictly first-come, first-served both inside the bar and out on the covered patio.
Are dogs allowed at the saloon?
Yes, dogs are welcome on the outdoor patio area.
How hard is Lake City to reach in the winter?
Lake City sits at 8,671 feet elevation on CO-149 (the Silver Thread Scenic Byway). Winter access from US-50 north or South Fork south can involve severe ice and mountain passes, so check CDOT road conditions before driving.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Tripadvisor · Wikipedia · hinsdalecounty.colorado.gov · coloradoencyclopedia.org
last checked: 2026-06-11