Big Dick’s Buckhorn Inn: A Place Filled With Wisconsin History

There are just about as many stories as there are trees in the Northwoods, and Spooner has plenty of both. If you can break away from the scenic forest trails for a while, head to Spooner and enjoy a drink at Big Dick’s Buckhorn Inn, a place that’s seen its share of history. Legend has it that President Kennedy made a brief visit to the Buckhorn Inn during a presidential campaign tour. And well, he had to go. Ready for another round? Read on to learn more about this classic Wisconsin tavern.

Spooner, a charming city in northwestern Wisconsin's Washburn County, grew up as a railroad hub in Wisconsin’s logging era. Today it’s a tourist destination that’s popular with people who love the outdoors. Its snowmobile and ATV trails and fishing lakes draw a lot of visitors.

It’s also a place to find some Northwoods shopping and dining, and some establishments that are filled with Northwoods character. Enter the Buckhorn Inn, a place that’s located on Walnut Street, not far from the railroad museum.

The Buckhorn has been a legal tavern since 1933 - before that it was reportedly a “card room.” As the story goes, it served non-alcoholic beer during Prohibition, but if you knew the bartender, you could get the real thing.

This friendly tavern changed hands several times over the years - it’s been known as Trudell's Buckhorn, Lloyd's Buckhorn, Johnson's Buckhorn, and, since 2003, it has been called Big Dick's Buckhorn. The tavern has seen a lot of history.

During the 1960 presidential primary season, Democratic Sen. John F. Kennedy was trying to overcome Hubert H. Humphrey of Minnesota in the Midwest. That year, the Wisconsin primary was the first big showdown between the men, and the Kennedy campaign went all in on Wisconsin. Kennedy drove a lot of backroads in the Northwoods, visiting many small towns.

All that campaigning can make a guy thirsty. As the story goes, the Buckhorn was a pit shop – and Kennedy made sure that before he departed, he used the facilities. The bathroom has been renovated since those days but there’s a sign in the bar commemorating the visit.

I love Northwoods taverns. You hear a few stories up north that you have to take with a grain of salt, but really, who cares about the finer details, if you’re having a good time, the beer is cold and the cheese curds are hot? Learn more about the Buckhorn on the tavern’s Facebook page. Make all of our Wisconsin travel plans on Booking.com – and here’s where to find more interesting Wisconsin small towns.

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Big Dick's Buckhorn Inn, 105 Walnut St, Spooner, WI 54801, USA

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