Deadwood, South Dakota just got a whole lot more country thanks to Ian Munsick. Not only did the Wyoming native recently release his fourth studio album, The Mountain Goat, and wrap up his Western Road to The Mountain Goat Tour, he also just opened his brand-new country bar, Cowboy Bar & Western Grill, located inside The Landmark Hotel & Casino.
Fans showed up BIG for the grand opening, lining up over a two block stretch to check out the new space and take part in the weekend’s celebration, complete with sponsor activations from Schaefer Outfitter, Crown Royal and Coors, along with Drew Kirby from Townsquare delivering a live radio broadcast.
Several guest appearances took place Friday as Munsick’s friends and family took over the outdoor stage, including Philip Bowen, Ross Cooper, Ashland Craft, Kylie Frey, Jenna LaMaster, The Munsick Boys, Tyler Nance, Faren Rachels, Kellen Smith and Kasey Tyndall. The producers of The Mountain Goat album, Jeremy Spillman and Mike Robinson, also joined the stage for a special set, which included a surprise appearance from Ian Munsick.
“These guys have spent thousands of hours working on my music, and it’s an honor to have them as well as all of the other singer/songwriters that flew in from all over the country to be here.” Munsick shared. “Thank you guys for being here, and welcome to Ian Munsick’s Cowboy Bar & Western Grill!”
Ian also took a moment to address the fans, recognizing the lengths many of them went to just to be there. “Most importantly, thank you guys for being here. I know a lot of you drove hours and hours, or had to hop on airplanes, to be here. So thank you.”
Ian Munsick’s Cowboy Bar & Western Grill was a dream in the making for both him and his wife, Caroline. After years of hard work, that dream became a reality, and Ian proudly gave his wife plenty of credit for making it happen.
“She was here from the very beginning. And the Keatings too: Arden, Alec, Gerard. They really allowed us to come in here and just do our thing.” Ian said. “They have been a huge help, but Caroline… She told me the first time that we played the Red Dirt Fest at the Deadwood Mountain Grand five years ago, ‘We’re going to have our own bar here someday.’ And sure as shit, five years later here we are. Being able to watch my wife accomplish such an amazing feat in not a lot of time is pretty incredible.”
The more than 2,600-square-foot space inside The Landmark Hotel & Casino is filled with personal touches, including displays of Caroline and Ian’s first ACM Awards red carpet outfits designed by Manuel Cuevas, Western-inspired murals by Oglala Lakota and Mohawk Western artist Isaiah Stewart, and Munsick’s first Gold Record for “Long Live Cowgirls” with Cody Johnson.
While it is a bar with plenty of cold drinks and specialty cocktails, including Ian’s Filthy Martini and the Medicine Man, the “Grill” portion adds another layer of Munsick’s personal touch. Recruiting Chef Aaron Richards to curate the menu delivers an array of good eats that appeal to both kids and adults. From the Wild Bill Sampler to Ian’s Smash Burger, there is plenty to dig into and something for everyone to enjoy.
Cowboy Bar & Western Grill also features two performance stages, one indoors and another outside, so there’s be plenty of live music available in Ian Munsick’s new place!
It goes without saying, Ian Munsick’s Cowboy Bar & Western Grill is a pretty solid reason to make a stop in Deadwood, South Dakota! To stay in the know on everything happening at Cowboy Bar & Western Grill, follow @IanMunsickCowboyBar on Instagram.