Page 93 - San Luis Obispo Visitors Guide - Summer 2025

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Paso Robles
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( (805 805) ) 591-7157 591-7157
Meet ghosts, horses, and maybe your favorite
celebrity at Paso Robles’ quirkiest watering hole
Before “Beer for My Horses”
hit the country music charts,
the Pine Street Saloon was already
serving horses and their riders. The
Pioneer Day parade, held annually in
October, unofficially ends at the Pine
Street Saloon, where, for the past 40-
some years, horses are ridden right
up to the bar. Saloon owner Ron
French said, “People get a real kick
out of it, and how often do you get to
have a beer with a horse?”
Sharing a beer with a horse isn’t
the only thing that sets this bar apart.
You might find yourself bending an
elbow with a ghost. Regulars talk
about noises and things moving. “I
don’t believe in ghosts,” said French.
“It’s an old, creaky, wooden building.”
Nevertheless, he set up night-vision
cameras and has video footage of
glowing “supercharged dust particles”
zipping through glass and around
the room, and lamps and a vacuum
cleaner moving across the floor. A
few years ago, the rumors of haunt-
ings earned the Pine Street Saloon
an episode on the Travel Channel’s
hit show, The Dead Files. The Travel
Channel returned to film a new epi-
sode for Ghost Adventures that was
released around the end of 2021.
The saloon has been in the family
since it was purchased by French’s
mother, Pat, in 1971. Built around
1857, the saloon had a reputation as
a bordello and visits by Jesse James.
Drury James, one of Paso Robles’
founders, was Frank and Jesse’s uncle.
The Pine Street Saloon has been
voted the “Best North County Bar” in
the New Times 'Best of SLO County.”
No-nonsense drinks, live
music, entertainment, and
safe rides home
“We have daily drink specials and
serve lots of beer, Jack and Coke,” said
French. “We can make foo-foo drinks,
but they’re not very popular here.”
Pine Street Saloon is located at
1234 Pine Street, Paso Robles. For
more information, call (805) 238-
1114 or visit PineStreetSaloon.com.
A legend walks on
The team at San Luis Obispo
Visitors Guide and Access Publish-
ing is saddened by Ron French's
passing in mid-May. Our deep-
est condolences to his family and
friends. Ron was much more than
the owner of the Pine Street Sa-
loon—he was a true legend.
Ron’s commitment to the com-
munity went beyond good times. He
took pride in preserving the saloon’s
unique character, celebrating its sto-
ried history, and making everyone
feel welcome. He made Pine Street
Saloon a living piece of Paso Robles
history and a gathering place for
generations. You are missed Ron.
The saloon is cash-only, but
there’s an ATM. The décor is rustic.
There are pool tables, and the
jukebox plays two kinds of music:
country and western. A food trailer
serves on Thursday, Friday, and
Saturday nights.
Karaoke, Open Mic, and live
music guarantee a good time.
“About 10 local bands play here on a
rotating schedule. Once in a while,
we mix in out-of-town acts, and
sometimes we are just surprised!”
said French. “Pink has dropped in
to sing Karaoke. Merle Haggard was
a regular, even recorded a com-
mercial for us a few months before
he died. I haven’t aired it out of
respect.”
The saloon has attracted Paula
Nelson (Willie’s daughter), Kacey
Musgraves, Kenny Lee Lewis, Travis
Howard, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott,
Louie Ortega, actors Gary Busey
and Robert Carradine, Jason Lee,
and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Live music, karaoke, open mic,
or other entertainment starts at 9
p.m. on various nights throughout
the week. Call (805) 238-1114 for
more information.
The saloon’s limo offers free safe
rides on Friday and Saturday nights
anywhere in the city limits. Tips for
the driver, please! “If you don’t have
a designated driver and can’t afford
The Pine Street
Saloon is rooted in
Paso Robles' history
a cab, we want to make sure you get
safely home,” said French.
Ron French surveys his kingdom.