Rebuilding a Community Landmark
Bringing Gardiner's beloved Two Bit Saloon back to life
The Story
Five years after a devastating fire swept through downtown Gardiner, the historic Two Bit Saloon is rising from the ashes. Local business owner Stacey Joy, proprietor of the Wonderland Cafe, chose Yellowstone Architects to help bring this beloved community gathering place back to life.
The new Two Bit Saloon will honor Gardiner's rich heritage while serving the community's evolving needs. Beyond restoring the popular pool hall, casino, bar, and fish tacos that locals remember, the design includes an innovative indoor/outdoor space specifically engineered for live music.
The new building pays tribute to the cherished Two Bit that locals remember, featuring a similar architectural front and thoughtfully incorporating river rocks from the original structure. The design includes a patio to welcome the community.
Built Like a Musical Instrument
In architecture, there is a moment when we stumble upon perfect alignment between human-needs, use cases and inspired design. This project is a coming together of that alignment. The entire building has been engineered to deliver exceptional sound quality for live performances. Through extensive acoustic research and careful structural design, the building itself will function like a musical instrument.
This technical innovation ensures that Gardiner residents can enjoy live music while neighboring properties remain undisturbed - a thoughtful balance between community entertainment and residential peace.
Honoring History
Gardiner has always been a town of resilient communities and gathering places. Since the 1880s, local saloons served as the heart of this gateway community to Yellowstone National Park. The original Two Bit Saloon carried on this tradition until the 2020 fire changed everything.
Today's reconstruction honors both the Two Bit Saloon and the Blue Goose Saloon, also lost in the fire. The new design even recreates the iconic Blue Goose sign, ensuring these local landmarks live on.
Learn more about Gardiner's fascinating saloon history →
Project Progress
The Two Bit Saloon is scheduled to open Fall 2025, marking a new chapter in Gardiner's story of resilience and renewal.
This project represents true community collaboration - from Stacey Joy's vision to preserve what locals loved most, to careful design that respects existing food truck operators and neighboring residents.
