A Disgraceful Experience at The Silver Eagle Saloon - WOMEN Beware!
I cannot believe I have to write this, but here it is--a warning to anyone considering stepping foot into The Silver Eagle Saloon in Ouray, Colorado. This is, without a doubt, the most unprofessional, unethical, and outright dangerous bar experience I've ever witnessed, and it's all thanks to the bartender (likely the owner based on reviews and interactions).
We had just spent a beautiful weekend in Ouray for my step-brother's wedding, where our party of 15+ had been warmly welcomed and generously tipped thousands of dollars to various establishments. We thought we'd cap off the night at the only bar open past 9:30 pm--the biggest mistake of the entire trip.
From the moment we entered, the groom was congratulated over the mic by the DJ, and patrons cheered for us. It seemed like a fun, welcoming place, but this illusion was shattered within minutes.
My sister, who suffers from POTS syndrome and had just passed out outside, simply needed a diet soda. When my mother and I approached the bar to order one, we were met with a ridiculous outburst from the bartender: "I NEED ID FOR ALL DRINKS!" My mother, confused, asked, "For a soda?" This set him off like a ticking time bomb. Without warning, he screamed at us to get out--an absurd overreaction to a simple request for clarification.
The situation escalated horribly from there. My sister, trying to diffuse things, approached with her ID in hand. That's when this man--twice her size--came out from behind the bar, physically assaulted her, grabbing her by the shoulders and throat, screaming, "I'll punch you in the f**king face, b**ch!" before shoving her against the wall.
This grown man laid hands on a woman half his size, in front of witnesses, at a bar where the newlyweds--who had just been celebrated by everyone moments before--were now drenched because this deranged bartender ripped drinks out of their hands and spilled them.
Our 87-year-old Puerto Rican grandmother, who doesn't speak much English, was terrified to tears by this madman's erratic behavior and threats. The entire wedding party was stunned and trying to guide her out while being yelled at and shoved by this unhinged person.
We called the cops, but unsurprisingly, they discouraged us from pressing charges, suggesting it would be futile in such a small town where this bar apparently "regularly has trouble." The police's apathy speaks volumes about the toxic, insulated environment cultivated here.
I cannot overstate how unacceptable this entire situation was--from physical assault, violent threats, to the clear lack of basic bartending skills. This man didn't even know basic liquor brands, condescendingly dismissing my stepsister's request for Buffalo Trace Bourbon with "That only exists on TV." As someone who's worked in the bar industry for over a decade, I've never seen anything this amateur or dangerous.
If this person is indeed the owner, it's an even bigger disgrace, as they're cultivating an environment unsafe for women and vulnerable patrons. We're exploring ADA violations because his behavior toward my sister--who has a legitimate medical condition--was discriminatory and cruel.
Ouray already has a murky reputation thanks to some true-crime infamy. It doesn't need a bar known for assaulting women and threatening violence against out-of-towners to further tarnish its name. If any other bar stayed open late, this dive would lose every bit of business. Do better, Ouray, and for the love of safety, avoid this bar at all costs. read more