This Cozy Bar Hidden In The Gorgeous Redwoods Has To Be California's Most Unique
Only in northern California's Mendocino County can you take a historic train from the coast to a hidden establishment in the middle of a redwood forest: Glen Blair Bar. It's well worth adding to your travel bucket list if you're a fan of enjoying an evening of games, music, and fun in a stunning setting. Your Glen Blair Bar adventure starts by boarding the Skunk Train at the depot in Fort Bragg, which also has one of California's most unique beaches.
The train's history goes back to the 1880s, when it was used as a vital part of the area's logging industry. The Skunk Train, which is a part of the California Western Railroad, got its name in the 1920s from how smelly the trains were when they used gasoline for power and crude oil for heat. Don't worry, it's not a stinky ride anymore! The vintage train takes you along that same former logging route through stands of redwood trees along Pudding Creek, and you can sometimes spot wildlife, like egrets and turtles, from the train as you go.
The train drops you at an open-air bar
It takes about half an hour to make it the 3.5 miles from the depot to Glen Blair, and for near-360-degree views of the landscape on the journey, there's an open-air, standing-only car. It can feel chilly and breezy out in the open, even in summer, so bring layers. If you'd rather stay off your feet, there are covered cars with places to sit, but you should make sure to get there early for those. You don't have to wait until you get to the redwood grove to start eating and drinking — there's a bar on board, which sells drinks and snacks, including popcorn that you can get in a souvenir bucket. They even have their own signature beer made by Anderson Valley Brewing Company that you can only get on the train.
Glen Blair Bar will be lit up when you arrive with fire pits and twinkling lights strung along the pavilion. At the bar, they serve local wines and beers as well as cocktails. Plus, you can roast marshmallows, dance to live music, play lawn games, and take a walk along some of the area trails through the towering redwoods. Just make sure to make it back in time for the last train out at 10:30 pm.
Glen Blair Bar hosts annual events and family-friendly day trips
Before it opened to the public in October 2022, Glen Blair was an events-only space; it's still a beautiful choice for a California wedding venue, you just have to schedule it outside of the bar's opening hours. The bar is open most Friday and Saturday nights throughout the year; online reservations are recommended. The train leaves Fort Bragg three times each night starting at 6:30, and it costs $49.95.
Along with their weekend trips, the Skunk Train has special events throughout the year, like the fall Mushroom, Wine, and Whiskey Train. The $180 ticket will get you a round-trip ride to Glen Blair Bar, where the pavilion is filled with local restaurateurs serving tasty treats featuring mushrooms and area wineries and whiskey distilleries pouring their best booze. It's a fundraiser for MendoParks, which helps care for the area's state parks, so you're helping the community as you sip and savor under the redwood canopy.
While the bar evenings and special events with alcohol are reserved for adults 21+ only, if you want to go with the whole family, there are day time train trips that can take you to Glen Blair. There won't be the same bells and whistles as there are for the evening events, but you'll get a chance to get a taste of the beauty of the area.