Awesome. Â Its a small bar with amazing taxidermy. Â My fave was the scene of a raccoon's(?) moonshine racket being busted up. Â Fantastic place, really funky fun mix of townie and tourist. Â I only had time for a beer, but would have loved to have been able to stay longer. Â Exceptional.
Review Source:Big J's review says it all, and better than I ever could. Â Please be assured that everything he wrote back in August 2007 is still accurate as of two days ago. Â I would say that no visit to Hayward can be considered complete until you have consumed at least one alcoholic beverage at this bar.
Review Source:I seem to have a special talent when it comes to finding Dive Bars. I'm like a human divining rod that will seek out cheap drinks, dirty glasses, bad carpet, out-of-date jukeboxes, and overall ill-repute.
I was called a "Dive Bar Savant" once, and I kind of take pride in that. *Puffs out chest*
The Moccasin Bar is no exception to my finely honed ability. This bar sits in "Downtown" Hayward, WI.....the self-proclaimed "Muskie Capital of the World" and home of the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame.
This place is so far North in the "Middle of Nowhere", Wisconsin, that I think people speak Canadian there.
Once you get past all of the "Fisherman Parking Only", Â "Gun Rack Parking Only", and "Biggest, Rustiest, Loudest, Ugliest Truck in Town Parking Only" spots, you should have no problem finding a space to park your "He's DEFINITLY not from these parts" vehicle.
It must have been an extremely busy Sunday here in "Where the Fuck Am I?", Wisconsin, because I had to park ALL THE WAY across town. So I got my bearings, found a landmark to guide me back, and walked two blocks back to the bar.
I need to let you know that I was a litlle disgruntled, and I was not expecting to have a good time. The only reason I was going to this place was the fact that the only Strip Bar in town was closed on Sundays. What a wonderful surprise when I entered what I can only describe as "Disneyland for Rednecks".
It is not only a bar, but a Wildlife and Taxidermy Museum!
For those of you who have been to Hayward, WI..... *crickets*..... then you already know. For those of you who haven't, let me repeat it for you.
It is not only a bar, but a Wildlife and Taxidermy Museum!
Awful red patterned carpet that matches the barstools and chairs, dark paneling, popcorn ceilings, and Hamms & Schlitz lights complete the ambience. Open since 1900, it looks like they stopped changing it's appearance (and a lot of it's clientele) somwhere around 1973.
There are fish mounted everywhere (including the World Record Muskie), there are various birds and animals everywhere, but best of all.....there are glass cases lining every wall that have small animals (chipmunks, squirrels, etc.) posed and dressed in dioramas depicting "everyday" life. Chipmunks playing dice while a cop hides behind a bush to bust them, chipmunks shooting pool and drinking beer, chipmunks fishing, doing laundry, and playing banjos.....just to name a few. They line the walls. They are everywhere.
IT'S THE CRAZIEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN. And I like to think that I know crazy.
The folks here are quick to fill you in on whatever it is you may want to know. Apparently some guy named "Red" was the local taxidermist and did the dioramas for fun on the side. I now know more about taxidermy and fish than I ever wanted. I could go on forever about this place, but i think you get the general idea.
Here's the breakdown:
1 star for Dive-Bar status.....and every stereotype you could imagine in one.
1 star for the "Museum".....It made me forget about the Strip Bar being closed.
1 star for the locals.....even though I was "different", they welcomed me.
1 star for concept.....I Â learned something before I blacked out.
1 star for "Red".....R.I.P. my friend. I came, I saw, and I will never be the same.
WARNING: THIS LINK MAY CONTAIN GRAPHIC IMAGES (of the locals) AND OVERALL OFFENSIVE MATERIALS (if you don't like stuffed animals)!
<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roadsideamerica.com%2Fattract%2FWIHAYmoccasin.html&s=99efe501994b1a5e78ac4fc90be5d6c8cdfa08a31a4e00e48c45d335125f1ef9" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.roadsideameri…</a>
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