Pump House

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  [This place is RRREALLY TRASHY in the BEST OF WAYS]
  
  The Pump House has been open for over 30 years. Back in the 70's, when my dad was about 15 or so ~ he worked at the radiator shop next door and on his breaks he'd walk on in to the pump house for a cold beer =)
  
  Everytime I've been - its always a full house, a few expensive motorcycles out front, and good music playing. I would much rather hang out at a joint like this than some hip hop club or some restaurant bar where the people look down on you for whatever reason.
  
  The good thing about this place is that everyone is welcome. Whether you are a loudmouth or a quiet person looking to socialize...there will be a spot for you here. The drinks are very reasonable, they have tons of nostalic handwriting, business cards, carvings, photos, and the works scattered everywhere from way back in the day. You can go dressed up, or casual from a long day of work. You will not be judged here =) Ive been here about 20 times in my life, and each time was just so much fun.
  
  I totally agree with the other review that this would be a good comparable to - "if walmart had a tavern" - They do have 2 pool tables but they're always being used by the rough/hardcore regulars, lol =)
  
  My cousin and her husband were regulars at this bar for a few years...so when I was single and had no friends because I was new in town...I'd meet up with them at the pump house and we'd sing karaoke and get wasted ;D
  
  Good fun memories! I also smoked back then (Im reviewing off of events from 6 years ago) but as a non smoker (now) - I dont know how harsh the smoke is/smells...but ummmm yehhhh it was pretty smoky back then! hah =) So if you're uppidy in any way...dont come here!!

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  Posted on 02.02.13 Sandra B.

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  This place is one of the most unique dive bars I've ever been to.  Probably because smoking inside has been illegal most of my life and they let you do it here.  I also don't frequent a lot of places with dirt floors that look like a murder shack from the outside.  But all of that just adds to the Pump House's charm.  Me and my boyfriend came here because neither of us know the area well and when we looked up bars on the GPS this is what came up.  Well,  this and a bunch a places that didn't sound like half as much fun.  When we first pulled up it looked super shady.  But as soon as I saw a mini van in the parking lot I let out a sigh of relief.  If people that drive mini vans go there it can't be that bad, right??  Cheap drinks, very friendly locals, and X rated vending machines in the bathroom.  Love it!!!  I don't come here as often as I'd like to because I'm not a fan of cigarette smoke or the smell of it on my clothes but if I was a smoker I'd be here all the time.

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  Posted on 04.09.12 Elizabeth F.

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  This bar, in my opinion, is THE place to go while you're in Visalia.  I've been a few times, now, and I am never disappointed by my experience.
  
  Please note:  they still smoke 'em in here.  Yeah, yeah I know:  it's illegal and has been for about a dozen years now in California, so if you don't like it, don't go in.  I personally hate cigarette smoke, but I try to brave it our for a few cheap drinks nonetheless.
  
  As I mentioned just above, the drinks are cheap!  Also, there is some pretty crazy regulars that patronize this place -- sit back and watch the show.  Have you ever wondered what a Walmart tavern would look like?  Now you know!

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  Posted on 06.06.11 Doug S.

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  Smokers welcome! No one who would go to the pump house in the first place would ever be the kind of person to report them for allowing smoking indoors. There are all these shelves with, well, like antique, crap really. and on all this crap is literally a ton of dust. They really need to dust all that crap or get rid of it. Look they are just not that busy that they can't just dust all that crap with 20 years worth of dust on it. The people there are drunk and silly and always enjoyin themselves from what I have seen. The DJ sux. The women are easy.

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  Posted on 10.05.10 Gabriel M.

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  I disagree the beer is not cheap. This place is more like a wanna be western bar (kinda like in the movie roadhouse but without the balcony and the inside is smaller). The selected songs that was playing was not good either. They were playing out of date songs from the 80's and 90's.Not once while I was at this place (and we stay for awhile) did I hear a song that was more recent.  Plus it was really smokey from the people smoking so bad.

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  Posted on 07.14.10 Cheryl B.

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  A real honky-tonk on the outskirts of Downtown Visalia.  Cheap beer, great Country Music, people dancing, having fun and hanging out.  The place looks like a barn and you can tell they've been having a blast in here every night for years.  I loved every minute of it.

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  Posted on 03.05.08 Cory G.

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