7/23/2023 0 Comments Miches sip n dipSure, the fishbowls might double as bear tranquilizers - "I don’t know anyone who’s survived two of them," warns Mayor Kelly - but people are here to hang out over drinks, maybe eat some prime rib, and, of course, see the mermaid show. These all seem like elements of a rowdy roadhouse, but the Sip is surprisingly laid back. When they entered the bar for a cool-down drink, they received a standing ovation. And then there's the tale of the newlyweds who decided to consummate their union in the pool, unaware that the whole bar could see through the window. Mermaid Corbin's husband, a former merman, proposed to her underwater before he went back into active duty military service. The tank is also home to stories both heartwarming and salacious. "I put on the mermaid outfit and the little bow tie that Sandi gives people and I went in," Mayor Kelly told me. And during a local fundraiser about three years ago, Great Falls Mayor Bob Kelly became a merman. Legend has it, Splash star Daryl Hannah once donned a tail and hit the water while in town filming Northfork in 2002. You might even see a familiar face in the tank. That really ups the surreality factor when you enter the Sip ‘n Dip. Known as "Electric City" due to its stout collection of dams and power plants, this is a hard-working ranching and hunting community located next to an Air Force base specializing in ballistic missile maintenance. I know what you’re thinking, but Great Falls isn't some hipsterfied town where kitsch blends into the nightscape. On almost any given night after 9 o’clock, mermaids swim and perform behind the bar, often accompanied by the vocal stylings of octogenarian lounge singer "Piano" Pat Sponheim. This colorful tiki haunt is where Big Sky Country meets Polynesian basement vibes. The landlocked state is the last place you'd expect to see mermaids… but that’s exactly what you’ll find when you stop by the legendary Sip 'n Dip Lounge in Great Falls.īuilt in 1962 as part of the retro O’Haire Motor Inn, the Sip ‘n Dip just might be the best bar in America you’ve never heard of. From June to September, soak up the sunshine on our outdoor patio, complete with a full-bar.Montana brings a lot of things to mind: dusty cowboys, grizzly bears, and outdoor adventure. Join us for live piano bar entertainment with Piano-Pat Spoonheim, Wednesdays through Saturdays from 9:30 p.m. Or, if you’re in the mood, try your luck at our gaming machines. You never know who might turn up! Even the original mermaid herself - Darryl Hannah’s been seen in there!Įnjoy your favorite beverage and good conversation with friends. Watch swimmers under water while you sip your beverage. The most unique feature of this lounge is the glass wall between the bar and the swimming pool. Of all the nightspots on the planet, the good folks at GQ Magazine (April 2003) selected the Sip-N-Dip Lounge as the #1 bar on earth!Ī long-time favorite of local residents, the Sip-N-Dip is now receiving international acclaim. The legendary Sip-N-Dip Tiki Lounge… Named the #1 bar on earth by GQ Magazine! A little more information about them, from their website: Their link to like them on Facebook is here. The O'Haire Motor Inn and the Sip 'n Dip in the 1960's I’m glad to see they are still making Great Falls great! Hanging out at the swankiest places and thinking how cool it was they had the bar with the mermaids. It was wonderful to see it still open and thriving! The Sip ‘n Dip had been named the #1 Bar in the World by GQ Magazine back in 2003….wow! I remember when I was a kid, I would walk from downtown to my aunt’s place, about three blocks on the other side of the O’Haire, and seeing air crews from the airport come to check in. They had a great tile graphic on the 1st Avenue South side of the building I loved…so retro. As it had crossed my mind again this morning when I replied to another comment, I had a link for the Sip ‘n Dip come across my Facebook page! Yay! After I graduated from high school, I lived two blocks away from the Sip ‘n Dip and the O’Haire Motor Inn. I was going to look up and see if it was still open…it was the last time I was home, but it has been almost five years since I have been back (much, much too long). Someone had recently asked in the comments about the Sip ‘n Dip, the bar downtown that had the mermaids behind the bar.
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