The claim
A Gold Rush-era granite building on Groveland's main street, on the road to Yosemite, that began as a store around 1852 and became a saloon in 1896. Heavy iron doors hauled in by mule gave it its name in 1937. Dollar bills paper the ceiling above the old bar, and weekends bring live bands and karaoke.
What the records show
The granite building is dated to about 1852, when it was the Granite Store, but the saloon's own marker and pages say it became a drinking house, Jake's Place, in 1896 under Giacomo DeFarrari, and the name Iron Door dates from 1937. So the claim to be California's oldest saloon rests on the building rather than on the trade. The house advertises itself as serving since 1852. Lunch runs from eleven and dinner to eight or nine, and its own pages say the saloon stays open after the kitchen closes.
| Year | What | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1852 | Claimed founding | The pub |
| c.1852 | Present building | Building fabric |
| 1896 | First record of a drinking house here | Internet Archive |
What to look for inside
- Claims to be California's oldest saloon
- Iron doors hauled in by mule
- About 25 miles from Yosemite's entrance
Visiting
The Iron Door Saloon is in Groveland, United States, at 18761 Main Street (State Hwy 120), Groveland, CA 95321. We do not list opening times, because they change; the pub’s own site is the place to check before you set out.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Door_Saloon
- www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=53273
- www.irondoorsaloon.com/
- www.kqed.org/news/11069400/150-years-of-slinging-drinks-a-visit-to-the-iron-door-saloon
- archive.org/details/historyoftuolumn00lang
Know something we don’t?Suggest a correctionLast checked Sept 2026
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