Today we’d like to introduce you to Lianne Kelly.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The Buckskin Tavern, built in 1934 by Milt Cram, right across the border from Utah, served the area for years until the Covid-19 shutdown.
The business served the local communities as well as the boom of “Little Hollywood” that hit the Kanab area in the 1930s. In January of 2023, we bought the building, property, and the coveted liquor license. We spent 4 months cleaning up the Tavern while still keeping the old vibe that made it such a great place to hang out.
I always wanted a Tap House and wanted to create a gathering place for locals in both Fredonia and Kanab. Arizona seemed like the logical place as it allows patrons to have a drink without Utah restrictions. Although we do live in Kanab we are part of both communities and love that we bring together the local “family”. We love the stories that people tell us of the Buckskin back in the day! We wanted to return the bar to its Legendary status as a lively bar for locals, out of town patrons, great beer options, cocktails, live music and an all around destination bar experience. We provide something for everyone.
12 beer taps featuring Arizona breweries, bottled and canned domestic and import beer, sodas, seltzers, wine, limited cocktails. Besides a place to grab a drink, we also have 3 Pool tables, corn hole, Karaoke every 2nd and 4th Thursday nights, live entertainment most Saturday nights, line dancing, 5 TVs to watch your favorite sports, and food trucks on the weekends as well as our menu that we are slowly unveiling. We also offer Retail Package Liquor To Go so you can come in and get your favorite booze to take with you.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The major deferred maintenance of this old building. Originally built in the 30s the place was added onto in the 60s and it didn’t have much done to it since then.
As you know, we’re big fans of Buckskin Tavern. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are the only place within 50 miles to grab a drink. We have 5000 sq feet of fun!
Pool tables, corn hole, dancing, live music, Karaoke, Tables to hang out with friends, or 100′ of the bar (the longest bar in Arizona!) to meet new friends or just watch one of our 5 TVs for sports
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
We love the small-town atmosphere of our place. We feel like we are family here, most people are regulars but we love it when we get visitors from out of town looking for a place to hang out.
Our location across the border is great for us, we are a touch out of both towns, 2 miles from Fredonia and 3 miles from downtown Kanab and we are at the center of so many National Parks and vacation destinations, a HUB between Grand Canyon-North Rim, Lake Powell, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and The Grand Staircase Escalante- what could be better!
We are definitely an added “destination ” and well worth it! We are a fantastic touch of nostalgia with a cold beer waiting for you from a very friendly staff.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thebuckskintavern.com
- Instagram: @thebuckskintavern.com
- Facebook: buckskintavern
- Yelp: Buckskin Tavern
