Casper Bars, Casper Clubs, Casper Nightclubs, Casper Nightlife
Partying in Casper – The basics
– The people in Casper are generally friendly but they are not altogether outgoing. They tend to leave you alone, but if you strike up a conversation, they won’t, for the most part, ignore you or be rude. But there can be a few knuckleheads out there. Racist and homophobic talk is not uncommon among the locals, so if this sort of thing offends you, stay away from the dives.
– Casper is a cheap place to drink. Beer normally costs half of what it does in Denver and a third as much as it does in places like Los Angeles. You may be able to find Bud bottles for around $1.50 and draughts at some joints are even cheaper.
– Most bars in Casper do take credit cards, but not all of them do, so it is wise to ask before you plan on paying with plastic.
– Bars can stay open until 2 a.m. every night but Sunday, when they close at 10 p.m. However, some bars do tend to close earlier on weeknights if things are dead. Others sometimes even close before 2 a.m. on the weekends.
– If you want to party on Sunday, then head out to Evansville where the joints stay open until 2 a.m. But watch out for the cops out there in Evansville (more on that later).
– Most bars will sell you package beer, whiskey and, in theory, wine until 2 a.m. so if you want to keep on keeping on past last call, Casper is one place you can do it.
– You cannot buy beer or any alcohol in any convenience store of supermarket in Wyoming. You must buy your booze at liquor stores or at bars. Fortunately, there are plenty of both.
– You can smoke in just about every bar in Casper.
Now that that is out of the way, here are the places where you should go.
Sidelines
Address – 1121 Wilkins Circle
Phone – 307-234-9444
Directions – From Interstate 25 take the Poplar Street exit. Take a right onto Poplar if you are getting off northbound I-25 or a left if you are getting off southbound. You will find yourself going up a hill. The road will curve to the left. At Wilkins Circle (there is no light at the intersection) take a left. Follow the road. Sidelines is the structure that looks like a big barn off to you right.
Scene – During the day, Sidelines serves as a fairly large and airy sports bar with over a dozen televisions and several giant screens. At night, the place turns into a hip hop dance club.
Easily the most popular bar in Casper with the under-25 crowd, Sidelines is the place to go if you are looking to hook up. This is Casper’s version of a meet market. And the dance floor is usually fairly crowded. But if you are looking to get down to anything but top-40 hip-hop, then you will be disappointed as that’s the only music spun at Sidelines.
Friday nights are the most popular, but Wednesday’s lady’s night and Thursday’s men’s night can also be happening. Saturday can also be crowded but Friday is really Sidelines’ top night.
On both Friday and Saturday a $2 cover is normally charged.
Drinks are on the expensive side for Casper, but like I said before, it is never very expensive to drink in Casper.
The Beacon Club
Address – 4100 W Yellowstone Hwy; Mills
Phone – 307-577-1503
Directions – From Interstate 25 take the Highway 20/26 Bypass exit and follow that road until you reach Highway 20/26 and take a left. Drive about two miles until you reach Wyoming Boulevard and take a left. The Beacon club is on the northwest corner of Wyoming Boulevard and Highway 20/26, which is called Yellowstone at that point.
Scene – Technically not a Casper bar, the Beacon is actually in the adjacent town of Mills, the Beacon Club is the one of the largest and easily the best-known nightclub in central Wyoming. Generations of Casperites have gone “Sneaking to the Beacon” and you should to, if you are looking for some country and western action.
Live county and western bands play on the Beacon’s stage every weekend night and the dance floor is usually packed. Strangely, when bands take a break -which is often – pop or even hip-hop is played.
The clientele on weekends is older than at Sidelines. The median age is probably around 30.
Saturday nights are the best at the Beacon. But Friday and Wednesday nights can also get pretty rowdy.
Drinks are more expensive than at your average Casper bar. And the waits on those drinks can be long the bar and at your table. Covers are also normally charged on Friday and Saturday, the amount of which depends on the acts.
The Wonder Bar
Address – 256 S. Center; Casper
Phone 307-234-4110
Directions – From Interstate 25 take the Center Street Exit. Take a right on Center if you are getting off southbound 1-25. Take a left if you are getting off northbound. Drive down Center for about eight blocks. The Wonder Bar will be on your right.
Scene – The Wonder Bar claims to be “world famous” partially because it is located in a building that has functioned as a watering hole since the early 1900s. Many famous people, most notably Earnest Hemmingway, have put a few back there.
The Wonder Bar is a solid bar with a reasonably good beer selection and nicely priced cocktails, especially the wells.
The bar fills up on weekend nights around 8 p.m. and usually empties out around 12:30 a.m., as it normally serves as a “starting out bar” for many Casperites. Friday nights are normally the more popular weekend night and the bar also fills up on most Wednesdays.
The Wonder Bar closes fairly early nearly every weeknight but Wednesday and no package is served there.
There is no smoking inside the Wonder Bar.
The Wonder Bar caters to drinkers in their late 20s to early 40s and the scene is a bit more sophisticated than at most Casper establishments. It’s safe.
The Sandbar Lounge
Address – 100 N Ash Street; Casper
Phone – 307-266-2745
Directions – From Interstate 25 take the Center Street exit. Take a right turn off southbound I-25 and a left turn off northbound I-25. Drive about six blocks until you reach First Street where you take a right. Drive down First two blocks until you reach Ash. The Sandbar is on the northwest corner of First and Ash.
Scene – The Sandbar is now the best true dive bar in Casper. They pour their beers big and cheap here and they pour their cocktails cheap and strong.
Mounds of delicious food are served here at bargain basement prices. The fries are especially recommended.
The Sandbar is open every night until 2 a.m. without fail, except for Sundays when it closes at 10 p.m. as the law mandates. Package is available right up until, and sometimes after, closing time.
The crowd here can get a bit rough and the place has been known to be patronized by hard core drunks and methamphetamine junkies. Most of the time, however, the place is perfectly safe.
The Sandbar has plenty of pool tables and television sets.
The Movie Star Lounge
Address – 520 S Ash; Casper
Phone – (307) 266-4976
Directions – From Interstate 25 take the Center Street exit. Take a right turn off southbound I-25 and a left turn off northbound I-25. Drive about nine blocks until you get to Collins Drive, where you take a right. Drive two blocks further until you reach Ash. The Movie Star Lounge is on the corner of Ash and Collins.
Scene – A newer Casper bar with tons of Hollywood cheese festooned upon the walls. Despite the decor, the drinks are cheap and the service is super friendly. So as long as you are not prone to migraines or seizures, this joint can be fun.
The clientele is mostly younger and the place stays open as long as there is a crowd.
Karaoke is sometimes held at The Movie Star and once and a while there is a live act.
The Moonlight Lounge
Address – 2305 E 12th Street; Casper
Phone – (307) 234-7787
Directions – From Interstate 25 take the Beverly Street exit and turn South (a right turn from southbound I-25; a left from northbound). Drive down Beverly for about 16 blocks until you get to 12th Street where you take a left. The Moonlight will be on your right and is less than a block east from the intersection of 12th and Beverly.
Scene – The Moonlight is a pool players bar as billiard tables dominate its interior decor. The drinks are cheap and the jukebox a bit eclectic. The Moonlight also has one of the last drive-through liquor windows in Casper, so you can get a bottle of hooch without leaving the comfort of your own car. The Moonlight is a bit of a dive bar, so things can get a bit rough there.
The Backdoor Lounge
Address – 840 CY Avenue; Casper
Phone – 307-265-5080
Directions – From Interstate 25 take the Poplar Street exit the go south on Poplar (a left turn onto Poplar from northbound I-25; a right turn off southbound). Drive down Poplar for around 20 blocks until you get to CY Avenue (it’s a major intersection). Take a left on CY and drive for about two blocks. The Backdoor Lounge (also called CY Liquor) will be on your left.
Scene – Simply put, this is the best neighborhood bar in Casper and possibly the best neighborhood bar in the world.
The place looks just like a small liquor store from the front but be not afraid, there is an entrance to the lounge in the back (thus the Backdoor Lounge, get it). The bar is small and smoky but the prices are phenomenal, especially at happy hour – of which there are several. Always ask about drink specials as they are many and good.
The service is the friendliest anywhere I have ever been.
The clientele really ranges from young to old and rich to poor here. It can also get pretty crowded on weekend nights, mostly because the place is so small.
Northern Dreams
Address – 1425 W Ormsby Road
Phone – 307 237-3299
Directions – Take Interstate 25 to the Ormsby Road exit located about 8 miles north of Casper. Take a left onto Ormsby. Drive under the Interstate and you can’t miss the place.
Scene – Casper’s only strip club. The place is more funny that sexy.
The strippers use their kooches to pick up dollar bills off the faces of patrons brave enough to lie across the stage.
The beers are expensive and there is always a $3 cover.
Old Chicago Pizza
Address – 3580 E 2nd Street; Casper
Phone – 307-473-1900
Directions – From Interstate 25 take the Beverly Street exit and turn South (a right turn from southbound I-25; a left from northbound). Drive down Beverly for about six blocks until you hit Second Street where you take a left. Drive down Second Street for about 10 blocks until you see Old Chicago on your left, it is hard to miss.
Scene – The pizza chain’s Casper location is nothing special, but it does have by far the best beer selection in town. The beers are a bit pricy for Casper and no liquor is served here (it’s a long story why). Patrons really range in ages and the later you stay, the younger the crowd gets.
The place serves good food but not as good as The Sandbar’s. This place is actually the anti-Sandbar as it is clean, corporate, a bit boring but very safe.
The Avalon
Address – 260 E Yellowstone Hwy; Evansville
Phone – 307-473-1380
Directions – You can get to the Avalon by taking the Wyoming Boulevard exit off I-25. Head north on Wyoming Blvd. until you see a Kum and Go convenience store. At Kum and Go, take a right and follow that road about half a mile until you see The Avalon on your left.
The Scene – The Avalon can be a very sketchy bar. But if you want to drink on Sundays after 10 p.m. in Casper, this Evansville dive is the best place to go.
On Sundays this place takes all kinds and there is plenty of methamphetamine at the Avalon.
If you decide to go there, it might be wise to take a cab home as Evansville police are notorious for pulling over anything and everything.
Other Bars
The Pump Room – Located in Poor Boy’s Steakhouse just off the Center Street exit of I-25, the Pump Room is a good place to get a drink and talk politics. It’s quiet and very comfortable. It is also surprisingly affordable – especially the well drinks. Just don’t look to hook up here.
All That Jazz – Located in the Parkway Plaza Hotel just off the Center Street exit of I-25, All That Jazz is a great hotel bar. But it is still a hotel bar. Live music is sometimes played on the weekends. The prices are good, the seats comfortable, and who knows you could meet a fellow out-of-towner.
Drake’s – Located in the Holiday Inn just off I-25 between the Poplar and Center Street exits; Drake’s is a hotel bar. It has of televisions and neon signs.
There are other bars in Casper besides those mentioned, but they are all either small dives or small neighborhood bars that would not be recommended to the out-of-towner. There are also some restraints in town that have liquor licenses, like Applebee’s and the Outback Steakhouse, but those aren’t bars and you won’t learn anything about the town you find yourself in by going to joints like that.
