History The Lumberjack Saloon opened in the spring of 1974. But it started in Don Babcock’s imagination, years before. Don’s idea was to create a unique building out of huge cedar logs. He had the skills and he knew where to get the logs—Squaw Creek in the Lochsa. He also had the place—the property he and his wife, Mary Ellen, owned on Graves Creek. But when he told his family and friends he wanted to build a bar, they were skeptical. Who would drive all that way have a drink? Quite a few, it turned out. It took more than a year to build—starting with the log for the actual bar, which had to be put in place before any of the wall logs were up. Then Don, his son Darell, their friend Jim Hicks and a number of other folks worked with an aging boom truck to set the log walls. Mary Ellen helped when she could, and by spring the Lumberjack Saloon was ready to open. Right away the Lumberjack was a hit. Snowmobile races and motorcycle races on an ice track drew crowds, and inside people danced to bluegrass and country music. The parking lot was packed every weekend. Don and Mary Ellen operated the bar for 5 years before Don got the urge to travel. They sold their Graves Creek property and spent their time roaming in their motor home, finally settling down in a cedar log home not far from the Lumberjack. Until their passing in 2008 and 2009, Don and Mary Ellen made the Lumberjack a regular stop and their spirit and love can still be felt there today. The Lumberjack changed owners and names several times over the years. In 2009 Don and Mary Ellen’s daughter Kella, along with her husband John Leone, bought the bar and returned the name to the Lumberjack Saloon. The atmosphere that Don and his family built into the bar is still the same—friendly, relaxing and fun place.