Est. 1898 · Oldest continuously operating bar in Washington · Coal-mining heritage · Frontier commercial building
The Brick Saloon opened in 1889 in Roslyn, Washington, during the height of the coal-mining boom that characterized the Kittitas Valley. The original saloon served miners, logging workers, and railroad employees—the rough labor class that drove the region's early economy. In 1898, a devastating fire destroyed the building, and it was rebuilt using approximately 45,000 bricks, demonstrating Roslyn's commitment to reconstruction.
The reconstructed saloon features a remarkable 100-year-old back bar originally crafted in England, shipped around Cape Horn to Portland, Oregon, and eventually acquired for the Roslyn establishment. The bar's longevity and craftsmanship make it an architectural artifact of significant heritage value. A basement level beneath the saloon once housed jail cells used to confine rowdy patrons and maintain order.
During Prohibition, the Brick operated through access to one of Roslyn's numerous clandestine tunnels, distributing illegal alcohol throughout the region. The saloon has remained in continuous operation longer than any other bar in Washington State, surviving Prohibition, economic downturns, and cultural shifts.
Sources
- https://www.bricksaloon.com/about/
- https://freehub.com/features/two-truths-and-lie
- https://www.dailyrecordnews.com/news/iconic-bar-plays-host-to-ghosts-and-guests/article_7b3d849d-3c90-501c-a9ae-a4233ea11546.html
Sensed presenceApparitionsObject activation
The Brick Saloon's paranormal reputation focuses on the basement jail cells where unruly patrons were once confined. Multiple witnesses report a sensed presence in these enclosed spaces—a feeling of being watched or accompanied by unseen company. The basement cells represent a site of confinement, frustration, and likely death for some of the transient miners and laborers imprisoned there.
Additional reports describe apparitional sightings: a little girl has been observed in the building, and witnesses have reported a cowboy-dressed figure. Most distinctively, the piano in the back room reportedly plays of its own accord when no one is present, suggesting either residual activity or intelligent haunting behavior. The combination of phenomena suggests multiple entities or manifestations, possibly representing different eras of the saloon's long operation.
Notable Entities
Child apparitionThe Cowboy figure