Formerly: The Pool Hall · The Club · The Bickleton Tavern · The Bluebird Tavern
Bickleton, Washington · Founded 1887 · Building: 1887
A Bickleton tavern in an 1887 drugstore-and-dwelling building, widely called Washington's oldest operating tavern but still awaiting a full statewide continuity check.
The Bluebird Inn occupies a building constructed in Bickleton, Washington, in spring 1887 as a drugstore and dwelling. Later that year, local history says, it became a saloon. The bar and restaurant has since operated under several names and owners, and it remains a social stop in rural Klickitat County with a 1903 Brunswick pool table still associated with the building.
Jacob N. Jensen constructed the building in spring 1887 for C. E. Flower and Dr. Hamilton Blair as a drugstore and dwelling.
Source: Bickleton Community, “Bluebird Inn (Tavern)”; Bickleton.org, “Bluebird Inn”
Town history says the building became a saloon later in the fall of 1887.
Source: Bickleton Community, “Bluebird Inn (Tavern)”; Bickleton.org, “Bluebird Inn”
A Brunswick pool table was purchased for the tavern; Bickleton history says it remains in the building.
Source: Bickleton.org, “Bluebird Inn”
Living quarters were added to the east side of the building.
Source: Bickleton.org, “Bluebird Inn”
The Bluebird name came into use in the late 1970s after earlier names including The Pool Hall, The Club, The Bickleton Tavern, and The Bluebird Tavern.
Source: Bickleton.org, “Bluebird Inn”
A brick hearth and chimney for wood heat were added inside, along with a boardwalk outside.
Source: Bickleton.org, “Bluebird Inn”
A new front porch was constructed as part of later building updates.
Source: Bickleton.org, “Bluebird Inn”
A local report documented a change in ownership from Jerry and Barbara Gaines to a team including Scott and Lisa Still, Nelda Flores, and Candice Flores.
Source: Sunnyside Sun, “State’s oldest tavern changes hands,” Jan. 29, 2019
Regional reporting described the Bluebird as an operating restaurant and bar and repeated its longstanding oldest-tavern claim.
Source: Yakima Herald-Republic, “How Bickleton became the bluebird capital of the world,” July 19, 2026
Every claim gets rated. A business's own website can never earn "documented."
Bickleton community history identifies Jacob N. Jensen as builder and says the spring 1887 structure was built for C. E. Flower and Dr. Hamilton Blair as a drugstore and dwelling. The same account says the building became a saloon in the fall of 1887.
The claim is repeated by Bickleton community history, the Yakima Herald-Republic, the Tri-City Herald, and regional tourism sources. Its 1887 building date and same-year saloon conversion make it a serious claimant, but this review did not establish an unbroken operating and licensing record through every period or compare it against all plausible Washington rivals.
Bickleton history says the building has carried several names and that the present name has been used since the late 1970s. This review did not locate contemporaneous business listings or liquor-license records for the specific name-change date.
Bickleton history says a Brunswick pool table was bought in 1903 and remains at the inn. The claim is credible and specific, but this review did not locate an independent inventory, manufacturer record, or preservation survey verifying the table's continuous presence.
The current Bickleton community venue page explicitly identifies Nelda and Candice Flores as the inn's current owners. A 2019 local report also documents their participation in the ownership group that acquired the business.
The Bluebird Inn was built in 1887 as a purpose-built saloon.
The building was constructed in spring 1887 as a drugstore and dwelling for C. E. Flower and Dr. Hamilton Blair. Local history says it became a saloon later that fall.
Source: Bickleton Community, “Bluebird Inn (Tavern)”; Bickleton.org, “Bluebird Inn”
The Bluebird Inn has always operated under its current name.
The building has housed the business under several names, including The Pool Hall, The Club, The Bickleton Tavern, and The Bluebird Tavern. The present Bluebird name dates to the late 1970s according to local history.
Source: Bickleton.org, “Bluebird Inn”
The Bluebird Inn is conclusively Washington's oldest continuously operating tavern.
The statewide title is widely repeated and the inn has a strong 1887 claim, but this review did not locate a complete statewide comparison or a continuous operating and liquor-license record through every historical period.
Source: Bickleton Community, “Bluebird Inn (Tavern)”; Bickleton.org, “Bluebird Inn”; Yakima Herald-Republic, July 19, 2026
The Bluebird Inn is located at 2893 E. Market St. and can be reached at (509) 896-2228.
Current Bickleton community and venue listings identify The Bluebird Inn at 121 E. Market St., Bickleton, WA 99322, with telephone number (509) 896-2273.
Source: Bickleton Community, “Bluebird Inn (Tavern)”; Bickleton.org, “Bluebird Inn”
The Bluebird survived by functioning as Bickleton’s changing social center rather than by preserving one fixed brand. It has passed through multiple owners and names, absorbed additions and renovations, and evolved into a combined bar and restaurant for local residents and travelers. Its 1887 building and unusually long local tavern tradition give it the kind of continuity that draws visitors, even though the full statewide claim requires a more complete licensing and competitor review.
The Bluebird Inn’s building in Bickleton was constructed in spring 1887 as a drugstore and dwelling. Town history says it became a saloon later that fall, then operated under several names including The Pool Hall, The Club, The Bickleton Tavern, and The Bluebird Tavern. The present Bluebird name dates to the late 1970s, and the business remains an operating restaurant and bar at 121 E. Market Street.
The Bluebird Inn is widely called Washington's oldest continuously operating tavern. Its building was constructed in 1887 and converted to saloon use later that year, giving it a strong historical claim. But this review did not locate a complete statewide comparison of older tavern rivals or a continuous liquor-license and operating record through every period, so the statewide title remains unresolved rather than conclusively proven.
Bickleton history says the business operated under several earlier names, including The Pool Hall, The Club, The Bickleton Tavern, and The Bluebird Tavern. The Bickleton Club was reportedly the longest-used former name, lasting about twenty-five years. The present Bluebird Inn name has been used since the late 1970s according to local history.
The current Bickleton community page identifies Nelda Flores and Candice Flores as the owners of The Bluebird Inn. A 2019 local report records their involvement in the ownership group that purchased the tavern from Jerry and Barbara Gaines. The formal legal entity and property ownership should be confirmed from state business and county property records.
121 E Market St, Bickleton, WA 99322
(509) 896-2273
The Bluebird is a small rural bar and restaurant with limited, seasonal hours. The Bickleton community listing says it is generally open Thursday through Sunday, with Wednesday service available for advance groups; confirm hours and holiday/December closures before making a special trip.