Formerly: Hoken's Hole (1879–1940)
Huntsville, Utah · Founded 1879 · Building: circa 1850
A Huntsville saloon with roots in an 1879 conversion of a circa-1850 mercantile building, now known for its Star Burger and dollar-bill ceiling.
Shooting Star Saloon operates in a circa-1850 Huntsville building that Intermountain Histories says was converted from a mercantile to a saloon in 1879 under Hoken Olsen. The operation was known as Hoken's Hole before Carl Stokes moved it upstairs and renamed it the Shooting Star in 1940. Its long local lineage is well established; its often-repeated claim to uninterrupted saloon operation since 1879 is harder to document period by period.
The building that now houses Shooting Star Saloon was erected around 1850 as a mercantile shop.
Source: Intermountain Histories, "The Shooting Star Saloon" (Weber State University)
Intermountain Histories says the mercantile switched to a saloon, originally called Hoken's Hole for owner Hoken Olsen.
Source: Intermountain Histories, "The Shooting Star Saloon" (Weber State University)
During the 1920s Prohibition era, the street level displayed a confectionery shop while alcoholic drinks and card games were reportedly conducted secretly in the basement.
Source: Intermountain Histories, "The Shooting Star Saloon" (Weber State University)
Hoken Olsen sold the property to Ben Wood.
Source: Intermountain Histories, "The Shooting Star Saloon" (Weber State University)
Carl Stokes moved the saloon from the basement upstairs and named it the Shooting Star.
Source: Intermountain Histories, "The Shooting Star Saloon" (Weber State University)
A KUTV report identified Leslie Sutter as the saloon owner and reported from the operating Huntsville business.
Source: KUTV, "Utah's 'oldest saloon' had colorful, criminal, Latter-day Saint founder," July 26, 2026
Every claim gets rated. A business's own website can never earn "documented."
The venue is widely described as Utah's oldest bar or continuously operating saloon, and independent local-history research supports a saloon conversion in 1879. But the reviewed evidence does not establish an uninterrupted, period-by-period public saloon operation or a complete comparison with all Utah rivals. During Prohibition, the documented account describes a confectionery storefront and secret basement alcohol service rather than a clearly continuous licensed saloon operation.
Intermountain Histories distinguishes the building's circa-1850 mercantile use from its 1879 conversion to a saloon. Carl Stokes gave the business its present Shooting Star name in 1940.
Intermountain Histories identifies the mounted head as Buck's and says Buck was a prior Guinness World Record holder among St. Bernards for size and weight. The reviewed source does not establish the exact weight, death date, taxidermy method, or stories that a bear skull mold was used.
This wider regional superlative is repeated in some travel-oriented listings, but the reviewed evidence does not provide the comparative research or continuity documentation needed to establish it.
The Shooting Star Saloon building was built as a saloon in 1879.
Intermountain Histories says the building was erected around 1850 as a mercantile shop and switched to saloon use in 1879.
Source: Intermountain Histories, "The Shooting Star Saloon" (Weber State University)
The 1879 date by itself proves that Shooting Star Saloon has operated continuously as a licensed saloon ever since.
The 1879 conversion is supported, but the reviewed record does not document every period of public, licensed saloon operation. Its Prohibition account describes a confectionery display above and secret drinking in the basement.
Source: Intermountain Histories, "The Shooting Star Saloon" (Weber State University)
The Shooting Star has remained a Huntsville fixture by keeping a distinct local identity while passing through several owners. Its long-running draw combines burgers and hot dogs, a full bar, a ceiling covered in dollar bills, and the mounted head of Buck, a St. Bernard associated with a Guinness record. Those features make it both a neighborhood gathering place and a destination for visitors to the Ogden Valley.
Shooting Star Saloon occupies a Huntsville building that Intermountain Histories dates to around 1850 and says became a saloon in 1879 under Hoken Olsen as Hoken's Hole. During Prohibition, the source describes a confectionery display upstairs and secret drinking and card games in the basement. Hoken Olsen sold the property in 1929, and Carl Stokes moved the saloon upstairs and named it the Shooting Star in 1940.
Shooting Star Saloon is widely promoted as Utah's oldest continuously operating saloon, with a lineage to an 1879 saloon conversion in Huntsville. That broad history is supported by Intermountain Histories, but the available evidence does not conclusively document uninterrupted public saloon operation through every period or settle the claim against every Utah competitor. It is best described as a major claimant rather than a conclusively verified statewide titleholder.
Hoken's Hole was the earlier name for the Huntsville saloon associated with Hoken Olsen after the building's 1879 conversion from a mercantile. Intermountain Histories says Olsen sold the property in 1929, and Carl Stokes renamed the business the Shooting Star in 1940.
The Star Burger is a burger-and-hot-dog combination associated with Shooting Star Saloon's menu. Intermountain Histories identifies it as a signature combination, while the precise recipe and portion details should be confirmed from the business's current menu.
7350 E 200 S, Huntsville, UT 84317
(801) 745-2002
The venue is commonly listed as cash-only and restricted to guests age 21 and older; confirm current hours and policies before visiting.