What is the Oldest Bar in Indiana? This Inn Survived Prohibition and Has Ties to John Dillinger
Indiana's oldest bar has been around for nearly two centuries, and it's played host to everything from murder to the infamous Dillinger gang.
The Oldest Bar in Indiana
Indiana has no shortage of old bars. In fact, the Evansville area is home to the oldest restaurant in the state of Indiana, and one of the oldest bars in the state. However, one Indianapolis bar takes the trophy for being the oldest bar in the entire state, and that is the Slippery Noodle Inn.
Funny Name, Serious History
The Slippery Noodle Inn opened its doors nearly 2-centuries ago in 1850. In 1850 the bar was called The Tremont House. However, since 1963 this place has been called The Slippery Noodle Inn, and it is known for "good food, booze, and live blues" as it hosts live blues music 7 days a week. As you can imagine after being open for 173 years, a lot has happened inside those walls. Some of the more wild history of The Slippery Noodle Inn includes being a brothel, a murder, and even the Dillinger gang.
With the bar opening before prohibition, you may wonder what happened during the prohibition years. Well according to their website during prohibition, beer was still made in secret in the basement of the very building the bar resides in today.
Murder at the Bordello
At one point in time, the old inn had a bordello (or brothel) open up, during this time two patrons got into an argument that turned deadly. According to The Slippery Noodle Inn's website:
Later years saw a bordello open in the once luxurious Inn. It remained open until 1953 when a patron was killed. Two customers of the bordello got into an argument over one of the women, one killing the other and leaving the bloody knife on the bar.
So to say this place has an interesting history is an understatement. The website even goes on to talk about how the Brady and Dillinger gangs used to use the building behind the Inn for target practice, and to this day there are slugs still embedded in their wall. Oh, and at one point in time, the basement was used to slaughter and butcher cows and pigs. The history of this place alone is absolutely fascinating. You can read more about the interesting history of The Slippery Noodle Inn, here.
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Gallery Credit: Stacker