Community comes together to support lost bar
Two days after fire destroyed a bar in Mud Lake, dozens of community members got together to rally around the bar owners.
Nikki and Scottie Thomson bought the bar, known then as the ‘Wayside’, three months ago. After a remodel, they reopened it under the new name “The Painted Pony Bar and Grill” just four weeks ago. It was a dream come true.
“It was something we’ve wanted to do,” Scottie said off-camera.
The dream of owning the oldest bar in Mud Lake went up in flames on September 15, 2016 when the bar caught fire around 6:30 in the morning.
“Everything has changed in town since this happened,” Chris Skidmore, a former bartender at the Painted Pony, said. “I mean the people, we just got the cafe up and going again. Everything was going good.”
Members of the West Jefferson Fire Department and INL Fire Department fought the fire for nine hours. The building is considered a total loss.
“It’s a shock. I remember my parents talking about this place. I grew up hearing stories about the bar,” Skidmore said.
With the Thomson’s dream gone and the building built in the 1930’s destroyed, the town of just over 300 gathered together on September 17, 2016 to help the Thomson’s out. It’s not only a loss for the owners, but for people like Skidmore.
“It was a time for me to socialize with the people,” Skidmore said, reliving the memories of the bar. “We would have great times in here with the dances and the bands that would come in. Just the socialization with all the people that”
The owners of the Painted Pony don’t know what is next. They understand how important the bar is to the community. Scottie Thomson says they are waiting to hear from the insurance company. Until they have an answer, they are finding support in the memories still salvageable and the support from the community.
“It is not just for this,,” Skidmore said, describing the tightness of Mud Lake. “Anytime anyone is in trouble, that is what we do out here. It is how everybody should be.”
The state Fire Marshall is investigating the cause of the fire. It is believed to have started in the chimney.
A GoFundMe has been setup to help the Thomson’s out. If you’d like to donate, just click here.
