D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
March 2010
Buckhorn Reopens
Page: 2
Frank Tatsch, who remained active until his death in 2002, also took an interest in the Buckhorn's food. From the time the Buckhorn became part of the Tatsch family, it gained a growing reputation for its steaks and seafood and hamburgers. It was not unusual for folks from Las Cruces or Tucson to make the trip to Pinos Altos solely for dinner and perhaps the melodrama.
For these reasons it was an easy decision for Dink to rebuild the now-legendary restaurant, instead of just walking away from it. Much of his father's love of the Old West apparently has rubbed off on him.
With reconstruction underway, visitors would drop in from time to time, either because they didn't know the restaurant was closed, or because they wanted to know when it would re-open. One visitor came from Japan. During this reporter's visit in February, three persons came into the Buckhorn, all checking on construction progress. They included weekly visitors Susan Rice and Steve Clark, both of Pinos Altos, and Rick Moreno of Silver City. Dink took the time to show all of them around.
When asked when the Buckhorn would re-open, Dink grabbed the pencil tucked under his Tatsch Construction Company baseball cap and pointed it aimlessly around the saloon, still filled with tools and debris. He gave them all the same answer: "When it's ready."
Another frequent visitor is his daughter, Tenniel, who comes up from her home in Las Cruces, sometimes with Dink's granddaughter, Tristin. Dink said Tenniel has contributed a number of design and building suggestions as construction progressed. "We have a great relationship," he said.
During the past year of reconstruction, a few discoveries were made. They included some old newspapers, poker chips and bottles, all of which Dink said will be placed on display. What will not be shown is perhaps the most significant discovery made during this process: About 10 feet inside the front door, near the entrance to the main dining room, workers removing the old saloon floor discovered what they called a tunnel, about four feet tall and three feet wide. It ran about five feet toward the southwest, roughly paralleling Main Street. Dink called it little more than an empty hole.
What was its purpose? Dink believes it was used "to escape from the Indians," who were especially active and angry during Pinos Altos' early history. This theory was echoed by Suzi McGrumbley, co-owner of the Pinos Altos Ice Cream Parlor and Caf´, who believes the tunnel was used to circle around any raid and attack from the rear. What remained of the tunnel has since been filled in.
Some familiar sights will continue to greet diners when the Buckhorn re-opens. The lady-of-the-evening mannequin that Dink has renamed "Toy" (she originally was known as "Debbie") will again take her place on the shelf above and to the right of the bar. "Mike," the giant bison head, will grace the opening over the passageway to the kitchen. The buffalo was raised at Frank Tatsch's ranch near Pueblo, Colo., and was about eight years old when a taxidermist received the opportunity to preserve its memory. You might say Mike is still a member of the Tatsch family. And, yes, at the end of the bar, "Indian Joe" will return to take his place on a stool. Live music also will return to the saloon.
Dink Tatsch says his father "liked the Old West." It's obvious by the new "old" look
of the Buckhorn Saloon and Restaurant that Dink likes it, too.
John Catsis is a Silver City writer.