Sip and Dip

15-16th May: Days 37 & 38

Somewhere along the line Nick discovered that there is a lounge bar in Great Falls, MT that was a little different from the usual bars. A bar that he needed to visit.  A bar that combined drinking, eating, & lounging with some unusual entertainment.

The Sip and Dip Lounge Bar is attached to a large motel. The motel pool has viewing windows to the bar and is is open for guests to use in the daytime, but in the evening it is the fantastical realm of the resident mermaids (and mermen on a Tuesday)

So we planned a night’s stay in Great Falls around an evening in this fine watering hole. We booked into an RV park in town and drove the short 45 miles from Prewett Creek.  As it was a little early to start drinking at 1pm, we broke out the bikes and explored the riverside trail.  This was a bit more industrial chic than previous trails, but quite interesting as it wound downriver to one of the 3 small hydroelectric dams that helps power the town. (Hence its nickname ‘Electric City’)

Eventually the exciting time had arrived and an Uber took us to our hallowed destination.

It was a place that you never would have found, or wandered into, and was suitably kitch, decorated in the style of a retro Tiki Bar.

But. Unfortunately. The mermaid-on-duty had called in sick. For crying out loud.

We were more than a trifle disappointed. But as one of our co-customers pointed out. “No-one wants to watch a mermaid with diarrhoea”. Wise words, my friend, wise words.

We availed ourselves of some cocktails and burgers, and were less disappointed by the end of the evening.

Here is a stock photo of the place with mermaids installed.