Longhorn Restaurant

I captured this photograph shortly after sunset during my visit to Tombstone. The Longhorn Restaurant possesses a fascinating history.

The Longhorn Restaurant On The Corner of 5th and Allen St.

During the construction of the building, amidst heightened tensions between the Earp family and the Cowboys, assassins were concealed within a partially constructed building, ready to carry out an assassination attempt on Virgil Earp. Armed with double-barrel shotguns, Virgil exited the Oriental Saloon around 11:30p.m. and proceeded across 5th Street towards the Crystal Place Saloon, at which point the assailants fired. Witnesses reported hearing four consecutive shots. Virgil was struck by nineteen buckshot pellets that entered the left side of his back and arm. He survived the attempt on his life but ultimately lost the use of his left arm.

Upon completion of the construction, Meyer's Brothers Clothing and the Huachuca Water Co. relocated to the newly finished building.

It would later become The Owl Cafe and Tourist Hotel, featuring a saloon known for its violent reputation. This saloon was also known as the Bucket of Blood Saloon.

In May 1942, a fire devastated the block housing the Owl Cafe and Tourist Hotel. The establishment was subsequently rebuilt and underwent several ownership changes until it was acquired once more in 1970's, at which point it was transformed into the Longhorn Restaurant. It is the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Tombstone.

This establishment is among one of my top choices for dining in Tombstone, and I make it a priority to visit whenever I'm in the area. They offer exceptional western food and exemplary hospitality. The restaurant's decor further enriches the overall experience.