DEADWOOD, S.D. — Country artist and Wyoming native Ian Munsick is preparing for a landmark weekend in the Black Hills, combining a headlining performance at the Deadwood Jam with the grand opening of his new Cowboy Bar & Western Grill.

The celebration begins Friday, September 18, when the bar officially opens its doors at 11 a.m. The opening coincides with Munsick’s performance that evening at the 36th annual Deadwood Jam at Outlaw Square. The free, two-day festival continues Saturday with Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass among the scheduled performers. (MusicRow.com)

For Munsick, opening a business in Deadwood is about more than attaching his name to another country-music-themed bar. During a recent interview, he said the Black Hills have long provided cultural and creative inspiration.

“This area just has so much cultural inspiration for me,” Munsick said. “Obviously, the Black Hills are just a beautiful spot to hopefully encourage more people to come out here and experience them.”

A Cowboy Bar Built from the Ground Up

Created in partnership with The Landmark Hotel & Casino, Ian Munsick’s Cowboy Bar & Western Grill is designed to reflect the history, craftsmanship and culture of the American West. The venue is located next to The Landmark in a historic section of Deadwood. (MusicRow.com)

Munsick said nearly every portion of the building has been customized, from its artwork and leatherwork to the furniture, upholstery and stages.

“We did not cut any corners in any of the aspects of this bar,” he said. “It is custom-made from top to bottom.”

He gave much of the credit for the venue’s appearance and atmosphere to his wife, Caroline, who has helped guide the project for more than a year. Munsick said she was involved in decisions ranging from the placement of the bar and artwork on the walls to the interior design, stages, food and menu names.

“She is really the brainchild of this whole thing,” he said. “Anything that my wife does, she does it right. This bar is just a beautiful piece of work.”

The new venue includes both indoor and outdoor performance areas. Munsick estimated the outdoor space will accommodate around 400 people, while the indoor stage can hold approximately 100.

He hopes the stages will give touring and regional musicians another place to perform while bringing additional live entertainment to the Black Hills.

Munsick also expects to make occasional appearances of his own.

“I would expect me to be popping up at the Cowboy Bar at least a couple times a year,” he said.

Scratch-Made Food and Weekend Performances

The bar’s food will be another major part of the experience. Munsick said the menu focuses on handmade, scratch-made offerings and singled out the peach cobbler waffles and smash burgers as personal favorites.

“I am a peach cobbler guy, and I’m also a waffle guy,” he said. “You put those two together, and it’s a match made in heaven.”

Friday’s grand-opening day party is scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will feature performances by members of Munsick’s family and musical circle. Following his Deadwood Jam appearance with Ashland Craft, a sold-out VIP after-party featuring Ryan Charles will take place at the new venue. (MusicRow.com)

The celebration will continue through Sunday. Munsick’s band, Rocky Mountain Fever, is scheduled to serve as the house band, with brunch and evening performances planned during the weekend.

Munsick said extending the festivities beyond opening day was important because of the crowd expected Friday.

“We wanted to make sure that everyone that’s coming to town at least has the opportunity to get in and experience the Cowboy Bar,” he said. “We expect to be open for many, many years to come, so there’ll be plenty of chances.”

Preserving the Spirit of the Black Hills

Raised in Wyoming, Munsick has built his career around sharing the landscapes, values and culture of the West through his music. His albums have blended contemporary country with stories of ranch life, family, open spaces and mountain communities. (Martin Guitars)

Deadwood sits only a few hours from his hometown, making the new venture feel like a natural extension of that mission.

Munsick said his goal is to welcome visitors while respecting the character and history that make the region special.

“We want to make sure that we are doing everything that we can to preserve the history and the magic here while also being able to introduce more people to the area,” he said. “I think that the Cowboy Bar is going to be a big piece of that.”

While tourism is an important part of the Western economy, Munsick said he hopes visitors leave with more than photographs and souvenirs.

“After you experience the West, you tend to go home a better person,” he said. “You have more respect for the earth and the land, and for God and for your neighbor. That’s what life is all about.”

With a new stage, a new restaurant and one of Deadwood’s biggest musical weekends arriving at the same time, Munsick is not only bringing the West to the rest — he is creating a new home for Western music and culture in the heart of the Black Hills.