Big Nose Kate's Saloon

The building at 417 E Allen Street in Tombstone started life in September 1880 as the Grand Hotel, one of the finest hotels in the Arizona Territory. It was furnished with thick carpeting, costly oil paintings, solid walnut furniture in 16 bedrooms and a lobby with three chandeliers, and it opened during the boom years when silver made Tombstone a major town.

Who stayed here

In its short life the hotel hosted some of the Old West's best-known names. Wyatt and Virgil Earp stayed here, along with gunfighter Doc Holliday and his common-law wife, Mary Katherine Horony, nicknamed Big Nose Kate. Members of the Clanton gang, including Ike Clanton and the two McLaury brothers, were registered guests the night before the gunfight at the OK Corral. A fire destroyed most of the hotel only about two years after it opened.

The saloon today

The saloon now on the site was built after the fire and is named for Big Nose Kate, who was born in Hungary and later met Doc Holliday in Texas. Despite the name she did not own a saloon in Tombstone; the current one honors her story. Visitors come for the Old West atmosphere and for the building's tie to the events surrounding the gunfight, and the saloon is also known for its haunted stories.

Visiting

Allen Street is the heart of Tombstone's historic district, so the saloon is a natural stop on a walk past the other landmarks. Check the saloon's current menu and entertainment schedule before you go.

Common Questions

What are the hours?
Typically Sunday to Thursday 10 AM to 9 PM and Friday and Saturday 10 AM to 11 PM. Hours can change, so confirm before you go.

What was the building originally?
The Grand Hotel, which opened in September 1880.

Who stayed there?
Wyatt and Virgil Earp, Doc Holliday and Big Nose Kate, and the Clanton gang the night before the OK Corral gunfight.

Who was Big Nose Kate?
Mary Katherine Horony, Doc Holliday's common-law wife, whose story began in Fort Griffin, Texas.

Where is it?
At 417 E Allen Street in Tombstone, Arizona.