On a typical afternoon, saddled horses are tethered to the hitching submit outdoors of Monty’s Log Cabin, ready patiently alongside a clutch of parked Harley-Davidsons. Inside, at completely satisfied hour or on the weekend, any variety of the characters who name Felton, California, residence are elbow to elbow within the two-room roadside tavern.
The 86-year-old dive sits on the shoulder of rural Freeway 9, which continues 8 winding miles down the mountain to Santa Cruz. The post-and-beam cabin is festooned with fairy lights and two classic neon indicators alerting passersby that there are drinks available inside, ought to anybody mistake the place for the buying and selling submit it as soon as was.
Friends are greeted by the bar’s longtime feminine bartenders, any variety of regulars and a canine or three—be careful for Speedbump, a paraplegic bulldog who scoots throughout the hardwood flooring with stunning velocity. The inside is what’s to be anticipated from an previous bar within the redwoods: There are dusty deer mounts and a taxidermied, sneering bobcat obtrusive out the entrance window, biker memorabilia and an array of classic signage with questionable humor.
Whereas Santa Cruz–adjoining, Felton is a world away from the seashores, surf tradition and boardwalk. A former logging middle with a inhabitants simply over 3,000, the sleepy city, which is nestled throughout the lush San Lorenzo Valley, attracts a world array of low-key guests who come for the large old-growth redwood bushes, scenic mountain climbing trails and campgrounds.
On the similar time, proof of the area’s countercultural previous stays—growing old hippies and different modalities abound—alongside curiosities just like the Bigfoot Discovery Museum (“Appeal to and edutain the general public with the info about thriller primates around the globe”), a historic narrow-gauge railroad and a handful of tasting rooms providing pours from the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA.
Felton was additionally residence to a former Monty’s common, the late Herb Mullin, certainly one of three serial killers who earned Santa Cruz the doubtful title of Homicide Capital of the World within the early Nineteen Seventies. The mixed vibe of Felton, then, is probably finest described as chic small town-meets-ID Channel.
Monty’s Log Cabin matches seamlessly throughout the oddball panorama, as does longtime proprietor Monty McKissock, who’s 72. A local of upstate New York, McKissock fell in love with the Santa Cruz space on an early ’70s street journey. “It jogged my memory of the Adirondacks, actually inexperienced and peaceable,” he says. A former Marine and graphic designer, McKissock began bartending in faculty to assist cowl his tuition. Upon transferring to Felton within the late ’70s, he began pouring drinks on the now-shuttered Don Quixote, a bar and music venue.
“Monty received’t let you know this as a result of he’s too humble, however everybody on the town is aware of him,” says Janette Waters, who’s been bartending for McKissock for 18 years. “He’s actually seen some shit and he’s received nice tales, however he’s additionally an exquisite individual and employer. He noticed me via breast most cancers and sat with me throughout chemo. I’m very lucky to have him as an employer and good friend.”
McKissock turned acquainted with the unique house owners of the bar (then generally known as George’s Log Cabin) when he started holding VFW occasions there. George and Stefaneta Graziani immigrated to the USA within the Twenties; in 1936 they constructed the cabin and turned it right into a buying and selling submit, the place they offered sundries and tenting provides to guests.
Inside a 12 months, the Grazianis had added a again room and turned their enterprise into an Italian restaurant and bar. Then, in 2000, the Grazianis’ daughter, Rose, approached McKissock about leasing the bar. He graciously accepted the supply, however was hesitant to alter the identify till she assured him he was thought of household. Twenty-two years on, McKissock feels equally about his personal prospects.
On a latest go to, Punch joined McKissock on the bar to speak paranormal exercise, retirement and why he describes Monty’s as “Switzerland.”
Monty McKissock
Hometown:
Rochester, New York
Present metropolis:
Felton, California
Years within the business:
28
Years at present job:
22
Drink served most frequently: Draft beer and nicely drinks throughout completely satisfied hour
Favourite drink: Corona Gentle, Lagunitas or Uncle Dave’s IPA by Discretion Brewing. Woodford Reserve, neat—“when I’ve a trip residence.”
You by no means aspired to personal a bar and didn’t have prior back-end expertise. Why did the Grazianis entrust you with this place?
I simply beloved it right here—it form of wrapped its arms round me from the beginning. For no matter cause, the household thought I ought to have it. It’s been such a present.
Who’re a few of your different clienteles?
We get a fancy cross-section, from bikers, vacationers and campers to working-class of us and millionaires. Typically, I have to throw out a few rednecks. However that blend is what retains it attention-grabbing.
Not your whole visitors arrive by automobile or on foot, do they?
Typically it’s simply horses and Harleys out entrance. We now have a hitching submit, as a result of we get so many horseback riders from the native secure. Every now and then, somebody will convey their horse into the bar.
You’ve described this place as Switzerland. What does that imply?
Everyone is welcome. I’ve traveled and lived everywhere in the world, and that’s what’s given me a lot appreciation for different cultures. Though we’re a combined bag of nuts and I believe that everybody ought to have a perception system, this isn’t the place for it. I don’t permit proselytizing in right here. I attempt to protect a few of the sanctity, particularly for our regulars. We’re form of an prolonged household.
To that finish, your retention is spectacular. You even have an all-female employees. Was that by design or accident?
I used to be simply making an attempt to rent the very best bartenders I might, and once I regarded over my shoulder, there was all this estrogen in right here.
Who got here up together with your slogan, “Does a bar sit within the woods?”
One in all our early bartenders, Cimarron. He’s since handed on to the completely satisfied searching floor, as have all my unique regulars.
Talking of, phrase is the bar is haunted.
It doesn’t occur as a lot currently, however typically as I’m closing up, will probably be like, What’s taking place? There can be a random gust of chilly air, or I’ll get goosebumps for no clear cause. I like to speak to them—I at all times say hello to George Jr. and Sr. and Rose. We even had a type of paranormal tv reveals come movie right here. Felton itself is form of bizarre, however nowhere close to as bizarre as Ghost Hunters and all their gear taking on my bar.
You’ve been bartending typically for over 50 years. Any plans to retire?
I’m not a man who can retire. However the bar enterprise retains me younger. I’m right here seven days per week, doing no matter wants doing. I consistently meet new individuals and get uncovered to new concepts, and I feed off that. There’s nothing cookie-cutter about this place.
What else retains you going?
I are inclined to land on the sunshine facet of issues. And, I actually get pleasure from speaking with my prospects, even when it’s listening to about their issues. I just like the counseling a part of it; typically individuals simply want a dialog to assist them determine issues out for themselves. However Felton can be a particular place. It’s an exquisite lifestyle, the air is clear, and other people simply actually care about their group and each other. It’s that old-school angle of, if somebody wants assist, you get off your barstool and assist them.
Have any of these individuals or guests from out of city tried to purchase Monty’s?
On a regular basis. I’ve had individuals throw their checkbooks on the bar and say, “Title your value.” I inform them to place it away, that is my eternally job. I’d simply must go and purchase one other bar, and I wouldn’t prefer it as a lot as this place.
