Wilderness Bar latest establishment to see change in ownership

After about a year and a half on the market, the Wilderness Bar and Scapegoat Eatery are under new ownership.

Kelly and Jody Riesbeck of Helena closed the deal on the landmark Lincoln bar last week, taking over ownership Aug 28 from longtime proprietor Ethel Peterson.

"We just love Lincoln and the bar excites us," Kelly Riesbeck said. He said they've been interested in buying the business for about a year.

"It's always been an interest in our family. My Dad really wanted to be involved in it. He liked the bar, too," Kelly said. "Unfortunately, he passed away here about three weeks ago, so we actually closed on it after he passed away."

Both Riesbeck and Peterson - who agreed to help out for a month to help with the transition -said it's been going well so far and Riesbeck said Peterson and her life partner Arny Brown have been great to deal with.

"Ethel definitely has a loyal following. People love her," he said. "For us first starting out, coming in here and having her work with us ... she's a bright gal."

Peterson said she put the bar up for sale for a simple reason. "'Cause I'm old and tired," she said with a laugh. "It's time."

Peterson and Brown first bought the bar in 1982, but sold it in the 90's. After a few years Peterson had to take it back herself, after the person they'd sold it to defaulted on their loan. She's been running it ever since and decided it was time to do some of the things she and Brown have been wanting to do, including visiting their own state. She said they have time now, since Brown also completed the sale of Sunshine Sawmill to Dan Fallis last month.

"We haven't seen the state of Montana. There's so much to see. We want to see our state and our country right here in the valley," she said. Otherwise, she said they don't have any big trips planned, and Brown is still operating his stump grinding and tree planting business here.

"I'm not going anywhere," Peterson said. "I'm staying in Lincoln."

As for the future of the Wilderness, Riesbeck said they aren't planning much in the way of changes. He said they'll carry on with the pool and dart tournaments that have become a staple of the Wilderness over the years, and are gearing up for the Annual Wilderness car show scheduled for Sept. 15.

"Why change something that works?" Riesbeck asked. "Excellent food, the staff is good, the bar's good."

He said they are looking into bringing in more live music and other events that use the beer garden, stage and outdoor grills behind the building.

Riesbeck admitted owning a bar will be a new experience for him. Although he owned a restaurant years ago, he has been primarily involved in the bail bond business with his brothers. He serves as the president of Bail Montana Inc., a business that includes Big Sky Bail Bonds, AAAction Bail Bonds and Grizzly Bail Bonds.

Since Reisbeck has business concerns in Helena, he and Jody plan to continue living there They will trust day-to-day management to Kevin Riesbeck's wife Toni Akins, who has past bar experience. However, on Monday Toni and Kevin's daughter fell ill, so Kelly and Jody were at the Wilderness learning the ropes from Peterson.

Riesbeck expects to develop a good working relationship with the other bars in the community.

"It seems like it's pretty tight knit. They all knows everybody," he said, "and, of course, there's competition."

The sale of the Wilderness marks the fourth bar on Lincoln's Main Street to change ownership within the last year, following in the footsteps of the Bootlegger, the Montanan Steakhouse, and Bushwackers. Though not primarily a drinking establishment, the Lincoln Hotel, which has a bar on its premises, also re-opened under new ownership in 2017.

Peterson, who has been a bar owner in Lincoln for most of the last three decades, said each establishment sold for different reasons, but said it's an interesting time for Lincoln.

"That's a big change in the community all in one year, to have basically all of this happen," she said.

As Peterson makes her own transition to the retired life, she wanted to thank all the faithful employees they've had over the years, as well as the establishment's patrons.

"They're not just patrons, they're true friends," she said. "Thank you to everybody."