Old rumors finally realized with new Copper Queen owners

"When I was 18, 19, 20 years old, I'd hay during the day and bartend at night," said Helmville native Katie Applegate. "Even then there was discussion of the bar being for sale, and the locals being like 'you should run the bar...'"

Earlier this year, the idea that she would one day run the Copper Queen Saloon became a reality when she and her husband Tommy took over the business from Tammi Foell, who ran it for 21 years.

"There was always a rumor that once we moved back that we were gonna take it over," said Tommy, who retired last year after a 24-year career in the U.S. Army. Since his career in the Army kept them away from Helmville, buying the bar wasn't something they'd seriously considered.

"We were like, no, we're not gonna buy the bar," he said, but admitted they had talked about it and thought it would be kind of cool. When they were in Europe about six years ago, they'd visit taverns and pubs and pick up ideas they thought would be good if they ever did own a bar.

Later, while Tommy was at his last duty station, Foell e-mailed Katie to let her know the bar was up for sale and wanted to know if they were interested.

With Tommy's retirement approaching, they decided to start pursuing the purchase, and Katie said Foell never really gave them a chance to back out.

"She did a good job," Katie laughed.

The couple took over the operation of the saloon in May, and finalized the last of the paperwork in August.

Both Tommy and Katie see the bar as a way to give back to the community in which Katie, originally a Geary, grew up.

"I know a bar doesn't sound like a way of building a community, but they're so important to these small towns," Katie said.

Although the bar remains the core business, Kate said their marketing plan has changed a little since they took over, and they've been putting some effort into making the Copper Queen a more welcoming place for the entire community, including families.

"We're the only bar in Helmville, and it's a really great place. I tell so many people in the community, 'this is your bar, this is your bar. You're the ones who keep the lights on, not just for you, but for your kids who come too,'"said Tommy. "There are a lot of folks Katie and my age who have kids. I'm not saying a bar is a great place for kids, but I think a bar like this is unique."

Beyond being a saloon - which Katie said is definitely what people come for during big event weekends like the Helmville Rodeo - the Copper Queen is the only place in town where people can take guests out for a meal. She said serving food is the biggest part of the business for them, and that families coming in for a meal make up a major part of that.

"Even a lot of their regulars who have kids out of the house ... now have their grandkids," Katie said.

The eastern addition to the building, which houses the dance floor and band stand, now also features a box of toys to keep kids entertained when families do come in for a meal.

Katie said being more welcoming to families doesn't necessarily sit well with everyone.

"Not everyone likes change, and that's probably been the hardest part," she said.

But by and large, she said the locals have been supportive of their decisions for the business.

Cosmetically, the couple have made a few simple changes to the saloon. Out front, a simple drink rail and a few bar stools give patrons a place to sit out front while they enjoy their drinks.

"That was a quick add on that we did. A local recommended it and said he could do inexpensively and we decided to do it," Tommy said. "We want to eventually push out there a little bit. Having that out there and that view, its amazing.

Behind the building, Tommy and Katie's brothers expanded on the idea of using the outdoor space and built a beer garden in time for the annual rodeo, where it served as a venue for the band, until it got too chilly.

"They wanted to play outside, but eventually we got a bunch of guys together and we moved their equipment indoors. But everybody loved it," Tommy said.

They've also added Guiness on tap. Although it was supposed to be a one-time retirement deal for Tommy and for Katie's brother Jacob, who recently retired from the Marine Corps, it's been popular enough that they've kept it around, both for the customers who enjoy it and as a nod to the area's strong Irish heritage.

The Applegates hope to see the Copper Queen become a place that can serve as a catalyst for new ideas or events in the area, and they plan on adding displays and information on the history of the local area and ranching family to the bar, so visitors can have something to look at beside beer signs.

Their long-term dream is even more dramatic and may take quite a bit of effort and buy-in from the community and Powell County.

The couple are exploring whether it would be possible to relocate the county road shop that has been in the middle of Helmville for years, complete with its own large gravel pile. If they can find a way to relocate the shop, their goal is to acquire the old Helmville School building, which currently houses county equipment, and relocate it to the site of the Copper Queen, where it would replace the double-wide trailer that houses the saloon. The upper floor could then be converted into a local museum and meeting space for town, to preserve both the historic building and the area's history.

Regardless of how that effort pans out, Tommy said all their efforts are a good challenge.

"I think we have the energy and we want to keep going, to keep the community thriving," he said.