A controversial Idaho saloon known for anti-LGBTQ+ promotions could soon get a dramatically different identity, with a new fundraising campaign aiming to turn it into a gay bar and community space.
Old State Saloon in Eagle is currently on the market for US$2.4 million, with its liquor licence available separately for another US$500,000. Boise-based organiser Montgomery Kuykendall has launched a US$3 million fundraiser in the hope of buying the property and transforming it into what he calls a permanent LGBTQ+ nightlife and community venue.
From Culture-War Venue To Queer Space
Old State Saloon has attracted national attention in recent years for promotions centred on conservative politics and opposition to LGBTQ+ visibility.
Owner Mark Fitzpatrick organised “Hetero Awesome Fest” in 2025 as an alternative to Pride, describing it as a celebration of traditional gender roles and heterosexuality. The event drew only around 30 to 50 people at a time.
The venue also later promoted free beer for people whose tips to US immigration authorities resulted in deportations.
Kuykendall’s proposed replacement, tentatively called New State Saloon, would deliberately turn that reputation on its head.
Organisers Want More Than A Bar
The plans include drag shows, dancing, live music, theme nights and Pride events, but organisers say they also want the building to function as a community space during the day.
Possible uses include workshops, art shows, fundraisers, LGBTQ+ resource events, community meetings and affordable space for local organisations.
The campaign also proposes donating between 2% and 5% of weekly proceeds to civil-rights organisations including the ACLU of Idaho and the Wassmuth Centre for Human Rights.
“A place associated with division can become a place where people meet,” the fundraiser says.
The Campaign Still Has A Long Way To Go
The US$3 million target means organisers still face a significant fundraising challenge, and there is no guarantee they will be able to purchase the building.
The campaign says donations are not investments and do not provide ownership in any future business.
If the sale cannot be completed, organisers say remaining funds, after any documented costs linked to attempting the purchase, will be donated to organisations working on LGBTQ+ rights, civil rights and human rights in Idaho.
For now, the idea remains ambitious. But the symbolism is hard to miss: a venue once known for positioning itself against Pride could eventually become the very thing it opposed.
