Nestled in the tiny community of Kingston off of I-90 is one of the most bizarre and truly charismatic places in all of Idaho. The Snake Pit (formerly known as The Enaville Resort, Josie’s, Clark Hotel, and many other names) is credited to being one of Idaho’s oldest restaurants.
Established in 1880, The Snake Pit has a truly unique history, serving as a hotel, a brothel, and a bar at different points in time. Today, it is one of the region’s most beloved restaurants. If you stop by the restaurant today, you won’t see any ladies of the night or (hopefully) snakes. However, it’s still chock full of the kitschy memorabilia and unique character that’s made the Snake Pit so loved over the last century.
Stepping through the Snake Pit's front doors feels like stepping back in time to the days of the Wild West, when bars like these served as a place to wet your whiskers before moving on to the next town.
There are several theories as to why the restaurant took on the name of the Snake Pit, one of which claims that water snakes used to be rampant in the swampy area where the outhouses used to be located.
Right off the bat you'll realize this restaurant is unlike any other in the world. Even the patio looks like something from a different era.
The decor really looks like something straight off of a movie set.
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In the early days, the Snake Pit could be described as a "house of ill repute." If you look closely, you can see the red light bulb attached to one of the skulls hanging on the front of the building. When this bulb was switched on, that meant the brothel was ready for customers.
The kitsch is amplified the moment you step inside. You won't get tired of looking around the place at all of the odd items placed randomly about, some of which have sat inside the bar for decades.
The Snake Pit is full of weird furniture unlike anything you've seen before. Most famous is a chair that dates back to 1954 which is made completely out of elk horns and skin.
The fireplace was put together by the community, you might say. Customers brought in their own rocks for the fireplace to be made out of. You'll have to see if you can spot the heart-shaped rock, the ceramic frog, or one of the pieces of petrified wood!
Through all of the decades and various owners, the Snake Pit has maintained its famous reputation as one of the most strange and novel places you'll ever experience. The rich history and the outrageous decor is what draws people in, but it's the sense of community and (most importantly) the amazing food that keeps them coming back.
