Fifty Feet from Mexico
In the tiny border town of Naco, Arizona, where the pavement sometimes feels optional, stands a time capsule known as the Gay 90’s Bar. Located just 50 feet from the Mexican border, this historic dive has been the “neighborhood’s oldest watering hole” since it officially opened in its current form in 1931.
Despite its name, the Gay 90’s is famously a “hetero bar” with a name rooted in 1890s nostalgia. The name refers to the “Gay 1890s,” a period associated with prosperity and merriment before the term “gay” took on its modern primary meaning.
True West Magazine once colorfully dubbed it the “Best Name for a Hetero Bar in a Redneck Border Town”.
While not a gay bar, the establishment proudly identifies as LGBTQ-friendly and remains a welcoming spot for everyone, from local bikers to curious tourists from nearby Bisbee.
The bar’s walls are practically a museum of Naco history, housing a famous binder of old photographs that patrons are encouraged to request.
Local lore suggests that Ronald Reagan, who owned a ranch about 30 minutes away in Sonora, Mexico, was a visitor. One popular (and likely embellished) story claims Nancy Reagan once had such a “gay old time” in 1980 that the President-to-be had to help her to their van.
The bar sits in what is now a mostly abandoned downtown area. Its original building served as a cafe and bar in the late 1800s; after the bar portion burned down, the cafe was converted into the current structure.
Their Bloody Marys are locally renowned, and the bar maintains a surprisingly diverse liquor selection for its remote location.
Far from just a bar, the Gay 90’s remains the center of the Naco community, often partnering with the local fire district for fundraisers.
Know Before You Go
- Navigational Coordinate: Townley Ave & Newell St, Naco, AZ (directly north of the border fence).
- The Geographic Shift: Naco is approximately 15 minutes south of Bisbee. The drive via Highway 92 takes you through the stark, horizontal beauty of the border valley.
- The Fiscal Exchange: While they accept modern payments, this is a “cash-heavy” environment. Small bills are preferred for the “tip-jar economy” that keeps this relic functioning.
- The Temporal Cycle: Hours can be “mercurial.” While generally open from 10:00 AM to late evening, the bar operates on a rhythm dictated by border traffic and local heat.
- The Parking Protocol: Horizontal and dusty. Park your vehicle in the unpaved lot out front; there are no meters or vertical challenges here.
More Bisbee Bars
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Bisbee Grand Saloon
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Bisbee Social Club
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Bisbee’s Table
Housed within a building that bears the sturdy, brick-and-timber geometry of a bygone department store, Bisbee’s Table functions as a sensory heat-sink for the town’s central plaza.
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Gay 90’s Bar
In the tiny border town of Naco, Arizona, where the pavement sometimes feels optional, stands a time capsule known as the Gay 90’s Bar.
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Gene’s Place
In the winding, storied streets of Bisbee’s Brewery Gulch, Gene’s Place stands as a revived landmark of Southern Arizona’s past.
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Hitching Post Saloon
The Hitching Post Saloon has been a cornerstone of Warren life since 1947, and it remains the town’s premier “neighborhood living room”.
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House Royale Bar & Restaurant
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Room 4 Bar
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St. Elmo Bar
In the center of Bisbee’s historic Brewery Gulch, St. Elmo Bar stands as a gritty, unpolished monument to Arizona’s frontier history.
