Wagon Wheel Saloon, 400 W. Naugle Avenue, Patagonia. Open Noon to 8 p.m. Sundays through Fridays, Noon to midnight Saturdays. Reservations accepted. Phone: (520) 394-2433.
Eclectic decor, hearty fare, cold beer: it’s a winning combination that keeps the Wagon Wheel Saloon rollin’ along.
And, as the adage goes, if it ain’t broke, why fix it?
“People like the rustic atmosphere and they like the food,” said Don Hawkins who, along with wife Juanita, owns the historic Patagonia property. In particular, diners comment on the burgers.
Pssst: and here’s the secret. Handmade patties and a char-broiled preparation.
“Some people come in and say they’ve traveled through five states and our burgers are the best,” Hawkins said.
Charlie Montoy, a Patagonia native, can attest to the restaurant’s food. He’s been going there since he was a kid.
“They treat me well. And they know what I like to eat,” Montoy said. And what he likes is the barbecue shredded beef sandwich.
Before 2009, you wouldn’t have found that, or any other food, at the Wagon Wheel. The saloon was strictly a place to drink.
Reopening the kitchen, the Hawkins brought in pub food—even before there was such a distinction. Deep fried mushrooms and zucchini, chicken wings, burgers and Mexican food.
Juanita gets a nod for the latter.
“My wife is from Mexico,” Hawkins said. Consequently, her contribution to the menu has included enchiladas, tacos, burritos and the much-loved chimichanga.
OK, chimichangas aren’t really from Sinaloa. Whatever.
Actually, that the Hawkins own the Wagon Wheel at all is the result of trips to visit family down south. Once when traveling back to Phoenix, where the couple lived, they opted for a detour through Patagonia.
That’s when they decided if they could, they would relocate here.
A CPA by trade, Hawkins moved to Patagonia and hung up his shingle in 1996. In 2009 he heard the Wagon Wheel was for sale and purchased it from Jerry Thummel. Thummel stayed on to help with inventory and purchasing, including weekly trips to Sam’s Club.
“It’s not unusual for people to get crosswise in a business transaction,” Hawkins said. That didn’t happen here. The two became close friends, golfing buddies. Passing away in August 2022, Thummel is still missed by his pal.
But Hawkins has plenty of folk to help keep the train on the tracks.
That’s Susi Santos, the Hawkins’ daughter, in the kitchen. Santos’ son, Alejandro, is nearby and helps with administration.
Servers Romeo, Gelo, Stephanie, Ryan and Amy are customer-facing team members.
“We’re blessed to have such great help,” Hawkins said. “We couldn’t do it without them.”
That celebrities have darkened the restaurant’s door over the years is a certainty considering the area’s draw as a movie location. But one celeb that sticks in Hawkins’ mind isn’t an actor. It was Jim Harrison, author of, among others, Legends of the Fall. Harrison died in 2016.
“We used to have people come here just to get a glimpse of him,” Hawkins said. And if you close your eyes, you can imagine the gnarly writer sitting at the horseshoe bar enjoying a burger and brew.
Founded in 1937 by Hugh K. Shumake, the Wagon Wheel was originally located at 300 Naugle Avenue, site of a now defunct gas station. Around 1958 it moved to its current location.
But at least some of the distinct décor dates back to Shumake.
Animal trophies? Check.
Western saddles? Check.
An 1800s back bar imported from Fairbank, AZ? Check.
Rikki Tikki?
Well, Rick Hall (aka Rikki Tikki) hasn’t really been leading karaoke since 1937. But he’s been a Saturday night fixture for as long as he—or anyone else—can remember.
“It’s a familiar crowd,” Hall said. “It used to be a lot of tourists but now it is more locals.”
With over 100,000 songs from which to choose, he prides himself on the fact that he can satisfy “cowboys, hippies and everyone in between.”
Just like the food.
Carrie White can be contacted at CarrieWhitePRT@gmail.com.