Mermaids…in the mountains of Montana? Yetis, maybe, but it takes a pretty special bar to lure mystical sea creatures far inland, and The Sip 'n Dip is just that place: a tropical paradise in Big Sky Country!
As any Sip 'n Dip regular will tell you, your first move is to order one of the famous blue fishbowl drinks. This signature cocktail's exact recipe is a family secret, but we can tell you that it includes 52 OUNCES of spiced rum, regular rum, coconut rum, blue schnapps, blue curacao, vodka or tequila (depending on the bartender), fruit juices, soda and garnishes. (You'll definitely want to bring a handful of friends to help you finish this massive drink!)
The Sip 'n Dip Lounge was opened in Great Falls in 1962 and still sports much of its original decor. From tiki heads, tropical flowers, and seashells, to tables decorated with golden seahorse decals, each detail inspires island vibes.
Behind the bar is the main attraction: a window into the pool, where mermaids and mermen swim daily. Many celebs have even taken selfies with this famous backdrop.
The talented "mer-ployees" perform underwater tricks and even pose in the window for pictures—if you tip them in their "Mermaid Tips" fishbowl, of course! Their uniforms are custom mermaid suits designed by the Sip 'n Dip general manager Sandra Johnson-Thares.
And if you’re interested in making some mermaid tips of your own, you're in luck as they are currently hiring mermaids and mermen! You might even end up being proposed to underwater by a fellow mer-person...two employees actually got engaged here in 2017!
But the Sip's entertainment doesn't stop at mermaids. Their famous keyboard player, Piano Pat, has been performing for 56 years! I even met a couple who traveled from Canada this past New Years, just for one night, to get a fishbowl and hear her play.
And I can confirm, this bar is most definitely worth traveling for.
Follow The Sip 'n Dip on Instagram.
