Wheel Bar — Restaurant in Estes Park

This place has been terrible every single time I’ve been here for the last 10+ years. Over the years I’ve encountered incredibly rude, dismissive, and drunk bartenders, which is whatever, part of the charm of a dive bar I guess? Tonight I went in with my parents. My mom wanted to show my dad the wheel, and when we walked in they asked for IDs. That’s fine, but I didn’t have mine, so I just asked for water. I was told I needed to leave. When I asked why, I was told I was never allowed to be in there without one. I currently work at a bar in Estes, I know for a fact that isn’t true, not to mention Colorado law states the same. The bartender blamed it on the owner, saying they were so strict and no one under 21 was allowed. I’m well over 30, have lived in Estes for 10+ years, and again, work at a bar in town. I totally understand not serving someone without an ID, that’s on me forgetting it, but I asked for a water, not alcohol, and instead we all had to leave because of this (6 people). It’s just par for the course of incredibly rude and dismissive bartenders in the wheel for as long as I’ve lived here. By the way, 90% of the people in there looked under 21, but hey, what do I know right? I warned my parents it would be like this, and sure enough, the bartender...

The Bartender, I think his name is Shawn or Shane, about late 30s mid 40s, maybe older, made our night and weekend. He was Professional and consistently on top of it all! He stopped in the middle of pouring drinks to tend to what I assume was a security issue and was back in what seemed like seconds. The people next to me couldn't understand why they needed their I.D.s and started to get upset. I saw through the amateurs and held out my I.D. with my credit card (like a normal person who has been to a bar before) and he got me a pint of porter quickly and then quickly tended to another issue, (fixing the beer keg after the tap was starting to foam) but was back in no time to politely explain the beer prices again to the amateurs (who finally had out their ID's) during this time I saw him make several drinks and all the time he had a watchful eye about the place and a great attitude and also a good sense of humor about all of us thirsty people. Half of the fun was just watching the two bartenders work so efficiently! I felt safe and welcome and stayed till closing time both nights. Jon was great too! I can see that Shane is the backbone of this fine establishment and as I have read other reviews that don't agree I say...

!!!IF YOU'RE NOT LOCAL THEN DON'T GO!!! We walk in to only five people in the bar. Walk past the bartender and she noticed us but doesn't say anything to us and we sat down at the bar. As we are looking over what they have and deciding what we want another group of people come in. The bartender walks past us and starts talking to them and they all must know eachother with how they were talking. Mind you she still hasn't greeter us or even looked at us a second time. Well while they all were talking and catching up she takes their drink order and starts making their 5 drinks. As she's walking past us to get things to make these drinks, she is actively trying to not make eye contact because I'm sure my stare was burning a hole through her. Well she makes those drinks then moves to one of the people we're already at the bar before we got there and catches up with him for a bit and then makes him a drink, all while making sure to not look our way. While we were sitting there and actively being ignored, I heard one of her conversations and she was talking about not making any money and it being slow..... I can see why they are slow and I can really see why she...