The Outpost Bar & Grill has been standing since John Flynn opened its doors as a saloon in 1882. Later, John’s daughter Katherine and her husband Daniel W. Reynolds bought the saloon, added a couple additions, and made it a hotel/boarding house for the visitors and salesmen that came to town by train. The hotel business declined with the introduction of automobiles and highways, and the saloon had a dry spell during Prohibition from 1920-1933. It went back to being a tavern and has been that way ever since. The building remains to be the oldest in the Village of Cottage Grove, serving the community over the past 140 years!
There have been many owners over the years, and in 1989 it became the Outpost Bar and Grill. In the early 1900’s, a porch with a roof ran the length of the building along Main Street and was a popular spot in the evening for the locals. Today, we remain a popular spot for the locals with our outdoor patio, and a favorite spot on Friday nights for our famous Fish Fry! We are also a great place for summertime cyclists & bikers and wintertime snowmobilers with our proximity to the Glacial Drumlin Trail. Stop in to learn more history of our beautiful Town and Village of Cottage Grove!