Crazy Horse

HISTORY 

Did you know that Crazy Horse used to be a hotel? It also used to be across from a train station. The railroad was called the Monon railroad. The monon railroad is what the B-line is now.  Because the train went by the hotel, passengers would stay at the hotel. 

The building itself was used by the Gentry Bros. The Gentry Bros is a traveling circus started by Henry Gentry. He started it as a dog and pony show with his dog, Shep. He also trained stray dogs he found around Bloomington. Then he hired three of his brothers. They used the building for storing their dogs in the 1900s. They kept the bigger animals like elephants, lions, and camels in another building across from Crazy Horse. For one of their acts they kept famous dogs that would dress up like husband and wife and dance around the stage. It was really famous at the time, called the Snyder family.  By 1910, Gentry Bros Circus was the biggest traveling circus in the country. It was even bigger than the Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey. Every year they would have their first act at the Dunn Meadow. 

The brothers started not just the circus, but also Gentry Remedy Co. where they would travel around and make elixirs, they sell to dogs and humans. They created the elixirs and medicines inside of the Crazy Horse building to keep the animals they had inside the Crazy Horse healthy.

There was a street that comes from the Gentry Bros circus called Gentry Street that is across from the crazy horse today. This area of town was called the levee and was considered the rough part of town.

Crazy Horse became a bar in 1979. Then in the 1980s the ownership changed. After a while, 7 years later, in 1987, Two Rats Inc bought it two Rats Inc is owned by Ron Stanhouse and the co-owner Liz stanhouse. when they bought it they named it the Crazy Horse. Two Rats, inc, owns all of  Crazy Horse, Upstairs Pub, and Alley Bar. Ron Stanhouse acquired the Crazy Horse bar after he moved to Bloomington, Indiana. Ever since then Ron Stanhouse has owned it for more than 30 years. 

ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY

Crazy Horse has such a huge role in the Bloomington community. Crazy Horse has collaborated with the Upstairs Pub and the Alley Bar for a long time now (because they are all owned by the same company, all owned by Two Rats, inc). They do fundraisers like trivia nights and other different events. Ron Stanhouse has a really big goal, to have a place where lots of people like citizens, tourists, etc, can feel safe, have a good time, and eat good food. They have many products and a variety of food and drinks. They actually have a cocktail called the gentry remedy, connecting them to the past of the building. As well as memorabilia on the walls. They are known for the “around the world in 80 beers” challenge. That's why is has such a big role in the Bloomington community.