The ORIGINAL home of the WILD WEST SALOON is coming back to life under the new name BOOT SCOOT’N BOOGIE and new owner Terrylynn!! As a matter of fact, this mobile Dance Club has ALREADY been voted as runner up in having the best stage to play on in the City of Edmonton as per YEGMUSIC Magazine.
www.edmontonmuse.ca
Published back in January 2012 was a story by GigCity’s Mike Ross stating that “the Wild West Saloon is history – and so is Edmonton country bar band scene.” Boot Scootin’ Boogie is going to change that!
After ownership changing hands from Wilf to Davis to Johnny then to Trent and Lyle, who kept the name the Wild West Saloon it abruptly closed in December 2012. It then went to Randy, Leigh and his partner Connie who changed the name to Fandango’s, then to Adam and Omar who again rebranded the Club to Draft Bar and Grill, and then to Dawn who had changed the name to Draft Country Nightclub. This room has suffered a lot of transition, each being more detrimental than the last.
Each owner has had his/her own idea as to what they wanted to “change” this wonderful room into. The reality at the end of the day is that due to demographics what they tried was unsuccessful. No matter what goes into this room it will always be viewed as the Heir of the Wild West Saloon, a Country room.
I have personally been blessed to be a part of this venues history and have gained a family as such. I have been a dance instructor, patron, bartender, floor manager, supervisor and marketing manager in the location we historically know as the Wild West Saloon on 50th street.
I have been at this venue through all of its transitions/owners as I am passionate about this room and the possibilities it has. I can't explain it but this room is "home" to many others and myself! It was the Wild West for 30 years so evidently it has great potential! It has weathered a number of changes but it will always be the “Original Home of the Wild West Saloon” we plan to revive the LIVE Country Music and the Wild West atmosphere. I have witnessed it go from the Wild West, to Fandangos, to Draft Bar and Grill and finally to Draft Country Nightclub...and I have read reviews upon reviews of each venue name and owner, the Wild West Saloon having the longest standing success in the room at 30 years open.
When the final closure happened in April of 2016 I decided to take the bull by the horns and do something about it. I started out hosting “The West Hall Parties but soon realized what we needed was to keep the History of the Wild West alive but accept that it is gone and there was a need to freshen up. I was tossing names around with a friend and we came up with Boot Scootin’ Boogie Dance Club and it has since stuck!
The first dance was March 19, 2016, College Rodeo weekend. I hired a local Band, The Danita Lynn Band, and got a Hall close by the Wild West Saloon and got the word out. That was the start of what I am doing now. I plan to be the next in keeping this room alive for a long standing period of time!
This passion I have for Live Music began in this wonderful room. I believe it would definitely assist in the rooms success outlining the history of where Boot SCootin’ Boogie Dancehall oringinated from. It would be of great historical value to the City and a North side to introduce the new Community Recreation Center. It is important in eliminating the negative tone that has brought to this room. It will be a new room with FANTASTIC potential to last another 30 years!