The Silver Valley's Snakepit
Joe Peak remembers the first time he walked into the Snakepit. A jewel-bedecked woman tended the bar. Paintings and posters and Western memorabilia covered the walls and hung from the ceiling. Smoke filled the air. It was January 1978, “The bar was three deep with loggers and miners,” Peak said. “It was surreal, it really was. A pretty rowdy bunch.” Weeks later, he owned the place. But for the first time in forever, the future of the Snakepit, est. 1880, is in doubt.
Section:Picture story
The Enaville Resort has been known over the years as The Snake Pit, Josies, and Clark Hotel in Kingston, Idaho.
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Joe and Rosemary Peak were featured in the Shoshone News Press in 2008 for 30 years in operation at the Enaville Resort.
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“People would just bring stuff in,” said Joe Peak, owner of Enaville Resort in Kingston about the many items on display.
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The Enaville Resort has been known over the years as The Snake Pit, Josies, and Clark Hotel in Kingston, Idaho.
Kathy Plonka The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
“I would say it’s uncertain, we’re just going to take a step back right now,” said Joe Peak as he talked about the Enaville Resort aka The Snake Pit in Kingston, Idaho.
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“Everyone brought in their pet rock ” said Joe Peak, owner of Enaville Resort in Kingston about the construction of the fireplace.
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“He’s been here since the 1950’s,” said Joe Peak, owner of Enaville Resort in Kingston on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012, about “Barnacle Bill” made from wood out of Canada.
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“People would just bring stuff in,” said Joe Peak, owner of Enaville Resort in Kingston about the many items on display.
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Many of the items in the Snakepit have been brought in by patrons over the years.
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“They were here when we got here,” said Joe Peak, owner of Enaville Resort in Kingston about the deer mounts on display.
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“Mitzi the wonder dog ” was a fixture at the Enaville Resort along with her owner Don Krueger. Mitzi even had her own table.
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“People would just bring stuff in,” said Joe Peak, owner of Enaville Resort in Kingston about the many items on display.
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“Fastest artist in the West, ” said Joe Peak about this painting by Joe Breckenridge at the Enaville Resort in Kingston, Idaho on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012.
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This newspaper from December 31,1941 was on display at the Enaville Resort in Kingston, Idaho.
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“They all have to be hand washed,” said Joe Peak, owner of the Enaville Resort about the plates that are used in the restaurant/bar in Kingston, Idaho.
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“That came out of a South Hill (Spokane) mansion,” said Joe Peak, owner of Enaville Resort about the portrait of Theodore Roosevelt at the restaurant/bar in Kingston, Idaho.
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Rocky Mountain Oysters have been on the menu at the Enaville Resort since the 1950’s.
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“People would just bring stuff in,” said Joe Peak, owner of Enaville Resort in Kingston about the many items on display.
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This is the view from the front porch of the Enaville Resort on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012. “I would say it’s uncertain, we’re just going to take a step back right now,” said Joe Peak
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A sign in front of the Enaville Resort explains the recent issues surrounding the popular restaurant/bar in Kingston, Idaho.
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