Vol. 1 Issue 1 - April 2010, Places To Go

Sporty's Iron Duke Saloon

By Ed Frulla   Thu, Feb 04, 2010

The story of Sporty's Iron Duke Saloon is the story of two men, two places and a common theme.  For more than 30 years, William "Iron Duke" Morrisey owned and operated the Wells House in Pottersville, New York.  Being an avid rider himself, the Iron Duke welcomed riders to his establishment and it quickly became one of the major "watering holes" frequented by the riders in the surrounding areas.  The Iron Duke was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident in 1998. 

With the passing of the Iron Duke, a void existed in the motorcycle world and another avid rider living in Glens Falls saw an opportunity to fill that void.  Sporty started looking for a place where he could create an establishment to honor the Iron Duke and fill that void.  Being an avid rider and also an avid collector, Sporty already had a head start on the items needed to create the perfect motorcycle décor.  All he needed was the right spot.

For 162 years, the Mountain View Motel was located in Minerva.  Sadly it was destroyed by fire and left dormant.  Sporty and his wife decided to give it a shot and they purchased the property in 2004.  It took Sporty and his friends 19 weekends (and who knows how much beer) to build the structure that exists today.  In honor of the Iron Duke, Sporty named his new establishment Sporty's Iron Duke Saloon.

When I first entered the Saloon, I started to wonder if I was in a tavern or if I had just entered a museum.  On the right are 3 of the 5 Harleys that Sporty owns.  There is a 1946 flat head in  Easy Rider style and colors , a 1949 pan head and a 1959 servi-car.  There is also a beast of a machine called a 1969 Rokon Trail Breaker that is a 2 wheel drive machine.  A very unusual machine and my guess is that if you rode it, it would break more than trails.  The walls and shelves are covered in motorcycle posters and any number of motorcycle collectibles. One other thing that you will feel when you first enter is a sense of belonging and welcome.  You are keenly aware that this is a place run by a rider for riders.

To be sure, Sporty is a rider and he has been riding since he was 17. The other 2 Harleys that he owns are a 1980 Electra Glide with a side car and a 2000 Electra Glide.  He used to ride 10,000 to 15,000 miles a year but now with the business, he considers himself lucky to get in 2,000 miles a year.  He and his wife were married in Sturgis during one of their trips there. 

The bar is well lighted, clean and comfortable with ample space to sit and relax.  Go out the back door and there is a welcoming covered deck with ample outdoor seating and just beyond that is the fire pit and BBQ pit.  Sporty provides free covered camping.  If your tastes run a little more civilized, take advantage of one of the many cabins that are available.  There are the usual summer time activities such as horse shoes and basketball and there is a public beach just across the road.  If your idea of summer activities involves removing the potential mileage from the rear tire of your bike, you might want to take advantage of the burn out pit.  When the customers started having burnout competitions on the main road and it became an annoyance, Sporty installed a pit on the property. 

The menu consists of burgers, chicken sandwiches and pizza.  I have been told that you must try the Adirondack Road Burger.  The bar is well stocked with wines and liquors, and I can attest to the fact that the beer is always cold but never on tap.

As riders ourselves, we know that charity is a large part of the rider culture.  We all love to ride and it feels just so much better when it is for a worthy cause.  Sporty has a heart that is as big as his Iron Duke Saloon.  There are 3 primary charities that benefit from Sporty's generosity.  They are the Christopher Reeve Foundation for Spinal Cord Research, the Essex County Toys for Kids and the Minerva Food Pantry.

On June 12^th 2010 (the last day of Americade)  Sporty's Iron Duke Saloon in association with the Goat Brothers motorcycle club in Saratoga will hold their annual "Bike Show". There will be custom bikes on display, a live band, food and vendors.  The event starts at 11:00 AM and ends at 6:00 PM.  Admission is $10.00 per person.  This is a popular event and last year over 800 people showed up raising an estimated $8,000 for the foundation.  An early arrival and a late departure are highly recommended and if you do come, be sure to look us up because you can bet on the fact that we will be there.

Throughout the summer there are many events scheduled which support the Essex County Toys for Kids program.  This charity provides toys for children during the Christmas holiday that otherwise would go without.  Last year toys were provided for 400 children in 8 schools and the goal this year is provide toys for 800 children in 11 schools.  Last year a restored 1961 Model B Mack truck was donated from the private collection of an anonymous individual and was auctioned during the July Hot Rod and Harleys Car/Bike show.  This generous donation raised $20,000 for the charity.

On October 2, 2010 is the Annual Turkey Trot - Mystery Ride. The donation to participate in the ride is a frozen turkey.  All the turkeys collected are given to the Minerva Food Pantry to support their efforts to provide Holiday meals to those in need. 

Please see the Schedule of Events following this article for the complete list of what is happening at Sporty's Iron Duke Saloon. 

From cars to bikes to auctions, there is always something going on and something interesting to do.    

By Ed Frulla