The town of La Grange, is situated on the Tuolumne River, and is in the County of Stanislaus, thirty-five miles southwest of the gold mining towns of Columbia and Sonora.  Originally called French Bar, named after early French settlers, La Grange is about 25 miles west of the Mother Lode Highway.  La Grange is one of the oldest towns in the County and dates back to the early days of 1849 when the excitement of the gold rush ran high.  Other towns such as Sonora, Twain Harte, Columbia and Knight’s Ferry are in close proximity to La Grange and where, incidentally, antiquing is very popular. 

La Grange was used as the location for Bret Harte’s stories.  Three of Bret Harte’s books, “M’liss,” “The Tale of Three Truants,” and “Four Guardians of La Grange” depicted episodes of Harte’s teaching career in La Grange. 

La Grange has several old cemeteries and head stones still indicate names of early settlers buried there.  French trappers founded the oldest Catholic Church in Stanislaus County, the St. Louis Catholic Mission, in 1852. The church sits atop a bluff overlooking a once booming gold town. The church cemetery dates back 130 years. The church still continues to serve the Catholic community with mass every Saturday evening at 5:30 and again on Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m.  

The La Grange Saloon was originally known as the Levaggi Bar, built in 1897, by Louis Levaggi, Sr.  Having been rebuilt after a fire, it has been in continuous operation. Today, the La Grange Saloon and Grill is currently owned and operated by Bob and Deborah Parsons. 

The Saloon is a place where everyone gets to know you.  With a large back yard and a small stage, the Saloon features a Blues and Barbeque with a band playing every Sunday during the summer months.  The BBQ features a barbeque tri-tip sandwich along with a Sante Fe chicken sandwich. It’s famous prime rib sandwich and prime rib dinner is always featured.  See the menu for details. 

Among its many activities, the Saloon participates in events known by motorcyclist enthusiasts as “poker runs” and “car runs” for the less daring devotees of mobile entourages. 

The bar welcomes everyone: tourists, families, campers, and bikers.  It is a low-key fun place to stop in, and have a cool beverage, a meal, and meet new friends. 

So whatever your interest, visit the La Grange Saloon and Grill to enjoy your favorite past time.