Wagon Wheel

BEST BAR IN ASHLAND! I frequented this establishment as a college undergrad and so many memories were made while «wheelin’ it.»

The Wagon Wheel typifies all that is the midwestern, working class dive bar. It has cheap beers, one of those old analog cash registers (no credit cards, of course), one pool table and a couple of old cue sticks, and a regular crowd. It’s also the oldest bar in town, which gives it a cross-​generational tradition. The jukebox is surprisingly eclectic, and don’t be surprised if you hear both Bruce Springsteen and Outkast in the same evening. The crowd is diverse, from college kids to regulars, and there’s always someone to talk to.
That being said, if you’re not into the rustic bar scene, this is probably a place to avoid. You may be regarded with suspicion if you’re new to the place, but that will subside after a subsequent visit. There is no food served except on special occasions (Thanksgiving, Super Bowl, St. Patty’s, etc.), and don’t try to order a liquor drink more complex than whiskey and Coke, because they probably don’t know how to make it (or even carry the correct liquors). Personally, I loved this place when I lived in Ashland. I never had a bad time there and the people were great. But it’s not a stop-​by-​for-​a-​one-​time-​visit place, either.