I used to work at a busy-on-the-weekends nightclub and it seemed like every other new hire was from this place and/or Outlaws and had nothing nice to say about it. New management fucked them over, blah blah blah, the usual. This place was also listed on every other job application's work history, and we'd get dozens of those a week. I'd never been there, I can't stand seeing grown men wearing dumb cowboy gear and listening to them insist that they're "real" cowboys even though they don't live anywhere near the country. I grew up by the beach, should I wear my wetsuit all the time? Anyway with that kind of turnover it's anyone's guess if this bar's gonna make it. Outlaws didn't. If the management there makes the management at Concept Entertainment look like an improvement, I'm not too hopeful.

I'm gonna set the mood straight about the bad blood from the perspective of a former employee from the original staff. I was one of the security managers of the facility. Security/law enforcement is my career so i take my job very seriously even when it used to be just being some douchebag bouncer at "The Candy Store". I put everything i had into NOT getting the place sued, NOT driving customers away with staff attitude and, NOT having the weakest bar in town. When my guys were there, boucin, serving food and pourin booze, we had a pretty good time and MOST of us loved the place and would, and DID, protect the place with our lives. The reason being because the original guys who ran the joint were 2 o the four BEST BAR MANAGERS i have ever worked for. and i've worked for close 15 bars in the Portland area. When the new managment came in they begged us to stay after the other staff quit the first night. We pitched in and poured drinks and served food and basically did all the stuff that bouncers DON'T GET PAID TO DO. Then I came in one day to work my shift and found that some other douche had my job and the ownership did not even bother to talk to me face to face about it. So here i was minus 30-40hrs per week without any reason. My boys an I pour out our time, sweat, and blood for this place and that's what we got. From a customer stand point, if you come into a place and everyone knows you and treats you like a star you wanna go back. If one day you go in and all those guys got fire, the bar may be the same, the food may be the same and booze is booze where ever you go...but it's nots the same. I can't speak about the current managers because my WHOLE staff got canned 18months ago but it's bad business to have that kind of turnover. It left a bad taste in my mouth and quit a few of my old regulars who became friends after all was said and done. I hope they can get the old vibe back because it really was a cool place originally.

I used to serve and bounce at BC's and I wish it was still around it was the only place you had a true old country feel. With a play list of old hawk and southern dirty blues and stiff drinks, I spent alot of what I made drinking there myself... I really do miss it.

I too was one of the many people who thought this was going to be a great addition to our local night scene. I heard early on about the people getting hit on 99E, the DUII's, parking issues but I still kept going for support. Now it's true, like so many other bar owners they just don't have a clue on what people want. Lose the cover charge and ask the customers what they want to see! New owner or not it's not rocket science.

All these reviews have been so diluted by owner/management, employees, and competitors, they are probably all inaccurate but kudos to your journalistic tenacity, NEW. Now if only the new owners would come forward and say "hey man...this is a totally new establishment now." Otherwise, the reputation stands.

Portland's Urban Cowboy Disneyland establishments pull the sleaziest stuff on our site. ALL of them, with the exception of the old BC's American Saloon do this. And BCs might have too, they just escaped my detection.

For an example of the crap Thunder Ranch pulled on BarFly, check out what they did at the lame club rating site below:

http://www.clubratingz.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tcvid=20090

What I've been tring to figure out is why everyone is so mad about this place. I decided to do some digging. I talked to some of the old employees and they said that once new ownership took over, a bunch of old employees decided to write reviews. Who cares if there is a different owner?! Did you really have a reason to be that devoted to the old owners?! It's still the same bar and it would have still been a job! The environment is the same. Stan, the bull still gives rides, the pool tables still function, the dance floor and the stage are still used, and the food and drinks are still good. Not to mention, they have some new and old staff. The new staff is working really hard to learn the dances and keep the feel of Thunder Ranch. So, instead of living in the past, move on! Work your new job and stop wasting your time posting false reviews! If people want to check the place out....let them! Let's all be adults here.

It's just too loud to talk with anyone. Does have some good bands playing - that's alot of fun, but if you're going to converse with others forget it.

On a side note, the guys that run the mechanical bull are pretty close to 'tarded. Not only do they think they are cool because "they run the bull" but they constantly make "pussy" symbols with their hands to scare you into riding the bull. Listen you little fucks, if I want to fuck up my back, I'll do it doing something else than impressing people with my mechanical bullriding skills. Also as an aside, we asked the door-man to the bull how much he could deadlift; guy said 396 - I'd place that fat fuck at 135.

I went to the "Thunder Ranch" the other weekend and had the absolute worst time of my life in that bar. Lets start by walking into an empty bar and getting charged 5 bucks! Yeah, 5 bucks big deal.... But, what am I paying for? To breath their air? Oh, and did I mention I got harrassed about my ID? Thanks for the compliment honey but I'm a 35 year old mother of 2 and I know I look it. It took forever to find our waitress. We tried ordering from the bar... Good luck finding a bartender. The food was good but a little pricey considering what you got. I could see paying those prices if I wanted to go out to dinner, but not in a place I want to hang out and dance. Drink prices were good... again if you could find someone to help you and if they made your drink properly. This place was nothing like I heard from my friends. Sexy girls? Fun bartenders? Party atmosphere? None of that. Boring and lazy staff, annoying security, no people, no line dancing, and over priced food. Made my friend's birthday a total disaster. This is not a country/rock dance bar. This is an oversized, over decorated, and overpriced locals hole in the wall tavern. I'm sticking with Dukes for my country fix and telling all my friends how bad it was at Thunder Ranch.

I've been going to this bar since it opened. Yeah it kicked ass in the beginning. The non smoking got a little annoying. I don't like standing outside in the cold while my friends smoke. I like the decor how it's really in theme although was very disappointed when then new management came in. It was like, "in with the new and out with the FUN". No booty shorts with chaps?! What is that about? Not that any of the girls have butts worth looking at anymore anyhow. And where did all the hot girls go that worked there? There are a very few "decent" looking girls that work there, but nothing I'm going to drive across town for. They had some good entertainment, but they got rid of the various mix music that brought in the crowd, The fire dancing got old after the first time, the fiddler took my beer and drank out of it and handed it back?!, the girls dance on the bar while I'm waiting for my food and drinks, not to mention you can't get a drink cuz they are too busy sitting in the smoking section/riding the bull/hanging out with their friends/or standing at the bar talking to some guy or playing with their hair, the only bartender with any skill in entertaining flipping bottles and blowing flame I found out last weekend is gone, the last cute server is gone, the security has an attitude and when you ask to talk to their boss out comes this big fat guy with piercings and tats that smells like pot. Sometime before the new years the place has nose dived and they've lost every little thing worth going to see. I used to do secret shopper work and so I notice every little detail like this. I would definately give this place a bad review. Not worth the drive across town to B.F.E. anymore

Look, if ya don't like teh no smokin rules and don't like goin outside to fix your habit, QUIT SMOKIN!

There, that wasn't so bad was it! Even you are a fuckin idiot while the rest of the world gets a clue!

I quit smoking over two and a half years ago. yeah I'd be proud, cept I never should have started! Anywho, this is a great bar, and because it's non-smoking, I'll be back!

Besides, I'd rather the ladies smell me, and not my burnt tobacco!

whats with all the controversy? i cant tell if theres a single helpful critique in here! sounds like a family feud. theres nothing wrong with this bar. its just a regular place, with regular people. it has pool tables and plays music and has good food and drinks, just like every other place. so why does this place have so many more reviews? its just as good or bad as any other.

shove it!

"no smoking is great! good food and service. the bull was a riot. some of the girls rock, but need more."

hey, i got one for ya, youre a fuckin asshole! did someone give you free cover to write that? no smoking is great? no smoking sucks! have you been outside lately? i want to sit at the bar and drink and smoke so i dont have to freeze my ass off. the bull was a riot? youre sooo gay. a riot? was it really? some girls rock, but need more? were you in a hurry when you wrote that, and just couldnt express your thought with a complete sentence? i'll tell you what...none of the girls rock. if you think they really rock now, you should have seen the originals. i mean, i appreciate new management branching out and getting a red head, but for fucks sake! did they have to get the one that looks like the bitter beer face man? PortlandBoy, you can have your shitty no talent bar and you can love the piss out of it. but for those of us who were there in the begining when it was the real thing, we'll accept no substitute...especially one as uncreative and desperate as this.

want a bar with tons of hot chicks and hot bartenders a professional DJ and a security staff that isnt in your face all night...ruining your fun? than DONT come here! this is the kind of place fat girls can come and graze in peace and not have to be shown up. this wierd witch looking pinch faced nasty red head in chaps made me a long island with whisky in it. WTF! The DJ wouldnt take any of my requests but every fat girl rubbing her tits on the chicken wire...and ok the bouncers werent that bad. they were actually nice but probably only because they knew me and my boys could tear the place down if we wanted. thumbs up their asses! anyway point being once upon a time i used to drive my way from coos bay once a month or so to come party my ass off. but the hot girls are all gone and the hot bartenders that used to get me drunk arent here either. the music is the same every hour and the only good thing is that the new bouncers are pansies. this place is crap!

No smoking is great! Good food and service. The bull was a riot. Some of the girls rock, but need more.

If Lou says it's good, it has to be good. She's got a firm grasp on, well, everything. Maybe Thunder Ranch needs a Buns & Guns contest to win Lou's fickle heart. If Dukes is so fucking awesome, why does Lou keep tempting fate and leaving the greatest of all bars? I like how she makes fun of people for not knowing the most pitiful of line dances. Does that make her super pitiful for knowing it?

Ok here it is...and beleive me the truth hurts...3 friends and my self decided to take a break from Dukes and go to Thunder Ranch...But what I saw was so disapointing that I got mad...It seemed the whole bar revolved around some chick wearing chaps, with her ass hanging out, dancing on some platform, I could not see what it was...all the guys in the bar stopped what they were doing when she was dancing, with their mouths open and I do beleive I saw some of them drooling...I was hopeful when I heard a couple of my favorite line dance songs...but it seems like no one knew even the simplest of line dances - The Boot Scoot Boogie, and that is pitiful...You people are just plain pitiful...any one that thinks this place is great, does not get out much, it is crap...GET A LIFE...Dukes is outliving all you loser bars...Lou (Woman in Black)

I WAS a regular at the Ranch since it opened. Six months later there was a well known change in ownership, the whole staff left (and yes the "talent" was A+++++, you cant deny it) and everyone who went there and loved the unique attention to detail, great mix of cowboys, DT club kids, and hot ass, as well as its creative promotions, and kickass spirit of the place, does not attend anymore. You cannot compare how it was to Dukes, it was a Vegas quality venue, which seemed like a swiss watch how it ran. I drive by on my way home on friday and saturday nights and there is 20 cars in the lot! THIS PLACE SUCKS TERRIBLY, AND HAS FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS. Completly different now: Ugly chicks that dont do anything near the original TR cowgirl show, rude no personality service, shitty promotions, and a focus on Rap! There was rumors that a some big corporation bought the place or something, whatever happened god I miss the Ranch that was. If you go today it is a completly different bar and should be thought of as such. Alas, all good things...

I thought this place rocked! yall are crazy! it mighta sucked 6 months ago but the weekends kick ass now! so screw it

somebody lied to me. ive been in iraq for the last year and a half and i couldnt wait to come see what all my friends had been writing to me about. yeah there were girls dancing, but they shouldnt have been. there was this disgusting little redhead thing up on a barrel and next time i come home im bringing her some traditional muslim clothing so i dont have to see that shit. the ONLY good thing about this place was the service was fast...because there was NOBODY there...ON A SATURDAY! jimmy, bo, creek, next weekend i'll see you at Dukes.

I went to check out Thunder Ranch having no idea what to expect. IT WAS GREAT!!! Great sound system, great crowd (not just a bunch of drunken @#$!#) and great service. An awesome place to go to drink, be loud and have fun!!!

I went last weekend and was fairly disappointed. They market themselves as a "Country Bar". Other then the decor, this was by far the worst "Country Bar" I've ever seen. I hardly ever drink, and I went out that night with the intention of being able to get drunk. Before I went I had vodka and orange juice so I was feeling good, when I got there I had a Madori Sour, Vodka and Red bull, and a Jager Bomb and felt NOTHING! My boyfriend had 4 AMF's and he was buzzed. $70.00 dollars later...we were both disappointed and in agreement that they must water down their hard alcohol. The DJ played about 5 country songs and he played some crappy BeeGees mix that lasted about 10 minutes and a bunch of techno crap. This bar is far from country and I will for surely never go there again.

missing the old days...i go back every couple weeks, just hopeing, but its never the same. we had a great thing right here in our back yard and didnt even know it till it was gone. now its just like every other place in town...sad.

Is this the T. Zone? Friday night this place was not Thunder Ranch! It was bonanza with fat chicks.

what happened? no dancing girls, no bull! why else would i come? wheres that girl that sells beer and dances? come to think of it wheres EVERYBODY?!? i didnt recognize anyone and ive been coming since they opened. im confused.

What the hell happened here? This place semmed cool last time I was there...not anymore! I heard some woman from chili's? bought the place. All I know is the bartenders are all middle aged haggard men, which is never fun to look at. The dancers that were there three weeks ago have vanished. Is this an improvement? I have never been to a bar where so many fights and shit talking went unchecked. It was NOT a safe place to hang and I left early. Two thumbs down to new management.

So, I thought that I would drop into the bar that I have some to love. Every time I have been to thunder ranch I have always felt like I was at home. from the bouncers to the bartenders to the ranch hands even the DJ made me feel like it was my place to relax and have a good time. I went there tonight and first off the bartenders looked like a bunch of corporate misfits that wouldn't know how to make a drink if it hit them in their programmed little heads and.....where the hell is the hot women that I used to know and love. I dont know why this place changed but I miss The ranch hands and the place that used to take me away and give me an escape. PS. Karissa and Eve should try to make themselves look presentable and maybe even just female before they come to work their appearance and their attitude seem to really match.

LOVE SMOKE FREE! Its nice to go in a bar and be able to breath. Drink service was indeed on the slow side, however, I've seen worse. Mcfadden's? Anyway I watched some blonde chic act a complete fool and get tossed out by a female bouncer. It made me happy seeing stupid girls treated just the same as stupid guys. I would like to see more dancing by the ranch hands! And they can probably use another bartender or two.

on having the shittiest most soul-less bar in the whole city. anyone going to this bar should be totally ashamed of themselves for supporting this candy-assed pre-packaged version of mtv spring break with big and rich as the special guest stars. I mean seriously... girls on the bar hucking their asses at all the WASTED backstreetboys with dorky "I went to Disneyland and all I got was this stupid cowboy hat" crowd. Country bar? cram it in your walmart decorated bars ass. If Denny's had dancers, you'd be out of business. Cause it would be cooler than this. Any real cowboy or country music lover would rather stand outside and shit their pants before they would be seen using your bathroom full of rascal flatts lookin fags watching each other pee and fixing their hair. Country bar? you should be ashamed of yourselves. Never hated a bar worse in my life. Can you tell?

Listen, I been thrown out of a lot of bars for a lot of things and to me it's the sign that you had a good night when they gotta lift you up outta there. I don't see what they're talkin about with the drinks being slow. they got like 6 bartenders workin and 3 different bars open on last friday. Everytime i got up from my table i saw a different bar. Me and my boys got wasted and then they put me in this chair on stage and some hot chick rode my lap and gave me shot a jager!! they got the cutest girls there working and hangin out and iv'e been x-ed out or cut off everytime i been there and all security ever does is mark my hands and gimme free passes to come back, shit i go and get messed up every week!!! bathhrooms kinda small though.

i liked it. It needs a little more variety in music. The girls and i come to dance our asses off and we dont like to sit long! The ranch hands.... Yes there hot.all together good entertainment!

The location sucks and I heard that two other "Coyote Ugly" bars are opening in the Portland/Vancouver area. Can you say FAD? Fads don't last and I can't see why any bar owner would try and jump on this bandwagon. Why aren't owners coming up with something original? Cut your losses and open a restaurant or a bar concept that you didn't steal. I give 'em a year.

ok, so this must be the new thing for competitor bars to do, get on here and talk bad about these guys and then say your bar is way better?! get real. first off, this bar is pretty cool. no i don't work for them so shut your pie hole! it get a little cramped on sat. nights, which kinda sucks. the drinks prices were "re=vamped" and my vodka cran was 3.50 - what the hell was it before? most places have this for about the same price. the bartender i went up to first, was this big ass dude, who wasnt super fast but he actually asked everyone's name and shook alot of hands! where the hell did this guy come from?! since when do bartenders actually take the time to get to know your name in a club?! KUDO'S! to that guy! tending bar is a lost art anyhow. all we are these days is a drink order and a tip. well now i have a name! and that big guy knows it. the security was actually kinda dancing around. well trying to dance...not everyone has coordination. they seemed to be cool guys. no fights that night. i got a few numbers and had a pretty good time, what else could you ask for? i really don't see what all of these people under me were talking about. oh wait, i did see the scary black hair chick. how old is that chick...? 40? they might want to look for new blood as far as hot chicks go.

Where did the country music even go??? What's up with the dance club music?? Figure out what Kinda bar you are and stick with it...maybe I might continue coming if I knew what I was in for (Country!!!) ..and not that rockabilly crap, metal or rap!!!

*Service was terrible, over 20 minutes standing at the bar waiting for service.

Just one continuing bad experience. Started attending Monday night line dance lessons and was just getting to enjoy the place when management decided to close it down. No notice, no sign, just a locked bar one Monday night. Almost impossible to reach a manager by phone - have talked to the bartender, cook and bookkeeper because manager is always "out" when called to see when and if lessons would continue. Too many stories and no follow through. Service for drinks and food is almost non-existant or very poor. Still no definite night for lessons and saloon is officially closed on Sunday and Monday nights. Hard to imagine how you can build a business when management can't seem to decide when they want to be open, keep the schedule organized so people can know what is going on, and are not available or responsive to clients.

Our cocktail waitress looked like she belonged at Dante's with her scary black hair and was a total bitch. She's not as hot as she thinks she is and needs to check her attitude at home... in the trailer. This place is just another Dixie, but a longer drive. Stick with Duke's if you want country music.

A bunch of friends and I were at Thunder Ranch on St. Patty's day and had a horrible experience. Not only do they automatically charge 18% gratuity on anything over $50.00, whether you authorize it or not, they also feel free to charge drinks to your tab that you never ordered, not just one or two but try 5 shots! We tried to dispute the charges and they said they were just going to leave them on there, real nice. Horrible managment and service. Also, a bouncer was the one who served us our drinks, probably not real legal and the guy at the door "checking" ID's informed us that he just stopped drinking so he could work the door that night. Unacceptable on so many levels. Also, the music was so loud that by the end of the night you couldn't hear someone sitting next to you screaming. Don't go here if you want to retain your hearing or have a good time!

Checked out the place on reccomendation for Monday nite line dance lessons. With the exception of Ben the instructor the place seems to be operating like an afterthought. Showed up for the fourth week in a row Monday nite March 13th and the place was closed. The web site still lists they're open. Must be same old story, delivering the goods is harder than braggin on them.

I've been to a lot of bars in a lot of towns, and this by far is in its own realm. Lots of action, lots of eye candy, and lots of music. Its great because it appeals to a lot of people, not just the standard country-western crowd. I've been to a ton of bars in portland and this place is by far the best. Good service, good drinks, and good people...and most of all NO HIPPIES! GO THUNDER RANCH!

I grew up with Saddle Ranch in LA and it has nothing on Thunder Ranch. Best bar in the city. I feel sorry for all of the people who posted negative comments about TR- they either struck out trying to find a hot chick or got no love from the dudes in the joint. They should check out Voodoo for the J.V. crowd.

Honestly, is it actually possible to get a drink at Thunder Ranch? I Have giving it a shot on a few occasions just to be fair, but the service was terrible, bar staff are rude, bouncers were lookin' to fight (does it really take 4 or 5 of you to beat a man unconscious...it's not the UFC!), and the music is mostly crap! There was an amazing band there on New Years, but the other one I saw didn't fit into rock or country as advertised. I will admit the food was spectacular and the Ranch Hands are, for the most part, are pretty hot. I afraid the bad out weights the good at this bar and it seems as though Thunder Ranch has killed a great idea by hiring a staff full of posers and brainless twits!

The owner needs to sit down and figure out what he/she is trying to do before Thunder Ranch becomes another Portland bar that came and went!

my second night in portland after movin north from tyler, texas was last night. ive been to plenty of honky tonks and saloons, and this place is in a dead heat. its not exactly authentic (a little to neat and clean for my taste...not rough enough), but the girls are unreal. makes me not so homesick. met some good people, ill be back.

saw the texacutioners for the first time last night. who else does live music on a thursday? i dont care for the meat market crowds here on the weekends, but ill be a regular on thursdays.

Beligerent security... hardly any country music... while we stood in line for 15 minutes, we saw lots of people leave with unhappy looks on their faces. now i know why. i thought this would be like bushwhackers. not even close.

This new bar has everything. You have hot chics that dance on stage practically half naked. Not to mention you have a mix of music that pleases a large customer clientel with a mix of country and rock. All I have to say is Anywhere i can go and get drunk while eating good food and see sexy ladies walk around in assless chaps is ok with me!!

So...I finally went to thunder ranch because all my friends were talking about and I have to say that is a kick ass place.. All the waitress's are hot and they play great music.. Yes...the security presence is "known" there but all of them seem nice..they make it a safe place..I accidently bumped into a guy and he got in my face...security was right there to defuse the problem ... all in all I'd give the bar a 9... great food great music and great staff!

Better than the DIXIE or OUTLAWS ain't saying a friggen thing my friends. All 3 are shitholes. they are trying to be what Portland doesn't need. bring back the Cobalt and Bossonova..F**K these country bumpkin wannabees. True western bars do not exist in Oregon!

Best ribs we have ever had...great looking staff....try the Jack chair. You will never be the same! We will be back again..makes the Dixie look like child play and its NON SMOKING. Tip of my hat to the powers that be on that one.

This place is by far the best Country/Rock bar in this little town. It has all the ingredients of a great time, and if you didn't think so... best of luck to ya in your barfly life..... yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaa!!!!

the hostesses are the only thing worth going in this place for. they wear tiny bikini bottoms. the bouncers are looking to fight u if u look at them wrong. They have more bouncers then customers half of them looking to stir something up. The music is far from country........... def leopard guns and roses a little brooks and dunn but dukes is where im staying it at least sticks to its clienteles music Thunder Sucks

I agree with Greer. I really hated this place too, but Greer darling if you want people to trust your review and (yes I am taking into account you are from Longview) only misspell 1 or 2 words!

After driving 70 miles to have a good time, our group of twelve was asked to leave do to the bartenders negative attitude and lack of ability to hear due to the music playing. Then the security's lack of common sence to make the situation (because that is what they made it) right. They lost future buisness to lots of people from the Longview area from this!!

The Bartender should be fired for his repeeted attitude problems.

that jimmy knows how to make a nacho plate. you get a proud "texas" portion that i ate western style. the mechanized bull pretends to hump the ladies when they fall, which is nice.

Fuck it, a little Saddle Ranch...