The Reef - Casper

Casper, Wyoming, United States

When The Reef first opened in 1961, it was advertised as Wyoming's first Polynesian lounge.

The Reef was designed by Lou and Cliff Sawyer, a husband and wife decorating team based in Palm Springs, CA. They also decorated the South Pacific Room and Beachcomber Shops in Palm Springs and the South Sea Club/Surf Room Restaurant in Anchorage, AK.

A newspaper article celebrating the exotic new hot spot describes the scene:

“On the Center Street entrance there are two picture windows. The window to the left of the door contains a five-foot Tiki god standing amid jungle flowers and sea shells. To the right of the door stands an eight-foot Tiki god. Above the door is a small shelf running the width of the building filled with rocks collected from Wyoming rock beds by local rockhound clubs.”

Lou and Cliff sold The Reef in 1970 and the new owners fought against a changing neighborhood which grew rougher and rougher with a reported knife assault in 1973 and in 1975, a drunk patron shot and killed one of the owners, resulting in the sale of The Reef in 1978.

It was replaced by a disco club.