Founder, Todd Leonard -
"Barbeque is a legend all over the world in some form or another.
Historians can't agree on the birth place of barbeque. Some say it came
from the Caribbean Islands, and others believe it was the French that started it
all.
I believe the back
country of America has brought barbeque to a new level of appreciation. I
hope that my fascination of barbeque will give you an exceptional food and
unique dining experience."
Feature in 417 Magazine
- July 2006
Author:
Chris DeRosier
There
are local legends about El Dorado Springs?! Believe it, and The Rusty Jug BBQ &
Root Beer Saloon (1209 S. High St., El Dorado
Springs; 417-876-4669) is a most addictively tasty legend. The name comes
from the springs the town gets its own name from; locals filled metal jugs at
the mineral-rich springs. In time, the minerals in the water seeped into the
metal and the people who made regular trips to the well were called “rusty
juggers.” The Rusty Jug still has an example of one of those jugs on display.
Scattered throughout the room are photos, art and bits of literature dating
back 100 years or more. Red Cloud and Chief Joseph glare out from behind frames
while an original May 1922 issue of Successful
Farming leans against a shelf on the wall. The froth from the tap carries
just as much historic cred: Owner Todd Leonard says he purchases root beer, one
of America’s oldest soft drinks, from 81 suppliers from around the country.
Since El Dorado Springs is a dry town, root beer is the only kind of beer
around, and Leonard says he has the best root beer sales in southwest Missouri.
Then there’s the food. Leonard got off to a rocky start in 1994
when his first efforts at smoked meat failed to impress his first taste-tester,
his dog, but he kept at it, opening The Rusty Jug in 1996. He’s not afraid of
taking an unusual approach or two, either; for example, the “B” in the Rusty
Jug’s BLT actually stands for two things: bacon and brisket. Foods like these,
coupled with the restaurant’s fun, slightly Wild-West-like feel that keep the
customers coming back. (Check out the welded iron custom barstools!) And did I
mention the root beer?
Experience
…The Rusty
Jug’s quirky deer head. It was donated by a local taxidermist after a hunter
brought it by for stuffing and never picked it up. “Hey, want a deer mounting?”
the taxidermist asked. “Sure. Why not?” came Leonard’s reply. Sometimes, that is
how legends are born.
If You're Staying
...Come
ready for a walk. Though it’s similar in name to Big Spring Park in Neosho,
Spring Park in El Dorado Springs is a different place with a different history.
The spring in the middle of the park is the town’s namesake and was believed at
the time of its discovery to have medicinal purposes. The park features picnic
areas, tennis courts, monuments and a cornucopia of other points of interest,
but the bandstand takes center stage on the weekends.
Rusty
Jug Barbeque and Root Beer Saloon