Slippery Noodle Inn

It is hard to comprehend that one Indianapolis building could play a central part in such significant periods of US history, yet the Slippery Noodle Inn on South Meridian Street did just that.

Spanning the decades from 1850 as the oldest operating bar in Indiana, this downtown Inn, (then known as Tremont House) still houses tin ceilings in the front barroom from the late nineteenth century, and a Tiger Oak bar over a century old. Not surprisingly, the Inn is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

As the Civil War approached, the Inn became part of the Underground Railroad where, through a narrow passageway in the Inns’ basement, slaves managed to escape to their freedom. During the Prohibition years, the Brady and Dillinger gang also frequented the joint and used the building in the back for target practice. To this day, several of the bullets remain embedded in the lower east wall. The Inn later became a bordello until 1953 when a patron was knifed to death, his killer leaving the bloody knife on the bar.

Human skeletal remains have recently been discovered in the basement during excavation. Ghostly sightings have since been documented where apparitions of a tall African-American gentleman in coveralls walks the basement floor.

Nowadays, the Slippery Noodle Inn is known as a prominent blues venue, attracting celebrity audience members like Gregg Allman, Gene Simmons, Harry Connick Jr, Billy Joel and Neil Diamond. The Noodle features live local, regional and national Blues performances every night, while two bands feature every Friday and Saturday night on two separate stages. The Inn has hosted many legendary blues performers like Country Joe McDonald, Edgar Winter, and Rick Derringer.

The Inn features a full bar and menu serving Nachos, Quesadillas, Burgers, Wings, Subs and of course, Noodles. The Inn is a frequent winner of Best Bar and Best Live Music Venue awards.

- by Jim Brown , Indianapolis Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)