It's a leisurely drive from Yorkton and its doors are open to welcome you in for everything from great eats, to entertainment to a warm country atmosphere.
It may be small town Saskatchewan but Stenen is home to a world class saloon serving up five star cuisine and offering a unique dining experience for the whole family.
Last summer a Star City Saskatchewan area couple decided to open a restaurant. Having travelled extensively they had a vision of what they wanted, the key was to make it all come together. First off was location. Hearing the old Stenen hotel/bar was for sale the pair jumped on it and made the purchase. It wasn't to be though. Sadly, the very day after the deal was inked, the bar burned to the ground. The old Stenen school building was next on the radar and just weeks after with plenty of hard work and perseverance, the dream unfolded and became a reality.
Doug and Brenda took on Doug's son - who had been training as a Judo expert while going to school in Montreal - as a partner and the trio hasn't looked back.
Son Frazer Will says business is great and he looks forward to even more growth into the future.
It's not everyday you jump on the move from Montreal to Stenen but Will says he was looking for a career that would both challenge and stimulate.
"I just finished my degree in human resource management and business and this just seemed like a great challenge and good opportunity... the way Dad explained it to me is, you never know how things will go when it comes to the risk/reward situation so I risked a lot and the rewards have been coming in..."
Opened exactly a year ago, Will says it was quite the process going from school to saloon in under two months. Not to mention the fact, plenty of people questioned the rationale behind opening such a business in a small town.
"A lot of people ask that," says Will but the logic is simple he believes. Stenen is surrounded by a fair size trading area and it was clear there was room for growth. Building costs were cheaper as was the facility, the biggest challenge is serving up a top quality experience and building a loyal customer base.
Good planning and business sense helps. "They could picture how they wanted it to look and with hard work they were able to follow through... they've been to a lot of bars and a lot of restaurants (all over the world) so they took a little of everything they liked and found a way to get the school to look a piece out of the wild west."
Will says when diners walk through the doors they are greeted to a western feast for the eyes. "The idea is, when you walk in it's like entering a small country and western town from way back in the day... you have your main street and then off to the sides you have your saloon, a little bank, a jailhouse... that's kind of the theme behind it. At night we'll turn off the main lights and then it's lit with lamp posts... and you decide where you want to go."
Will compares the food to a hybrid between Moxies and the Keg. The trio hired a Red Seal Chef from Montreal who stays current and serves up everything from small town favorites, to bar eats, to high end dining. "We have to be everything to everybody." From kids, to adults, to seniors Will assures there is something for everyone to enjoy on the Rawhide menu.
"We can take care of entire families."
And the food isn't all. Visitors are often treated to live bands and the plan is to step up things on the "experience" side to create the ultimate dining atmosphere. There is an on site campground, a beach volleyball court, a playground for the kids and an August event planned to make sure everybody has the opportunity to find out about it all.
From August 2-4 Rawhides is playing host to "Summer Fest," three days of live entertainment, prizes, volley ball and a slow pitch tourney. Slo-pitch teams are encouraged to get in on the action. To register or to learn more about the event call (306)548-2009 or visit rawhides,ca.
If you haven't yet made the trek to Rawhides, Will says you won't be disappointed and he looks forward to showing you why.
