THE IRON DOOR PRESENTS THE BARSOTTI STORY
	Bettike Barsotti and her husband Peter bought the Iron Door Saloon in 1985 and were chagrined that they couldn't bring their own 4 children into the Saloon as, at the time its restaurant was inactive and children, as well as anyone under 21 years of age were not allowed on the premises. Right away the Barsottis were on a mission to open up the Iron Door to people of all ages and to build their dream of transforming the Iron Door Saloon into a place that families , as well as visitors from around the world, and people from all walks of life, would feel welcome. Bettike Barsotti, who utilized 20 years of experience as a San Francisco Bay Area Caterer and "Liason to the Stars of the Music World", including Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Grateful Dead, Sting,Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and many, many others, to hone her art of hospitality, brought it all with her to the Iron Door Grill when she opened it for business in 1987. She brought new life to a food tradition that began way back in 1852 the Iron Door always served food, first to hungry miners and settlers and farmers, cowboys , lumbermen, millworkers, and later the workmen, engineers, of San Francisco's Hetch Hetchy Water Project which since the early part of the last century has delivered water to San Francisco and the Bay Area. Still later, vacationers and summer home enthusiasts came to the area. All along a burgeoning number of people has always found their way through Groveland to enjoy the magnificent wonders of the Sierra Nevada mountains, it's rivers and it's valleys. It took the Barsottis a couple of years to to get the Restaurant- Grill open at the Iron Door, but they were determined to enable families to come in and soak up the atmosphere of the Old West, the Early Gold Rush Days and all the history that surrounds one of the world's greatest natural treasure's, Yosemite National Park. Not only are 5 of the world's 10 highest waterfalls in the valley ,but climbers come from around the world to scale it's heights as well as back country enthusiasts and nature lovers of all kinds 19 years later the Iron Door Saloon and Grill still sits on Hwy 120 at the west entrance to Yosemite National Park. Tucked away here in the woods is the best example of a Gold Rush-Old West Saloon you will find in the Sierra-Nevada. Combine that with the best food around and "more music than you can shake a stick at,"and you've got a place you do not want to miss! Tragically, Bettike passed away in an auto accident in January of 2004. She left some "mighty big shoes to fill", but we're happy to say that Corinna May Loh,Bettike and Peter's daughter, has stepped up and is continuing in her mothers footsteps. She and her husband Chris have brought a new generation of enthusiasm to 'California's Oldest Saloon". You will find that Corinna absorbed quite a bit from her earliest days as the cute little baby backstage at Bill Graham's music shows in the early 1980's to the young girl who helped Mom chop vegetables in music venues throughout California, to the current manager of the Iron Door Grill who has over 10 years experience working at her mother's side here in Groveland. She is well acquainted with what it took to keep the World's Greatest Performers happy, and has the knack and the intention to put vacationers and travelers at ease. She and Chris, along with her father, Peter, would love to do the same for you. On your way in or out of the wonders of our area stop in at the Iron Door Saloon and see what we're talking about. hope to see you soon..
	Cheers- The Barsotti Family