I went to the pre-opening dance party. I was impressed with their high quality wood dance floor but I was disappointed that it wasn't larger. For country dancing it will be a tight squeeze on busy nights.
They had a good live band and a free dance lesson. There were too many people to give a viable lesson but they tried. Sound acoustics seemed to be good throughout the dining room area and bars.
Overall the Chip rebuild is impressive. It will be a popular party place and hangout in the winter months.
The food was mediocre bar fare. My partner and I did give the fried sweet potatoes a thumbs up. I was told by the waitress that they are using a temporary kitchen and she reassured me the food will improve.
Parking in the dirt wasn't fun. I hope I didn't get Valley Fever. Cough! Cough!
There isn't much reason for me to drive the 45 miles to get there because I have better options that are much closer, so I won't be inhabiting this venue very often.
For many of the regular patrons, the Buffalo Chip has a mystical aura of Brobdingnagian significance. I call these cultists the "Chippers". While practically living at the Chip they learned to dance, and many of them had torrid romances -- and perhaps a few got hitched.. I'm sure many of the children that resulted from that cowboy social scene can be seen at the Chip to this day. For the disciples of the Chip, no rating less than 5 will ever do. (Sorry Folks!) I have no doubt that if I come back when the Chip is completed I will upgrade my rating to a 4 or 5.