Red Lion

Bar Women

120 3rd St.
La Crosse, WI 54601

State Region

Southwest WI

Year Opened: 1976
Year Closed: 1981

Exact Date Opened: Unknown
Exact Date Closed: Unknown

Clientele Primarily Identified As

Gay

Owned by Michael Hanson, Red Lion was a La Crosse gay bar that operated from 1970 to 1976. Located on Third Street, it primarily attracted a clientele of working-class women and college students. Hanson, who also owned the city's first gay bar, Michael's, sold the property in 1976 to two other gay men, who continued to operate it as a gay and lesbian bar until 1981.