Our History

The Cattle Baron building stood for generations, from the early 1900s until 2026.

It began with Mae, Bob’s grandmother, who built the first store and post office in Babb after allotment. In 1920, she sold that building and went on to build what became known as the white building, which was leased out for business and eventually became home to the first Babb Bar. Part of that original structure remained in the small log building with the ram on it.

In 1974, Bob purchased the property from his parents and took over running the Babb Bar. Over the years, it became well known and built a strong reputation, even gaining national attention and once being recognized by Playboy Magazine as one of the most dangerous bars in America. After years in the bar business, Bob was ready for something different.

That shift led to the beginning of the Cattle Baron. He expanded the building, adding onto the right side to create a dance hall, which later became his home. Later, when Indian gaming was expected to expand, Bob and his sons built onto the left side with plans for a casino. When those plans fell through, that space sat unused for years.

Eventually, that space found new life as the Cattle Baron Supper Club.

For decades, Cattle Baron became more than just a building. It became a place for family, community, and memories shared across generations.

Although the building was lost in the 2026 fire, its story and legacy continue. The next chapter is already being written, with the same family and a new vision for what Cattle Baron will become.

One of the things that made the Supper Club so special was the people it brought together. Cattle Baron wasn’t just a place to work—it was where so many of us grew up. Almost every grandkid started there as a preteen, usually bussing tables, and worked their way up over the years. Host, server, cook, bartender—eventually even manager. It wasn’t just a job, it was part of growing up.

As the years went on, the grandkids brought in their friends. Then those friends brought their friends. Summer after summer, the same faces came back. What started as a family business slowly became something bigger—one of the main places people on the Blackfeet Reservation could count on for summer work.

We didn’t just work together, we grew up together. We watched each other go from teenagers to adults—graduating, earning degrees, starting careers, and building families of our own. Some of us left and came back, some stayed connected no matter where life took us, but the Supper Club was always a shared starting point.

That’s what made it different. It wasn’t just about serving food. It was about building people, creating opportunities, and being part of each other’s lives long after the summer ended.

A Century of History

The Cattle Baron Family

The Story of Our Sauce

When Bob and Char were getting ready to open the Supper Club, they found themselves going back and forth over what kind of signature basting sauce they should use for their steaks. Both came from families of great cooks, so naturally, each of them believed their own recipe was the best.

So, they turned it into a contest. They called all the kids together for a taste test, without telling anyone which sauce belonged to who. Bob’s kids chose his, and Char’s kids chose hers. No clear winner.

Bob laughed and said, “Well then, let’s just pour them together and see what happens.” So they did. They basted a steak with the combined sauce—and just like that, everyone agreed. It was better than both on their own.

That moment became the start of their now-famous special sauce. For a long time, Char never told Bob what her half of the recipe was, and he didn’t share his either. It stayed that way until Char went away to school and had to pass her side along. When she came back, she finally learned his.

Now, the recipe has been passed down to their grandson Jake, keeping it a close-held family secret and a true piece of the Supper Club’s story.