The first-ever CMT Crossroads Bar opened Thursday at the Horseshoe Casino & Hotel in Bossier City, La. with a live performance from country music star Sara Evans.
The bar—an extension of the CMT cross-genre performance show Crossroads—will feature local and regional musicians. The $3.3 million venue is a “throwback to an authentic roadhouse atmosphere,” complete with country décor and Crossroads memorabilia.
“The most exciting thing for us with the CMT Crossroads Lounge at Horseshoe is the fact that our consumers and Horseshoe consumers will be able to touch the CMT brand,” Lori Megown, CMT’s vice president of consumer products and radio, said in a statement.
Spanning 3,300-square-feet, the lounge features a stage, dance floor and 27-foot circular bar.
At the opening, invited guests dined on special hors d’oeuvres prepared by Horseshoe executive chef Timothy Westergard and CMT signature cocktails were served.
Attendees also received a commemorative poster signed by Evans, who will be performing on an upcoming Crossroads episode with the band Maroon 5.
The bar is supposed to evoke a well-worn, well-loved honky tonk or roadhouse bar. Set against dark wood tones and rusted metals, the interior features hand-scraped, wide-planked wood floors, and walls plastered with CMT Crossroads memorabilia and hand-drawn graphics.
The design includes original artwork, neon signs, suspended hub cap ceilings, a belt buckle display, lights made from recycled traffic lights and LED screens throughout.
Bossier City is about 340 miles (five hours' drive) from New Orleans.
