Red Dog’s return brings life to “Top to Dog”
Libby's Logan Woolson celebrates crossing the finish line at the Red Dog Saloon and Pizza Saturday, March 15, 2025, during the Top to Dog event. Woolson was part of the winning team. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby's Jake McCrohan, Zack Windsor, Crystal Vincent and Logan Woolson celebrate winning the Top to Dog event Saturday, March 15, 2025. McCrohan ran. Windsor hiked, Vincent skied and Woolson bicycled. (Courtesy photo)
A Top to Dog competitor begins the final leg Saturday, March 15, 2025, on Pipe Creek Road. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
A Top to Dog competitor is loving life as he begins the final leg Saturday, March 15, 2025, on Pipe Creek Road. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
A Top to Dog competitor arrives at the finish line Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Red Dog Saloon and Pizza. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
A two-truck accident occurred near Turner Mountain Saturday, March 15, 2025, during the Top to Dog event, but no injuries were reported. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
There was no shortage of sadness when the Red Dog Saloon & Pizza closed its doors in January 2020, ending a 35-year run by owners Bruce and Lisa Moore.
So it would make sense that the happiness and feelings of joy were the exact opposite when Brody Goucher made the announcement nearly a year ago on Instagram that he and his family had bought the beloved landmark on Pipe Creek Road outside of Libby.
Goucher, girlfriend Tay Carter, his brother Brendyn Dyer and parents Helen and Doug Goucher have brought the Red Dog back to life and south Lincoln County couldn’t be happier.
“The Red Dog Saloon is an iconic restaurant in our community and it was also such a big part of my childhood when I would visit my grandpa when I was a kid,” Brody wrote at the time. “My grandpa owned it over 40 years ago and for it to come back full circle into our family is like a story book ending. We look forward to many years of making Red Dog pizza for the great state of Montana!!!”
With the return of the Red Dog, so came the return of the Top to Dog winter sports event that began at Turner Mountain Ski Area and ended at the saloon.
It was last held in 2019.
Some competitors went it alone while others teamed up for the hike/ski/run and bike event that left them hungry for fresh pizza and a few cold ones.
Not even a two-vehicle accident involving a pair of pickups, but thankfully no injuries near the ski resort, could dampen the spirits of most involved.
The winning team included a quartet of south Lincoln County residents, including bicyclist Logan Woolson, runner Jake McCrohan, skier Crystal Vincent and hiker Zack Windsor.
Libby's Jake McCrohan, Zack Windsor, Crystal Vincent and Logan Woolson celebrate winning the Top to Dog event Saturday, March 15, 2025. McCrohan ran. Windsor hiked, Vincent skied and Woolson bicycled. (Courtesy photo)
A Top to Dog competitor begins the final leg Saturday, March 15, 2025, on Pipe Creek Road. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
A Top to Dog competitor is loving life as he begins the final leg Saturday, March 15, 2025, on Pipe Creek Road. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
A Top to Dog competitor arrives at the finish line Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Red Dog Saloon and Pizza. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
A two-truck accident occurred near Turner Mountain Saturday, March 15, 2025, during the Top to Dog event, but no injuries were reported. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)