About El Moro

El Moro occupies the site of a dramatic 1906 confrontation that locals still call "Durango's Strangest Shootout." Sheriff William Thompson raided the saloon during a poker game, confiscated a roulette wheel, and later confronted City Marshal Jesse Stansel on the sidewalk outside. Insults were exchanged, guns were drawn, and when the smoke cleared, Thompson was dead and Stansel was wounded. More than a century later, the saloon's past brings depth and texture to a space now dedicated to refined, modern hospitality. Guests dine among original brickwork, rich wood, and subtle historical details that contrast beautifully with the restaurant's contemporary food and beverage program.