Honestly, if you’re driving through the flat, sprawling stretches of Sherburne County and you don’t know what you’re looking for, you might just blink and miss Santiago. It's a tiny speck on the map. But for anyone who lives within a fifty-mile radius, Bailey Ray's Santiago MN isn't just a place to grab a burger. It’s basically the town’s living room.
You’ve probably heard the rumors or seen the headlines recently. There’s been a lot of talk—some of it pretty worrying—about whether the doors are even open. Let’s set the record straight: Bailey Ray's has had a rougher ride than a beat-up pickup on a gravel backroad.
The Fire That No One Expected
On June 30, 2025, things got scary. Around 10:30 p.m., a fire broke out on the second floor of the building. Firefighters from the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office and surrounding departments saw flames literally punching through the roof. It was bad. Significant damage bad.
For a while there, the local Facebook groups were a mess of "Is it gone forever?" and "Not again."
See, this place is resilient. It's survived a flood in 2001, a total building-leveling fire back in 2006, the 2008 recession, and the pandemic. This latest 2025 fire forced a temporary closure, but the owners—who took over after the legendary Ray Mulvey and Terry Scheck auctioned the place in late 2023—have been working their tails off to bring it back.
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It’s worth noting that when a place like this goes dark, the whole town feels it. Santiago doesn’t have a mall or a movie theater. It has Bailey Ray's.
Why People Actually Drive Out Here
You might think, "It’s just bar food, right?" Wrong.
Ray Mulvey, the original founder who named the place after his daughter, always insisted on scratch cooking. That DNA stayed in the building even after the ownership change. The menu is a weirdly perfect mix of "I need a beer and a burger" and "I actually want a high-quality dinner."
- The Prime Rib Sandwich: This is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the menu. It’s shaved prime rib, grilled onions, Swiss cheese, and green peppers on a hoagie. If you don't use the au jus, you're doing it wrong.
- The Sunrise Burger: It’s an all-beef patty topped with hashbrowns, an egg, bacon, and cheese. It’s basically a heart attack on a bun, but man, it’s good.
- Walleye Sandwich: You’re in Minnesota. If a roadhouse doesn’t have a solid walleye fillet with tartar sauce, can you even trust them?
- The Pizza: They do hand-tossed and thin crust. The "Deluxe Combo" is a beast—sausage, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, mushrooms, onions, the works.
The vibe inside is what I’d call "unpretentious cozy." You've got the horse logo everywhere, the wood accents, and that specific smell of a grill that's been seasoned by decades of service. It’s the kind of place where you can wear your muddy work boots and no one gives you a second look.
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More Than Just a Bar
One of the coolest things about Bailey Ray's Santiago MN is the outdoor space. Before the recent setbacks, the "Santiago Shakedown" was the event of the summer. They’ve had national acts on that outdoor stage. Even Jim Belushi played there once, which Ray used to call his "interesting gig."
In the summer, the volleyball leagues are a massive draw. You’ve got people spiking balls and then grabbing $13.99 wing baskets. It’s a community center with a liquor license.
Survival is the Brand
If you look at the history, Bailey Ray's is basically the "Indestructible Bar."
- 2001: The flood.
- 2006: The fire that burned the old building to the ground.
- 2020: The pandemic that killed so many other local spots.
- 2025: The second-story fire.
The community keeps showing up. Ray once told a reporter that after the 2006 fire, he almost didn't rebuild, but people kept stopping by his house and sending cards. That’s the kind of loyalty you can’t buy with a clever marketing campaign.
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What You Need to Know Before You Go
Check the status before you make the trek. While they are in the recovery and repair phase from the 2025 incident, their usual hours (when fully operational) were Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM, and Sundays until 8:00 PM.
They are closed on Mondays. Don't be the person who drives all the way out there on a Monday only to stare at a locked door.
If you’re coming from St. Cloud or Elk River, it’s about a 25 to 30-minute drive. Is it worth it? Honestly, yeah. Not just for the food, but to support a place that refuses to die. When you sit at that bar, you’re sitting in a piece of Sherburne County history.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check Social Media: Before you head out, check the Bailey Ray's Roadhouse Facebook page for the most recent updates on their reopening status and daily specials.
- Order the Prime Rib: If it's your first time, don't overthink it. Get the Prime Rib sandwich with a side of waffle fries.
- Support Local: If they are still in "limited mode" or doing pop-up events, go. These small-town anchors only survive if the surrounding towns keep showing up.