The Old Style Saloon No. 10, with a $10.5 million price tag, is going on sale after 45 years of ownership by members of the Keehn family.

"It was a very, very difficult decision for us to make," said Louie LaLonde, one of four siblings who co-own the venerable downtown Deadwood landmark and watering hole. "We have been talking about this for probably the last year."

The children of the late Lew and Marion Keehn - Lori Keehn, Linda Maxwell, Louie LaLonde and Gary Keehn - own and run the saloon. LaLonde said the siblings decided to sell so they can do other things with their lives.

The $10.5 million price includes the saloon, the Deadwood Social Club restaurant and Top of the Ten wine and martini bar upstairs and the adjacent Utter's Place gambling hall. The building, operations and liquor license are included in the sale, which is listed by Greg Klein of Century 21 Associated Realty in Deadwood.

"Everybody is still walking around in shock," George Milos, executive director of the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau, said. "We thought it would stay in that family for the rest of their lives."

The saloon has remained a favorite of locals and tourists alike due to the hard work of the Keehn family, Milos said, and they've earned a break from running the place.

"It fits Deadwood," he said. "The Saloon No.10 is as much a part of Deadwood as Wild Bill, Calamity Jane and any of the other history of Deadwood. For anyone involved with it, it's going to be bittersweet."

Deadwood Mayor Francis Toscana said he wishes the Keehn family members the best of luck - but he hopes the saloon will retain its historic personality.

"I hope and pray whoever buys it has the same reverence for the establishment that the Keehns have shown this many years," he said.

LaLonde said that fear leads to the first question everybody asks when they talk to her and other family members about the sale: What's going to change?

LaLonde cited the Franklin Hotel and the Bodega Saloon as examples of historic businesses that were extensively revamped after they were bought. It isn't an unfounded concern to wonder if the saloon might see similar changes, she said.

"Everybody's biggest fear in Deadwood right now is there is a pattern happening in turning historic property over to the next owner," she said.

Although she hopes the next owner of the saloon will be smart enough to maintain its friendly attitude and spirit of entertainment, she said she can't promise everything will stay the same.

"I can't imagine them changing the whole personality of Saloon No. 10. It just doesn't make sense to me. It would be unfortunate, but it's still possible," she said. "Who knows? It would be their business, and they could do what they want."

LaLonde said the family members hoped to do other things with their lives, and they didn't want to give their relatives the responsibility of keeping the place going.

"I'm a firm believer that there's something more out there in our journey in life," LaLonde said. "Our siblings, including myself, aren't young anymore. So we just feel that what our new job in life is going to be a little less stressful and taxing on us, because we're getting old."

LaLonde said she would be willing to stay on to manage the operation if the new owner wants her help.

"If they'll have me, I'll stay awhile," she said. "If you want to keep selling the thousands of T-shirts, there's a method to that madness."

Milos thought it would be wise for a new owner to keep LaLonde around, if only for her skill at branding and promoting the saloon's famous name.

"That's the one thing that family has done well - is market. They know how to brand," Milos said. "Saloon No. 10's brand is as well known as Wall Drug or anything else in South Dakota or the U.S."

Beside the saloon's long history and iconic name, LaLonde said, the operation's employees are what make the place something special.

"That's what makes the business, it's that magic: Casey the bartender knows who you are, and Doug the chef knows not to put garlic in your dish," she said.

Milos said everybody who knows and loves the saloon hopes that magic won't disappear with the Keehn family.

"We hope whoever buys it maintains the integrity of the No. 10, of course," Milos said. "We hope it stays the same. And we're confident that it will."

Contact Jeremy Fugleberg at 394-8421 or jeremy.fugleberg@rapidcityjournal.com