LIFE

Insane bars built for Hoosier homes

Michelle Pemberton
michelle.pemberton@indystar.com
Dave and Michelle Sylvester, with their dog Pretty Girl, stand behind their “Red Queen” Century boat bar with custom granite countertops, built by Dave Sylvester for their lakeside home.

From sheds to basements and even boats, Hoosiers are getting creative about building home bars. We found four homeowners who have gone above and beyond creating their own lounges.

The boat bar

Dave and Michelle Sylvester began building the boat bar for their Geist walk-out basement almost a year ago. Dave purchased the “Red Queen,” a wooden Century Resorter, from a Carmel couple who had dry docked the vessel for 40 years.

Although the boat was in very rough shape, “it was all there,” Dave said. A side and portion of the bottom were removed to create space to stand behind the bar.

“I realize now how much work would actually be involved in keeping one on the water,” said Dave.

Polynesian party

Bob Cripe and Wendi Clay created a basement bar for their Indianapolis home, affectionately named “Mai Tiki Bar,” four years ago with the help of friends. Cripe and Clay are members of Fraternal Order of the Moai, a social organization for people interested in tiki culture.

Fraternal Order of the Moai member Bob Cripe and Wendi Clay in their basement tiki lounge, affectionately named “Mai Tiki Bar.” The couple began building the bar four years ago, after collecting all their lives.

Members swap recipes for flaming drinks served in volcano shaped mugs, throw parties and preserve tiki culture. The couple has been collecting vintage tiki items for years. And what tiki lounge would be complete without vintage clothing to get you in the spirit? Clay has a collection of period tiki dresses for events.

Pop culture haven

Toni and Dan Carr built their bar, The Dark Hero Social Club, in their Greenwood home. The couple — also known as Joan of Dark and Dill Hero — has packed keepsakes from all their hobbies into the bar, including a candy wrapper snagged from film director and screenwriter John Carpenter’s Halloween candy bowl. Dan got the wrapper during a photo shoot for Toni’s book “Geek Knits,” a knitting book featuring icons in the geek community. Other items reflect their time as a player, score whore and announcer for the Naptown Rollergirls.

Toni and DanCarr, AKA Joan of Dark (left) and Dill Hero from the Naptown Roller Girls, built their own bar, The Dark Hero Social Club, in their Greenwood home.

Tiki tool shed

Kurt Stocker was ahead of the trend when he built his tiki bar and storage shed behind his Greenwood home a few years ago. He spent four months building the space and creating a tiki fountain from tiki solar lights he converted to water spitters. Stocker added a flat-screen TV to watch sports. The bar is also outfitted with drink machines for frozen drinks in the summer.

A combination tiki bar and storage shed offers an oasis at the Greenwood home of Kurt Stocker.

Call Star reporter/photographer Michelle Pemberton at (317) 444-6753 and follow her on social media @MichelleRocket, facebook.com/redrocket.michelle, and Instagram @redrocketphoto.