Christmas dinner tradition lives on at Snake Pit
Photo by CHANSE WATSON The famous fireplace inside the Snake Pit decorated with Christmas stockings.
The late owner of the famous Snake Pit in Enaville, Joe Peak, was known for many things while he and his wife, Rosemary, operated the more than a hundred-year-old restaurant and bar.
On top of simply keeping the North Idaho treasure in working order since he took it over in 1978, Peak was deeply involved in the community and showed it with his actions.
One of the many events that he made a tradition of at the Snake Pit was the annual Community Christmas dinner, where all were welcome to have a nice holiday meal on the house and take in some Christmas cheer.
Tom Richard, the establishment’s current owner, takes pride in keeping Peak’s legacy intact and is not looking to break tradition anytime soon.
“Joe Peak started this many years ago with a couple local people and its always involved free dinner, Santa Claus and free presents for younger kids,” Richards said. “Those are all things that we thought were great ides to keep going.”
While it’s difficult to know just how many years the dinner has been held at the Snake Pit, Richards estimates that it could be anywhere between 20 and 40 years.
Regardless of how long the tradition is, the goal is to keep it as close as how Peak used to host the dinner.
Peak’s other two events that have continued after his passing are the Ride the Wall mountain bike ride and the Turkey Trot.
Folks who attend the dinner can expect a turkey and ham buffet with mashed potatoes, rolls and vegetables.
Younger attendees can look forward to a visit from Santa and a free present if they are under 12 years old.
“We have toys for several hundred kids,” Richards said.
The funds for the presents come from private donors. Those collected funds are then used to purchase a variety of toys for boys and girls of various ages.
On average, the event serves about 450 people every year.
In addition to the legacy of Peak, this event is also a big shout-out to the people in the local area.
“It’s a way for us to give back to the community that has supported us for decades and continues to support us,” Richards said.
The free dinner will be from 4-8 p.m. Monday and donations will be accepted to help cover the cost of the event.