Went to play bingo. Great bunch of people. Had loads of fun
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
S S
I want to urge all UWEC students: Drugging is a serious and ongoing issue in Eau Claire. It is commonly believed that some of these incidents are linked to bartenders themselves. I was drugged in 2020 at the Pioneer Tavern. I woke up at 7 PM the next day, still hazy, and went to Sacred Heart Hospital. When I asked for testing, the hospital said they had no way to test for date rape drugs, which is appalling, given how many women have reported being drugged in Eau Claire. If it weren't for my roommates, I don't know what might have happened to me. There have been well over 20 student deaths in Eau Claire after nights of drinking, many of them involving drowning. Being drugged is disorienting enough, but it's made worse when you’re left with no answers and no way to get tested. It should be a priority for UWEC and the city of Eau Claire to provide proper medical testing and to investigate patterns of danger to students. There is no real accountability for the people doing this, and women are often left to question themselves or are dismissed outright. Even when these instances don’t end in death, many students are left with long-term fear and trauma. As a 2021 UWEC grad, I urge you: Never walk home alone, even if Eau Claire feels “safe” If you are intoxicated, know you’re vulnerable — stay with friends Help strangers. If you see someone intoxicated and alone, please don’t look away UWEC now has CASA, which is a good resource, but what can be done if basic testing still isn’t available? This is how violence against women continues in plain sight — no tools to confirm what happened, no accountability, and survivors wondering if it was all in their head. I remember the hospital offering me a rape kit, even though I wasn’t sexually assaulted, but I was still violated. I could barely stand or drive. I knew something was wrong. And yet, no support system could tell me what had happened to me. There NEEDS to be data collection. We need public awareness. We need to be able to name what's putting students at risk. Please stay safe. Please trust your instincts. And please know this: Drugging by bartenders on Water Street is NOT new and it is not rare.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Megan Kjos
If you do not tip after every drink that is ordered; the bar tender will kick you out of the establishment.
Service: 1
Tamirat Knutson
This bar says there’s card limit so you order 3-4 drinks and they charge $30 dollars, and people been talking about it lately.
Service: 1
Aaron McEachern
Was assaulted by bouncer.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Kenneth Powers
The place to go for the best prices, drinks, food, staff and clean environment.
Anna Schilcher
Torie was awesome! She’s fantastic and and an absolute boss. Would recommend the Pioneer just to have a chat with her.
Andy Berg
Wendsday bingo ,kind of loud but ok.
tyler Strenke
great spot, friendly staff, very fun safe clean
Carson Richardson
By far the worst bar I’ve ever been to. Don’t go here if you want to have a good night
Went to play bingo. Great bunch of people. Had loads of fun
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
I want to urge all UWEC students: Drugging is a serious and ongoing issue in Eau Claire. It is commonly believed that some of these incidents are linked to bartenders themselves. I was drugged in 2020 at the Pioneer Tavern. I woke up at 7 PM the next day, still hazy, and went to Sacred Heart Hospital. When I asked for testing, the hospital said they had no way to test for date rape drugs, which is appalling, given how many women have reported being drugged in Eau Claire.
If it weren't for my roommates, I don't know what might have happened to me.
There have been well over 20 student deaths in Eau Claire after nights of drinking, many of them involving drowning. Being drugged is disorienting enough, but it's made worse when you’re left with no answers and no way to get tested.
It should be a priority for UWEC and the city of Eau Claire to provide proper medical testing and to investigate patterns of danger to students. There is no real accountability for the people doing this, and women are often left to question themselves or are dismissed outright. Even when these instances don’t end in death, many students are left with long-term fear and trauma.
As a 2021 UWEC grad, I urge you:
Never walk home alone, even if Eau Claire feels “safe”
If you are intoxicated, know you’re vulnerable — stay with friends
Help strangers. If you see someone intoxicated and alone, please don’t look away
UWEC now has CASA, which is a good resource, but what can be done if basic testing still isn’t available? This is how violence against women continues in plain sight — no tools to confirm what happened, no accountability, and survivors wondering if it was all in their head.
I remember the hospital offering me a rape kit, even though I wasn’t sexually assaulted, but I was still violated. I could barely stand or drive. I knew something was wrong. And yet, no support system could tell me what had happened to me.
There NEEDS to be data collection. We need public awareness. We need to be able to name what's putting students at risk.
Please stay safe. Please trust your instincts. And please know this:
Drugging by bartenders on Water Street is NOT new and it is not rare.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
If you do not tip after every drink that is ordered; the bar tender will kick you out of the establishment.
Service: 1
This bar says there’s card limit so you order 3-4 drinks and they charge $30 dollars, and people been talking about it lately.
Service: 1
Was assaulted by bouncer.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
The place to go for the best prices, drinks, food, staff and clean environment.
Torie was awesome! She’s fantastic and and an absolute boss. Would recommend the Pioneer just to have a chat with her.
Wendsday bingo ,kind of loud but ok.
great spot, friendly staff, very fun safe clean
By far the worst bar I’ve ever been to. Don’t go here if you want to have a good night
Restaurantji Recommends
Best people in the world- workers and customers included :)
Amazing atmosphere and staff! Very clean and practices social distancing. Fast service and great music!
Really glad to see The Pioneer is taking preventative measures with UV-Care!!!
Terrible bar. Bouncers are incompetent and have no respect, I'd strongly advise taking your hard earned money else where
Love the feel of this bar very homely.
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