Closed Again: Historic Alton Dance Hall Needs Too Much Work To Stay Open, Managers Say

Just about a year after the historic Happy Acres Hall in Alton reopened as Mad Moose Saloon & Smokehouse, the building now sits vacant...again.

Locals Billy and Shauna Morse tried to give it a go, in 2022, after the building had been shuttered since 2018.

But the couple ran into a number of bumps along the way in their first few months, including the theft of their literal bar, at one point. Someone removed it from the dance hall!

Even with the difficulties in their initial year of business, it looked, by all accounts, that the Mad Moose had many occasions where the place was packed...

...especially when some of the better-known bands were booked to play.

Despite attracting some impressive crowds, the couple said ultimately the building needed too many repairs to stay open, and so they have had to shut things down.

"We really don't have to money to put into the building in Alton on what it needs.  It needs way too much...New roof installation & wiring, just to name a few."

They do hope to keep the Mad Moose Saloon & Smokehouse business going, just in another location, and are looking for spots closer to Bangor they say.

What's going to happen to the aging building in Alton?

"As far as the building we turned it back to the owner."

Want to check out some of the other places to get a drink in the greater Bangor area?