Almost every year growing up, my family would make the trip out to South Dakota. We could usually make it a weekend trip and commonly went for Deadwood Kool Nites. In 2015, I spent the summer working at Wall Drug and got to learn more of the beautiful Black Hills area. I have made a few visits out there since and hope to return again soon. July is Parks and Recreation Month so I'd like to take you on a journey through the state of Great Places and Great Faces.
Mt. Rushmore
Keystone, SD
Mt. Rushmore is probably the reason most people go to South Dakota. Indigenous tribes called the Black Hills "The Heart of Everything That Is". In 1868, the area was reserved for the Lakota until the discovery of gold. Prospectors overtook the land and in 1877 the US Government confiscated the land. In 1927, Gutzon Borglum began carving Mt. Rushmore in hopes to attract tourists to the area. The presidents were chosen due to what they did to advance America and planned to be sculpted to their waists. However, Gutzon passed away before the project was finished and his son wrapped it up by the end of 1941.
Learn more about visiting Mt. Rushmore National Monument Here
Devils Tower
Devils Tower, WY
While not in South Dakota, Devils Tower is a must stop when in the Black Hills area.
Learn More About Devils Tower National Monument Here
Wall Drug
Wall, SD
In 1931, Ted and Dorothy Hustead had opened a drugstore in Wall. It was a small community of poor farmers and business was slow. They decided to give it 5 good years and move on if it wasn't working out. 1936 came along with no change over the 5 years. That's when Dorothy came up with an ingenious idea. Cars were driving past Wall all day-on their way to Yellowstone or the soon to be finished Mt. Rushmore. So, she came up with the idea to advertise "Free Ice Water" along the highway. The original signage was based off the old Burma Shave signs. And before they knew it, Hustead's Wall Drug was packed with hot travelers looking for cool water. While they were stopped, many bought ice cream and other items at the soda fountain.
Ted’s son, Bill Hustead, also a pharmacist, returned to Wall and joined the family business in 1951. Under his direction, Wall Drug grew into a cowboy-themed mall and department store. He created the Art Gallery Cafe, with a design inspired by Club “21” in New York City, one of his favorite restaurants. Wall Drug includes a western art museum, a chapel based on the one found at New Melleray Abbey near Dubuque, Iowa, another Bill Hustead creation, and an 80-foot (24 m) brontosaurus that can be seen right off Interstate 90. It was designed by Emmet Sullivan who also created the dinosaurs at Dinosaur Park in Rapid City and Dinosaur World in Arkansas.
I used to be terrified of the large animatronic T-Rex. When I worked at Wall Drug in 2015, I ended up staying at the house right next to it. All day long, every 12 minutes, it would go off. You can't escape your nightmares apparently!
Be sure to check out the 2020 movie, "Nomadland" which features the life of working on the road!
Learn More About Wall Drug Here
Badlands National Park
Learn More about visiting Badlands National Park Here
Mangolian Grill
Rapid City, SD
Badlands Ranch Store
Philip, SD
World's Only Corn Palace
Mitchell, SD
Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse, SD
Northeast Wyoming Welcome Center
Beulah, WY
Learn More about the Northeast Wyoming Welcome Center Here
D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives
Spearfish, SD
Learn More About the D.C. Booth Historic Fish Hatchery and Archives Here
Hubcap Diner
Hill City, SD
Learn More About Hubcap Diner Here
Wind Cave National Park
Hot Springs, SD
Learn More About Wind Cave National Park Here
Custer State Park
Custer, SD
Learn More About Custer State Park Here
Dinosaur Park
Rapid City, SD
Dinosaur Park was built as a tourist attraction and city park by the Works Progress Administration and the City of Rapid City in 1936. Emmit A. Sullivan is credited as the sculptor -- the same artistic genius who created the Christ of the Ozarks and the dinosaurs at Dinosaur World in Arkansas.
The black and white photos are from August 1955. They are my late neighbors, Nick and Coral. The colored photos are from 2018, featuring Mike trying to imitate one of the photos from 1955.
Dinosaur Park is one of my must do's when in the Black Hills. One of my favorite memories was getting on top of the hill to watch the Fourth of July Fireworks in 2015
Learn More About Dinosaur Park Here
1880 Town
Midland, SD
