Hey Now Folks, got to Stop by and check this Welcome Center Out!!! Might be very Impressed with…read morewhat is inside. Hostess is very Kind and Helpful with any Questions to. Plenty of Parking and quite the Displays to Gander at while you're there.

Right off the highway is the "Wyoming Welcome Center" - which has places for cars and for RVs, and…read morethere are a lot of RVs around in the summer. There is a nice restroom area here, which is maintained all day long by the live on site caretaker. Its a great system. Out here they have people living at these centers in their own RVs who manage and take care of the area. Great idea. The welcome center has all sorts of history in the area info. Really cool. I happened to be there earlier in the day and talked to the caretaker, who spent some time growing up in Lockport., NY, when, as he said it, it was still all farms. He also said that later in the day in the summer the place has a line out the driveway, especially for the RVs. These are true welcome centers out West. Come see what its all about if you are in the area.

Known as the equality state with more pronghorns than people. Jackson Hole & Devils Tower are…read morehere. Cheyanne is the capital of the state with 1/2 million. It's famous for its stunning natural landscapes, Yellowstone & the Grand Teton National Parks, and its rich Western history. The economy is agricultural energy industry; especially oil, natural gas & coal and its unique cultural heritage.

From Denver after miles of fields and farms and 8 miles before cheyenne, the wyoming state line has…read morea basic sign and firework stores.

Wow! What a National Treasure. A must-see…read more You can easily spend several hours here. Couple walking/hiking trails. A museum, a movie, a cafe, Ice Cream, and a big gift shop. The lighting ceremony starts at 8pm. Plenty of room/seating in the amphitheater. Get there at about 3:30/4:00pm and you will be busy until 8pm.

We stopped at Mount Rushmore while driving through South Dakota, and it's an impressive site that's…read morevery well designed for visitors. The memorial is easy to navigate, with excellent viewpoints, informative exhibits, and a beautiful setting in the Black Hills. We also appreciated learning more about the history of the area. Knowing that the mountain was considered sacred by the Lakota people before it was carved gave us mixed feelings and added important historical context to the visit. If you have the opportunity, be sure to watch the short film in the visitor center. It does a great job explaining the history, construction, and significance of the monument, and it made our visit much more meaningful. Overall, it's a worthwhile stop, especially if you're traveling through the region.

Hours seem silly, it's a town! Not really our cup of tea as we don't gamble or drink and have…read moremobility issues. No parking on the streets and, being as most of the buildings are historical there is not parking at them and entry ways are difficult at best. Most all food is overpriced. We were there because it was a good affordable location as a base for what we wanted to do in the northern half of the Black Hills. We stayed in a very nice Comfort Inn at the southern tip of the town, a couple miles only from the next town. It is surprising how many people live in the Black Hills.

Deadwood is a Charming town with lots of history. We spent half a day here exploring the shops…read more Still had a feel of the wild Wild West. If memory from my history classes serves me correct, Deadwood was known for its lawlessness. Wild Bill Hickock was shot here. If you find yourself in South Dakota, then take the time to stop by Deadwood. It is not too far away from Mount Rushmore. You can also play the slots while you're here. Like a little touch of Vegas. Enjoy!

Fascinating highlight of Needles HIghway. If you're going through this Custer area, whether to…read morevisit Mt Rushmore, Custer SP, etc, it's an enthralling experience to traverse this fun tunnel (or funnel) once. Just make sure you're driving like a sedan/SUV to clear it, cuz boy it sure is narrow!

Had spent the morning in the southern area of Custer State Park, and the afternoon was going to be…read morethe Needles Highway, followed by Mount Rushmore. It was a little bit drizzly, but the sites were still amazing as we drove the ever winding path. The tunnels were pretty crazy, one in particular being extra narrow! We were in a big SUV, but we were following a big SUV, so I figured if the car in front of us made it, we would! This is a great drive to make if you're in the Rapid City area.

Flood control, irrigation, and recreation. For us, this was just a beautiful and restful stop on a…read morelong driving day from Wyoming to South Dakota. Photographs don't fully capture the beauty of the area. Sept, 2024.

Such a beautiful lake. Reminds me of Emerald lake in Lake Tahoe. The first day we did the reservoir…read morewhich is an overlook with a large parking lot to take photos. The next day we went to the actual lake to swim and kayak. It's $7 to enter the parking lot for day use and free if you have the State pass. There are two boat launching area but only one swimming area. Plenty of picnic tables. If you want to rent equipment, you'll need to drive further up. Saw people fishing in this area. If you bring your own food, make sure to pack a trash bag because we did see any trash cans near us. Also wear water shoes, it's really rocky in the water. Bring floaties and everything that will make your day complete.

I was here 18 years ago I was excited to come back. It wasn't as good as I remembered, now it's a…read morelot more commercialized with big chain hotels and slot machine machines everywhere Main Street in Deadwood is filled with casinos, resort hotels, full-service spas, big name concerts, a hospital, old photo shops, restaurants, gift shops and some of the best parties. We walked in the footsteps of legends that made history here since 1876. In 1876, miners moved into the northern Black Hills, they found gold & Deadwood was born. Overnight, the tiny gold camp boomed & attracted outlaws, gamblers and gunslingers & gold seekers. Wild Bill Hickok was one of those men who came looking for fortune. But just a few short weeks after arriving, he was gunned down while holding a poker hand of aces and eights - forever after known as the Dead Man's Hand. Calamity Jane also made a name for herself in these parts and is buried next to Hickok in Mount Moriah Cemetery. Other legends, like Potato Creek Johnny, Seth Bullock and Al Swearengen, created their legends and legacies in this tiny Black Hills town. Deadwood Alive is a theater troupe that reenacts the major historic events such as the Trial of Jack McCall and Wild Bill's assassination that inspired legends. Unfortunately, there aren't any shootouts or activities on Main Street on Sundays. I was told I could watch it on a cam live from deadwood.com

Deadwood was recently voted as the "Cutest City" in all of South Dakota and I will say after…read moretraveling at all, I believe this is true. It is very much what you think, old western storefronts. The entire vibe is pretty much old west, complete with a cowboy shootout in the streets. In the square outside the Franklin Hotel, they often have music, which was a welcome addition on a cool night. Also in the Franklin Hotel is an AMAZING steakhouse called Legends Steakhouse. Get a reservation because you'll need one, and treat yourself to a fantastic steak. I was in deadwood for two days and found that to be just about the right amount of time to experience this historic, interesting, welcoming South Dakota city.

I wish I would have paid more attention to history growing up. It's so fascinating, and now seeing…read moreCrazy Horse makes me want to learn all about it! Before heading to Mt. Rushmore last week, we stopped by Crazy Horse. My buddy had been here before, so it was nice having someone with me who knew a little about the history! Native American history is so intriguing, and I just want to learn more. Well, this is definitely a sight to see! Workers have been chiseling away at the mountain since 2020. I also posted a picture of what the finished sculpture is supposed to look like on the mountainside! Great spot to check out if you're in the area. There's a museum and information center where you can learn more about the land and its history, a restaurant on site, and some awesome views! Can't wait to come back someday when the sculpture is complete!

Visiting the Crazy Horse Memorial was one of the highlights of our trip to South Dakota. While the…read moremountain itself is absolutely impressive, what made this experience truly special was learning the incredible history and vision behind it. We stopped to watch the documentary before exploring, and I'm so glad we did. It not only explained the history of the memorial and why it was created, but also introduced us to the Ziolkowski family and the multiple generations who have dedicated their lives to carrying this dream forward. Their commitment, sacrifice, and passion are inspiring and gave us an entirely new appreciation for everything we were seeing. There is so much to experience beyond the monument itself. The grounds feature several souvenir shops, museums, a spacious restaurant/café, and a convenient grab-and-go snack area, making it easy to spend several hours exploring. One of my favorite parts was watching the Native American cultural performance. Native women and girls performed beautiful traditional dances representing different tribes and ceremonies while explaining the meaning, history, and purpose behind each dance. It added a rich cultural dimension to the visit and made the experience even more meaningful. Walking through the sculptor's original home and studio was fascinating. It truly felt like stepping back in time. Standing in the very rooms where the family once lived and worked gave us a genuine appreciation for the dedication and humble beginnings behind this monumental project. The Native American artwork and exhibits throughout the visitor center were also beautiful and well worth taking your time to enjoy. Watching the mountain being carved while learning about the engineering, the progress made over the decades, and the enormous commitment required to complete such an ambitious project was remarkable. It really makes you appreciate the scale of what they're accomplishing. If I had one small suggestion, it would be that I wish the visitor facilities were located closer to the mountain itself. The main lodge and museum are set back quite a distance, so if you want a close-up view, you'll either need to take the bus tour or use the viewing binoculars. That said, it certainly didn't take away from the experience. This was a destination I had been looking forward to visiting for a long time, and it absolutely lived up to my expectations. If you appreciate history, Native American culture, art, engineering, or simply witnessing an extraordinary vision being carried on through generations, the Crazy Horse Memorial is a place you shouldn't miss.