I just booked a trip !

[geoand]

Your memory is plenty accurate. It's a pretty interesting area.

That tunnel road you mentioned is Iron Mountain Road, that I linked to in comment #28 above. And yes, the views are as amazing as you remember.

The Mount Rushmore monument itself will be mainly closed - the presentation you remember isn't happening right now, based on the NPS.gov website closure notes for Mount Rushmore.

Dave

I am going to show DW your response. She is convinced that my memory is not good.

As to Mt Rushmore being closed. I wanted Cornell to know about it because it is such an emotional & inspirational experience - meaning it is worth a trip back.

 

[Cornell]

If you're flying into Rapid (as the locals call it - no "City"), you'll be right in the heart of things. Rushmore and Hwy 16A are southwest of town, near Keystone. Deadwood is northwest of town. But the freeway speed limit is 80mph in some areas, so traveling is pretty quick. Secondary road speeds are much slower, of course. This map may help:

View attachment 19985

Dave

"City" it is! Custer State Park is a must do. I found a great article that explained how to see all the highlights there in one day.

 

[Cornell]

Even though a lot will be closed , the advantage of this is that I think there will be zero crowds, people, traffic .

 

[geoand]

Devil’s Tower is another amazing feature.

 

[DaveNV]

Even though a lot will be closed , the advantage of this is that I think there will be zero crowds, people, traffic .

Yes. And a lot of what you'll want to see can be driven to/through/past. A day spent in the car will take you past a lot of very cool things.

Dave

 

[geist1223]

"City" it is! Custer State Park is a must do. I found a great article that explained how to see all the highlights there in one day.

Ooops "Rapid" it is.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Dave posted about seeing Mt Rushmore from tunnels & that sparked a memory. As I recall, there were several tunnels & they all had Mt Rushmore at the end of tunnel. I also remember seeing a railroad trestle below after exiting the tunnel. The trestle was circular so that trains could climb or descend the grade. I was amazed. Then we arrived at the monument. We were entertained with videos & lights on the Presidents & the crowd stood and sang. Very emotional.

This was a trip 25 years or so ago. I cannot vouch for accuracy of my memory.

I know you & daughter will have a great time.

The road was specifically designed to provide views of Mt. Rushmore through the tunnels.

 

[Cornell]

Ooops "Rapid" it is.

Oops! I replied too quickly, it will be RAPID from here on out

 

[geist1223]

And @b2bailey -- I actually thought twice about posting about this trip, fearing some shaming about it. But at some point people need to start venturing out and living again. We cannot be hiding in our homes forever.

I am sorry you hesitated to Post. A couple Points:
1. Most of us are pretty nice.
2. Most of us like you.
3. All of us want to travel.

 

[dago]

I am limit up with this whole SIP thing and decided I need to get the heck out of Illinois before I lose my mind. Decided that S. Dakota looks about as "free" and welcoming as anywhere in the US right now. I have never had a desire to visit S. Dakota, but now I am going and am excited. Just going for a long weekend in 2 weeks. Me & my daughter. Staying in Deadwood. Lodging is open. State parks are open. Scenery looks beautiful and I hope to see a bison or two.

Oh -- my daughter does NOT want to look at any colleges while we are there.

The Black Hills is a great area to visit. There is plenty to do and see in that area. I was there for a week in 2014. I loved Deadwood. If you go to the Badlands NP you are almost guaranteed to see a bison or two. Enjoy your trip. I'm thinking of going out there again.

 

[jpfordz]

Oh -- my daughter does NOT want to look at any colleges while we are there.

You might want to reconsider. https://www.keloland.com/top-storie...s-the-best-engineering-school-in-the-country/

 

[rapmarks]

Something you will absolutely want to tie into things, if you go to Custer State Park (as I recommended in my comment in #4 above), is a drive along Iron Mountain Road, also known as Highway 16A. It is a winding road through the Black Hills, where virtually every bridge or tunnel view is of the faces on Mount Rushmore in the distance. It's hard to describe it until you've done it, but is something I'd say is a "Don't Miss" opportunity. It's very cool. At the end is Custer State Park, another not to be missed place. The Peter Norbeck Highway is another name for part of this roadway, and includes the part that goes through The Needles. Check this page to understand what I'm suggesting:

U.S. Route 16A - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

This website has some good local information, and links to things in the area:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) closures

In light of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, there are businesses across South Dakota that are temporarily closing or operating under special hours, and some events are being canceled or postponed. We will do our best to update this page as information becomes available. Please make sure...

www.travelsouthdakota.com

Enjoy yourself. I suspect you will want to go back and see more once things are fully reopened. South Dakota is one of those places people don't think much about until they've been there - and then they wonder what took so long.

Dave

That’s the route we took on the tour. It was fantastic. We were at an intersection when we heard a rumbling. A herd of buffalo were migrating. The van shook as they moved by on both sides, over two hundred I would say. A group on motorcycles sat very still as they passed.

 

[DaveNV]

Never mind.

 

[dago]

I suspect that you ignored me after our unfortunate tit-a-tat (mea culpa), so you may not see this post. But if you do - grant me a moment of memoir to accompany a travel suggestion ..........

In 1998 - the year my Dad died - my youngest child, DS3, and I did a road trip from Washington, where we live, to western Minnesota, where my parents were living. My Dad was in advanced Alzheimer's, and it was the last time we saw him alive. We were there the first week of August, for my Dad's Birthday. At that stage he had regressed mentally to a stage where he didn't know who I was, let alone any of my children. But he seemed to know that his birthday was coming and I can't say he rallied. But it did seem that his decline arrested in the leadup to his birthday. There was even a moment when I thought he remembered that I was his son, and with that he briefly realized that DS3 standing in front of him was his grandchild. Didn't last for more than a few minutes though. Within a week of that event he entered into a steep decline, and was dead within one month.

That's a bit of digression but it is a bit of a lead-in. On the way out to MN, we took the north route, I-94 through North Dakota. Yosemite, Black Hills, On the return we came via I-90, through South Dakota and SE Wyoming. I had long wanted to see Wounded Knee, on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Ever since I was in grade school the Little Big Horn story fascinated me - and especially so after I was old enough to realize that Custer probably got what he deserved.

I was struck by the contrast between Wounded Knee and Little Big Horn. Skipping over details and polemics, in my estimation Wounded Knee is of at least equal importance to Little Big Horn in the history of native tribal relations in the Mountain West. Little Big Horn was the big triumph of the native peoples in the expansion conflicts. Wounded Knee was the death knell.

But Little Big Horn is a National Monument, under the National Park Service, while Wounded Knee is simply a crossroads and cemetery in one of the most impoverished areas in the US. Yet everyday, the residents placed fresh flowers at their monument.

Wounded Knee isn't a National Monument, but it is their monument. They remember, well over a century later.

So, if you are SoDaking, I suggest doing some research and a visit to Pine Ridge and Wounded Knee. And I'm pretty sure there are not any 4-yr colleges to visit on the reservation.

Not sure if the OP can do all of that in just a long weekend, but if you are into history, Pine Ridge and Wounded Knee may be worth seeing, but don't expect much. As you said it's an impoverished area(Ogala Lakota county is indeed the poorest county in the entire 50 states). I, like you, always wanted to go to Wounded Knee and Little Big Horn and I did get there in 2014. Agree that Custer got what he deserved. BTW - Ogala Lakota college is a 4 YR college in the reservation -LOL.
As an aside, I made a special trip to Sand Creek in Colorado while I was on vacation in Kansas in Sep last year. Another, of those sites that you really have to want to see it to go there. It's in the middle of nowhere and absolutely nothing to see. But I wasn't disappointed. I knew that going in. It was just something I needed to do and glad I did it.

 

[dago]

I only remember one time I even vaguely considered a trip to see Mt. Rushmore. This thread has made me reconsider. Thinking it would be fun to take my grandsons to South Dakota when they are a bit older.

Surprisingly, I found more things to see and do than I imagined in NORTH Dakota also. Never figured there was much to see in ND, but since my goal was to get though all 50 states, and after doing research I found there were much for me to see and do. Made a trip out there in 2018 and explored a good portion of the state. BTW, I reached my goal after my Kansas trip last year. Been in all 50 States.

 

[capjak]

Have fun, at least if you want to you can go boating with more than 2 people (King Pritz in Illinois declared boating can only be done 2 people at a time, even if you have more than 2 in your household...).

 

[dago]

Hi Cornell,

If you decide to visit Wounded Knee/ Pine Ridge Reservation, I highly recommend reading Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown. It gives an excellent history of what happened.

Richard

I agree... Excellent book - worth reading.

 

[MrockStar]

Funny you should bring this up. In IL, the governor's executive order bans "non-essential" travel. Then we find out this week that Pritzker's wife & daughter travelled to FL to stay at their big horse farm. The hypocrisy is off the charts and made me so angry. Apparently, rules are for the "little people" As a result, I decided, well, I'll travel too!

I talked to the Inn keeper in SD. She said that restaurants are not open except for take out service but that may change by the time I get out there . There is a rumor that things may open by 5/13. I really don't care. The fact that their state parks are open is enough for me. We can't even do that in IL.

I honestly feel like I'm being strangled. And not by a virus.

We, all must choose to live our lives and take back our God given Freedoms as guaranteed by the founders and the constitution, in safe and practical manner, like South Dakota is doing. I fully support your decision and wish you all the best . Radically free from Northern MI at the lake cottage.AL & Family.

 

[dago]

@Cornell - the one thing I always recommend families to do in the Rapid City area is Bear Country USA. Yes, this looks like a typical "tourist trap" (and it probably is), but it is so much fun! It is a drive-through zoo with all types of native animals, but the highlight is the bears. As you drive through that area, there are dozens of bears and they come right up to your car. They also have an area where they usually have 10 or so bear cubs. Looking at their website, it looks like you have to stay in your car past the cub area right now; normally you can get out there, go to the gift shop (what tourist trap is not complete w/o a gift shop! ), etc.

I know you are limited on time, but if you are heading past that area, it is definitely worth an hour or so of your time. Literally everyone who I know that has been there just raves about the place (seriously!).

Kurt

Agree, forgot to mention that in my previous posts

 

[dago]

Even though a lot will be closed , the advantage of this is that I think there will be zero crowds, people, traffic .

I was there end of May beginning of June(2014). No crowds, or traffic.

 

[dbfact]

Fellow IL here and exactly my reaction to the Pritzker's (and the rest of the elites who keep getting caught out where they have told us not to go). Looking at the Dakotas and because I want to 'knock out' a couple of other states I've not been to, maybe over to the E corner of Montana and 'top' of Nebraska. Had hoped to fly to Rapid City and drive from there, as it is a lot of mileage to cover. Concerned about where I'll find available bathrooms! Good luck on the 'break out.'

 

[DaveNV]

Fellow IL here and exactly my reaction to the Pritzker's (and the rest of the elites who keep getting caught out where they have told us not to go). Looking at the Dakotas and because I want to 'knock out' a couple of other states I've not been to, maybe over to the E corner of Montana and 'top' of Nebraska. Had hoped to fly to Rapid City and drive from there, as it is a lot of mileage to cover. Concerned about where I'll find available bathrooms! Good luck on the 'break out.'

If you do make it to South Dakota and want to head down to touch Nebraska, be sure to check out the town of Alliance, Nebraska. It's the coolest town you've never heard of. Claim to fame? It's where you'll find Carhenge. Weird and fun. Not to be missed, if you're already driving by.

Carhenge, Alliance, Nebraska

The Druids got nowhere near the prairie of the Nebraska panhandle, but they might've felt at home here, at a Stonehenge replica made of junked cars.

www.roadsideamerica.com

Dave

 

[Cornell]

We, all must choose to live our lives and take back our God given Freedoms as guaranteed by the founders and the constitution, in safe and practical manner, like South Dakota is doing. I fully support your decision and wish you all the best . Radically free from Northern MI at the lake cottage.AL & Family.

I hope [Gov.] Whitmer is not monitoring TUG! Speaking of MI, my daughter's beloved summer camp in MI just announced they are cancelling weeks 1&2. They will determine the rest of the weeks by 5/15. I absolutely cannot understand why summer camp is not an acceptable activity. Camp is OPTIONAL unlike school. If you don't want your kid to go, then don't send them! Kids have VERY low risk and the staff is young , healthy adults. It's a no brainer to me. And God knows, these kids could really use some camp after what they have been through.

[political word redacted]

 

[Cornell]

@jpfordz I choked on my beverage @ your college reco. I cannot think of a college for ill-suited for my daughter! Hilarious.

 

[Cornell]

Thank you all for your great ideas, suggestions, enthusiasm. There are a lot of wonderful people in this group. This little trip has given me something to look forward to and a new interest in some history that I had long forgotten learning about. XOXOXO