Yee Haw! Let's get this party started! Meet your hosts, Will and Lucinda, pick up your registration packets and sign up for the Brothel Tour. If weather is bad, you can wait until the Welcome at the Event Center and we'll have your bag there. (Next item on agenda, below.)
Let's meet your fellow pioneers and get the lowdown for the week. Grab a sapsarilla from your rig, and head to the Event Center. Tell us why you would be 'Wanted' in the West and get your 'Wanted' poster photo taken.
We are going to cancel this morning's Coffee Roundup because of forecasted snow 6:00-8:00am.
Depart the campground at 9:31am. It is a 30 minute drive. Arrive around 10am. We will take a group photo at the monument. Also on site is a small museum with local history and a quaint little log cabin. We will depart around 11am.
It is a 50 minute drive from the museum to the cafe, which is on the way to Devil's Tower.
They specialize in Bison burgers but vegetarian and other options are available for your selection.
We will enjoy an included lunch at Ponderosa and will depart around 1:30pm.
Click here to view the menu.
The monument is 15 minutes from Hulett. When you arrive at the monument, this time is on your own. Stop, visit and pay at the visitor center, and tour as long as you like. Use your National Parks Pass or $25 per vehicle entry fee. Sights to see at the tower: Tower Loop Trail, Prairie Dog Town, and Circle of Sacred Smoke sculpture.
Enjoy a chili tasting at our rigs. Anyone who wants to participate can cook up vegan, bean only, no beans, chicken and all kinds of chili options. (Bring your own bowl (or cup) and spoon to get your sample!)
We are going to cancel this morning's Coffee Roundup because of possible snow, rain and continued high winds. Everything will be covered at the Chili Cookoff the night before (Tuesday).
Tour at your own pace. It takes about 1 hour to drive to the tunnel from the campground. For the entire loop, plan an average of 1.5 hours. It may be longer depending on how often and long you stop. $20 fee per vehicle to enter Custer State Park. Pass good for 7 days. Drive the loop at your own pace. Photo stops along the way at your discretion.
Lunch is on your own today. There is Carver's Cafe on-site at Mt. Rushmore, or you can opt to dine in the town of Custer before your visit. The Hole-in-Wall picnic area is included in the map link if you'd like to stop there and have a picnic. It's 30 minutes from the Needles Eye Tunnel to Custer and 40 minutes from Custer to Mt. Rushmore. Parking at Mt. Rushmore is $10 per vehicle. Tour the visitor's center, watch the movie and enjoy the gift shop. Hiking options: Presidential Trail with 422 stairs or take the Blackberry Trail. Self guided audio tour $8 rental fee. It's about a 1.5 hour drive home.
Optional: If you plan to spend the day at Rushmore, you may want to stay or come back for the sunset sculpture illumination. Your parking pass is good for a year. You can come and go from the park if you would like to visit the surrounding area before the lighting. It is a 1.5 hour drive back to the campground.
Bring your morning beverage and we'll cover today's agenda and answer questions. Learn about some of the interesting things to do on the way to the Badlands.
Optional: Visit the magnificent Badlands exploring at your own pace. Suggested departure time is 9:30 based on drive time, but you can depart on your own schedule. This will be an all day adventure with driving, photo taking at the 7 overlooks, stopping at prairie dog town. Park entrance fee is $15. Available for purchase at the park entrance and good for 7 days. You can also stop to visit the town of Scenic or Wall Drug on the way in and away from the park. It is a 2 hour drive to the Badlands. Plan for about 1.5 hours driving through the park. This does not include scenic stops. It will be a 2 hour return trip back to the campground.
Cash bar open and free snacks available so come prepared for some rowdy action. Feel free to bring your own meal; we'll have tables. Come ready to show off your costumes and get in the Old West mindset. Everyone will vote for the Best Costume so let's see what you've got in your wagon.
We have a brave crowd of fellow RVers who are involved in a murder at Deadwood Saloon. The rest of us can dress up as innocent bystanders and watch as they uncover clues to the murderer. Come enjoy the show and vote for the Best Performance by the heroic Hangout actors.
Bring your morning beverage and we'll cover today's agenda and answer questions. We have several Deadwood facts for you today and we'll also let you in on some interesting things to do in and around Deadwood.
Optional: If you want to check out the town of Deadwood before the brothel museum tour, go ahead and head out. It is about 30 minutes from the campground. You will need extra time to get your parking and make your way to the brothel. Allow yourself at least 1 hour before your tour. You may want to visit the Moriah Cemetery where several famous wild West gunfighers are buried. The entrance there is $2 per person. There are also shops, restaurants and casinos to enjoy early. Places to Park in Deadwood
You have tour times of 1, 2 or 3pm. It is an historic site so there are no elevators and only small groups can visit at a time. No more than 20 per group. See how the world's oldest profession impacted Deadwood.
Optional: Sit on the curb, like when you were a kid and wait for the gunfight to start! After the gunfight, meet the gunslingers, ask questions, take photos.
This is a great opportunity to enjoy the nightlife of Deadwood. Restaurants, bars, casinos, live music and more.
Bring your morning beverage and we'll cover today's agenda and answer questions. We can share "riding with wildlife" stories.
It's time to see American Bison, bighorn sheep, and antelope. Suggested departure time is 9:30 based on drive time, but you can depart on your own schedule. Bring your park pass from the other day, it is still good! ($20 per vehicle if you don't have it.) It takes 1.5 hours to get to the loop. Expect to spend about 1 hour driving the loop. Some of the sights you will see along this router are the Welcome to Custer Park sign, Wildlife Station Visitors Center, and Prairie Dog Town and more. It is a 1.5 hour return drive to the campground.
It is a 40 minute drive from the Custer Wildlife Loop to the Crazy Horse Memorial. Catch the 20 minute movie "Story of Tatanka" in the Visitor Center. Crazy Horse has a $30 entrance fee. It's a 1.5 hour return drive to the campground.
Learn how to make Cowboy roll-ups cooking with skewers over a campfire - all the skewers and goodies supplied. BYOS (Bring your own Sasparilla!) and bring along a chair.
Happy Mother's Day. The whole day is about rest and peace! Small token gift of appreciation for Women at breakfast. Also, the men get to make breakfast for the women. Try to bring something a cowboy might have made on the trail - get creative. Read the original Mother's Day Proclamation and its original meaning.
Optional: Take today to tour one last area you haven't seen yet - Sticking close to home for a peaceful, relaxing day. Ride through the beautiful Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. Or, enjoy a self-guided ride of the Frawley Ranch. Our RV park is an historic site!
Bring marshmallows and snacks. (We'll have skewers.) Bring a bottle of your favorite beverage (wine, liquor, cocktails) to share and a cup to taste with. We have done a lot of driving and sightseeing and it is time for a little rest and sharing stories.
Bring your coffee to our last round-up before we hit the road. Enjoy local wild west favorites of Biscuits & Jelly and Kolaches while we say goodbye to our neighbors and new friends.
Pull out no later than 11am! See you soon at another Hangout. Git along little dogie!