OT - Places to visit in South Dakota?

Stormbringer

We're once again starting to plan our vacations for next year. Yellowstone and the Tetons are on the cards. We'll be flying in and out of Denver in September 2019, partly because it's a day's drive to Yellowstone (all other international airports we can access are at least two days). Also, British Airways do really cheap return flights from LHR to DEN. We are diverting up to Badlands National Park prior to heading west and that got me thinking that there might be some other interesting places in South Dakota. Any recommendations for places to visit en route? The rough route plan at the moment is Denver => Badlands => Yellowstone => Denver. Thanks.

RRP

If you like "art" on a large scale - then you need to see Crazy Horse!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlcZlO-CCpo

TN_Egger

South Dakota.  Honestly, it's not for everybody.  oh, that's Nebraska. same thing

tenpenny_05

Mitchell Corn palace. 
End list.

pgprescott

MT Rushmore and Custer park area is beautiful IMO. The Crazy horse  thing is cool for the inside display and written historical stories, but when we were there, it was a scam as far as seeing the actual monument. They kept it hidden and molested you for donations to finish. There are caves in the area with guided tours and archeological site nearby. Enjoy the beauty.  

Botch

If you can hit Mt Rushmore for the lighting at night, that's amazing, and the tunnels cut into Iron Mountain Road as you leave perfectly frame the lit Faces; you just have to be careful about the bison, they're very dark at night and weigh more than your rental car!  I think Spearfish Canyon in the Black Hills is beautiful, its a bit up to the north, and try to drive Needles Highway.  
Devil's Tower (Close Encounters of the Third Kind) is en-route from the Black Hills to Yellowstone.  
I grew up in Sioux Falls, and will say all the scenic stuff is in the western half of the state, unless you're into the world's largest ball of twine.  

OhioEgger

Wall Drug

What more could you ask for?

RRP

pgprescott said:

 The Crazy horse  thing is cool for the inside display and written historical stories, but when we were there, it was a scam as far as seeing the actual monument. They kept it hidden and molested you for donations to finish. 

That's interesting because there was only a very modest entry fee when we were last there. We got to meet Korczak Ziolkowski and Pat took a picture of us! He was a "working man"covered with dust and dirt in his large beard! We enjoyed the museum and all the smaller scale art he had made. 

pgprescott

RRP said:

pgprescott said:

 The Crazy horse  thing is cool for the inside display and written historical stories, but when we were there, it was a scam as far as seeing the actual monument. They kept it hidden and molested you for donations to finish. 

That's interesting because their was only a very modest entry fee when we were last there. We got to meet Korczak Ziolkowski and Pat took a picture of us! He was a "working man"covered with dust and dirt in his large beard! We enjoyed the museum and all the smaller scale art he had made. 

Well it’s been some years 10 or so maybe. Hey charged us like 25 to get in and park and like I said you couldn’t see anything of the actual work. I found the museum interesting but felt totally fleeced over the whole experience. Bait and switch type deal imo. 

GATraveller

Deadwood. 

RRP

pgprescott said:

RRP said:

pgprescott said:

 The Crazy horse  thing is cool for the inside display and written historical stories, but when we were there, it was a scam as far as seeing the actual monument. They kept it hidden and molested you for donations to finish. 

That's interesting because their was only a very modest entry fee when we were last there. We got to meet Korczak Ziolkowski and Pat took a picture of us! He was a "working man"covered with dust and dirt in his large beard! We enjoyed the museum and all the smaller scale art he had made. 

Well it’s been some years 10 or so maybe. Hey charged us like 25 to get in and park and like I said you couldn’t see anything of the actual work. I found the museum interesting but felt totally fleeced over the whole experience. Bait and switch type deal imo. 

Well doing the math - our last time there was the summer before he died so that had to have been 37 years!  

BTW - that picture of the bloody Mary looked nice - was that a pickled asparagus spear in the center? 

pgprescott

RRP said:

pgprescott said:

RRP said:

pgprescott said:

 The Crazy horse  thing is cool for the inside display and written historical stories, but when we were there, it was a scam as far as seeing the actual monument. They kept it hidden and molested you for donations to finish. 

That's interesting because their was only a very modest entry fee when we were last there. We got to meet Korczak Ziolkowski and Pat took a picture of us! He was a "working man"covered with dust and dirt in his large beard! We enjoyed the museum and all the smaller scale art he had made. 

Well it’s been some years 10 or so maybe. Hey charged us like 25 to get in and park and like I said you couldn’t see anything of the actual work. I found the museum interesting but felt totally fleeced over the whole experience. Bait and switch type deal imo. 

Well doing the math - our last time there was the summer before he died so that had to have been 37 years!  

BTW - that picture of the bloody Mary looked nice - was that a pickled asparagus spear in the center? 

😂 a few years ago hey?

yes pickled asparagus. Delicious. 

JNDATHP

Minute Man NPS. Has both the control room and the missile site. 

https://www.nps.gov/mimi/index.htm

erniemcclain

If you are leaving DIA via car to SD, you can stop by Scottsbluff National Monument in Gering, NE it is on the Old Oregon Trail/Mormon Trail.  Wagon ruts are still here.  Also on the Old Pony Express route.    Carhenge in Alliance NE is on the way as well.   Deadwood SD (previously mentioned) as well as Spearfish Canyon.  On the way to Yellowstone, south of Gillette, WY are some HUGE coal mines.  I don’t know if you can tour.  Google coal mine tours in Powder River WY.    Cody WY (45 minutes from east entrance) has nightly rodeos. Great fun.  

erniemcclain

As for the missile sites, there are LOTS in SE Wyoming, Southern NE Panhandle, north central CO.  These are active silos. 

Botch

erniemcclain said:

As for the missile sites, there are LOTS in SE Wyoming, Southern NE Panhandle, north central CO.  These are active silos. 

Just don't jump the fence, to walk around!  

RRP

pgprescott said:

RRP said:

pgprescott said:

RRP said:

pgprescott said:

 The Crazy horse  thing is cool for the inside display and written historical stories, but when we were there, it was a scam as far as seeing the actual monument. They kept it hidden and molested you for donations to finish. 

That's interesting because their was only a very modest entry fee when we were last there. We got to meet Korczak Ziolkowski and Pat took a picture of us! He was a "working man"covered with dust and dirt in his large beard! We enjoyed the museum and all the smaller scale art he had made. 

Well it’s been some years 10 or so maybe. Hey charged us like 25 to get in and park and like I said you couldn’t see anything of the actual work. I found the museum interesting but felt totally fleeced over the whole experience. Bait and switch type deal imo. 

Well doing the math - our last time there was the summer before he died so that had to have been 37 years!  

BTW - that picture of the bloody Mary looked nice - was that a pickled asparagus spear in the center? 

😂 a few years ago hey?

yes pickled asparagus. Delicious. 

Well, my friend...37-47-27 what the hell are those tiny numbers between friends! 

I got got hooked on pickled aspargus at the red door restaurant up there off Peru on I-80 years ago when I would have to drive to our home office in Chicago at least once a month and sometimes twice.

More about the pickled asparagus...for several years I could buy it locally - then that fancy-*ss store closed in Peoria. And then driven by the "need to fill" I bought a 12 bottle case on Amazon.

TN_Egger

Is that highway 1, 80 years ago, Ron?  (how old are you?)  

Dmb3739

Wife and I rode bikes out to Sturgis for the 75th Anniversary a few years back.  My favorite places were Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, Deadwood, and we drove out to Devil's Tower.  If you head back toward the Badlands, check out Wall Drug.  Nothing spectacular but you'll know when you start getting close.  There are signs for miles and miles reminding you,

YukonRon

Wind cave and the Bandlands. Badlands continue to erode and produce fossils.
I enjoyed the area immensely when we backpacked there.
Google "Badlands National Park"

thetrim

OhioEgger said:

Wall Drug

What more could you ask for?

Free water.

pgprescott

Buffalo and prairie dogs in Custer are entertaining. Buffalo are out around dusk and dawn. Lots of natural beauty everywhere. 

Possumtrot

Many years ago I read a book by John McPhee told through the life of an area geologist - Rising From The Plains - about the Tetons and the geology of Wyoming.  It influenced me to take a trip on my motorcycle (BMW R100G/S Paris Dakar) through that area.  Really an awe inspiring trip once you ignore the commercial tourist aspects and relate to the geography/geology.  The books still available and would be a good reference for what you're seeing.  Also if you get to Cody, the Buffalo Bill Museum is a must.

fishlessman

plum creek kennels south dakota,  pick out a new pup

fishlessman

pgprescott said:

Buffalo and prairie dogs in Custer are entertaining. Buffalo are out around dusk and dawn. Lots of natural beauty everywhere. 

custer must have seen the indians coming for three days, thats my only thought when driving by that area

fishlessman

if you fly fish, the madison just outside of yellowstone a few miles below the 3 dolllar bridge. nothing like it

Stormbringer

Thanks for all the suggestions so far, we've got some extra locations to look at.

Sea2Ski

Having done the roadtrip about a year ago, I agree with what @pgprescott and @Botch both said.  We did hit Crazyhorse, but knowing what know now, I would say skip it. I was less than impressed with what I saw and, as stated, felt like they wanted more and more money to get closer.

Mount Rushmore 1-1.5 before dark and be there for the lighting ceremony as stated.  Skip the seats - take your tripod and stay at the top landing, but get to the front. Set up early so you can shoot down to the stage and up to the mountain.  Trust me. 

Devils tower at daybreak- unless foggy - then be there In the evening. (Like you can plan that!!)

Badlands is also a photographer’s dream. 

I remember you you and your wife’s work - can not wait to see what pictures you take. I know I will not be disappointed. 

Oh oh and wall drug - making millions.  They got us for about $12 for two ice cream cones. We did get free water though....

SaltySam

It doesn’t sound like you’ll be driving the right direction, towards Wall Drug.  But, if you get the chance, try to keep count of how many signs you see for it.  We lost count around 90