Four nights in Custer South Dakota was just what we needed. We lucked out finding the perfect little camp ground just a mile or so from downtown Custer. ‘Fort Welikit” Family Campground! It had nice large spaces, although it was pretty hilly. The dogs loved the huge grassy area.
We had three full days to just relax. We’ve been to all of the major attractions in the area several times in the past. But it’s been many years so we took our time and and enjoyed it all again.
Custer State Park – Bison Center
Custer State Park is known for its free-ranging bison herd. With some 1,500 animals, it is one of the largest bison herds in the world. Pronghorn, deer, elk, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, burros, prairie dogs, coyotes, eagles, and wild turkeys are other residents of the park’s variety of habitats. The 18-mile (29-km) Wildlife Loop Road offers views of the animals, and bison often stop traffic as they cross. The Needles Highway is a twisting 14-mile (23-km) route through narrow tunnels.
Hey! There’s George! I love this first glimpse of him on the approach to the memorial.
We were very impressed with the new (?) multilevel parking. This place is always busy. Parking and hiking up to the memorial used to be such a pain. It’s much better now. We couldn’t take the dog all the way in, but we got close enough to get the photo op.
A Worthy Cause
The Crazy Horse Memorial is a mountain monument under construction on privately held land in the Black Hills, in Custer County, South Dakota. It will depict the Oglala Lakota warrior Crazy Horse, riding a horse and pointing to his tribal land. The memorial was commissioned by Henry Standing Bear, a Lakota elder, to be sculpted by Korczak Ziolkowski. It is operated by the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, a nonprofit organization. The monument has been in progress since 1948 and is far from completion.
We first went to the Wind Cave National Park. There is a small building with nothing to see until you go 120 feet underground. But the elevators were broken! So on to Jewel Cave which we hadn’t heard much about. Wow! It’s huge!
With the Wind Cave closed, the Jewel Cave tours were booked solid. That’s ok with me since I’m so claustrophobic. But this would be an amazing experience for kids. They give some quick training and then take you down in groups. There are different skill level tours offered. The little movie we watched about the process was pretty interesting.
Jewel Cave National Monument is the third longest cave in the world with over 200 miles explored. The mileage continues to grow as researchers discover an average of three miles of new passageways each year luring explorers to its maze of endless tunnels.
Leaving Custer, we need to keep moving
The Badlands
Why do they look like that?
The Badlands began eroding about 500,000 years ago as the Cheyenne and White Rivers carved their way through the landscape. They are the reason for the narrow channels, canyons, and rugged peaks of the Badlands which we see today. And the Badlands are still eroding – it is estimated that the Badlands erode at the rate of one inch per year, which is a rapid rate for rocks. In contrast, the granite of the Black Hills, to the west of Badlands National Park, erodes at the rate of one inch per 10,000 years. Scientists estimate that in the next 500,000 years, the Badlands will have eroded completely
We scored a Harvest Host stay in little Murdo, South Dakota.
The Pioneer Auto Show complex had a huge back lot and allowed only 3 Harvest Host guests per night so we had plenty of room to spread out. Only problem was it was about 104 degrees with horrible humidity. We had to run generators and both air conditioners all night. It’s difficult to sleep with that much noise.
This would have been a great place to stay in good weather. They do have a nice little car museum and a fun car lovers gift shop.
Patriotism is everywhere. This is so nice to see all across the plains.
Wow! There was some beautiful brickwork along this little Main Street.
We actually had a beautiful drive to see just a small portion of this wildlife refuge. We also got some exercise. This was quite a hike to see the falls. 100 degrees and 70% humidity will get the sweat flowing.
We spent the night at a KOA in Yankton. No pictures…. But 50 amp hookups and both air conditioners on our trailer blasting! Whew!
Pipestone National Monument is sacred to many American Indian tribes, who quarry and carve its red pipestone for prayer ceremonies.
Numerous Native American tribes around the country have oral traditions connecting them to this site, Euro-Americans have been visiting and writing about it since the 1600s, and archeologists have found evidence for over 3,000 years of human activity here. Today, Pipestone National Monument is officially affiliated with 23 tribal nations and Indigenous people from across the country keep ancient quarrying traditions alive to this day.
Back on the road. Wait!! Go back! There’s a Spam Museum in Austin, Minnesota!?!?
Spam museum??? We should have gone back! By the time I Googled it was too late. Yes, there is a Spam museum. I’m sorry that we didn’t go.
Welcome to Red Wing. Like the boots.
We made it to the Mississippi!
finallyfree2roam 
Glad to see you’re following along! We’re having an amazing time.
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great trip!! Looks like you are having a lot of fun. Sister Susan
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Thanks again Allison for sharing your journey! Really nice summary of the place you have seen with Bruce and Donna! Stay Safe and look forward to your next update…..
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