Black Hills

The Black Hills of South Dakota are so called because they appear to be black from a distance, especially upon approach from the east, across the Great Plains.

This area...Custer State Park, in particular...holds a special place in our hearts and our memories, so it was firmly on the list of places we wanted to include on our Last Hurrah trip and was our destination for October 2, 2018.

The first three photos were taken along the Wildlife Loop road in Custer State Park. 

Pronghorn Antelope

A herd of buffalo was crossing a creek from the far meadow to the near one.

After driving the Wildlife Loop, we followed the advice of the desk clerk at our motel and drove the scenic Iron Mountain Road. The scenery is a main attraction, of course; but the tunnels, through which Mount Rushmore is visible, are possibly the key feature of this drive.

We didn't go to the official viewing site of Mount Rushmore, but there were plenty of views as we drove back to and through Custer State Park.

The presidents whose likenesses have been carved into the side of the mountain at Mount Rushmore are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, representing the birth, growth, development, and preservation  of the United States of America.

The profile of George Washington is visible from the Profile View turnout.

Sylvan Lake is another beautiful spot in Custer State Park.

Another very scenic part of Custer State Park is the Needles area. The rock formations there are something to see. The most popular feature of the the Needles is the Needles Eye Tunnel. Few can resist the challenge of driving a vehicle through the narrow opening. The following collage shows a vehicle going through to the other side, then the empty tunnel, then another vehicle entering the tunnel from the other side. Meanwhile, the small parking lots on each side are filled with people trying to get pictures.

Another scene along the Needles Highway

Now, a story about our very first visit to Custer State Park as a couple. I had been there many years before, traveling alone. I loved it and wanted to show it to Doug after we were married. So, on our first trip west in 1988, I planned a drive-through visit. I wasn't sure Doug would like it as much as I had, so I hadn't made any plans to stay overnight.

But Doug loved it, and we spent so much time taking in the sights that it was soon going on 9 PM. We hadn't had supper; we needed gasoline; and we didn't know where we'd find a place to stay that night.

The Blue Bell Lodge, located in Custer State Park, consisted of cabins, a restaurant, and a gas station. The gas station had just closed when we pulled up to the pumps, but someone was still inside. He came out and agreed to let us get some gas. We explained our situation and asked if he could recommend a place where we might stay for the night. 

He said that Blue Bell Lodge had just had a cancellation on one of their cabins, and he would let us have that for a very modest price. And he even had the kitchen make us up a couple of sandwiches.

The cabin was wonderful, a real treat for us. We had a delicious breakfast at the restaurant the next morning before resuming our westward journey.

In the intervening years, we've taken many vacations out west, and I've often inquired about lodging at the Blue Bell. But the rates were always way out of our comfort zone.

It was a gift from the Lord that we were blessed with gas, food, and lodging there that night in 1988.

Anyway, we still couldn't afford to stay at the Blue Bell on this Last Hurrah trip, but we did eat at the restaurant that night, after all our sightseeing.

Doug entering the Blue Bell Lodge Dining Room

Inside the Dining Room

Supper at the Blue Bell was a perfect way to wrap up a wonderful day of sightseeing. Wyoming was next on our agenda. More on that next time.