Tag Archive for: south dakota

Get a Front-Row Seat to Indian Relay Races in South Dakota

A unique and exciting event in the Great American West is South Dakota’s Indian Horse Relay Races! Leading riders and teams from seven Nations covering Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Wyoming and Canada battle it out on the racetrack.

Indian relays began approximately 400 years ago, when the sacred horse was introduced to the Plains. Today’s Indian Relay competition is an organized sport with governing associations, rules and prize money. Races are broken into heats, with four to six teams lined up on a racetrack. Each team has three horses, one rider, two horse holders and a horse mugger. The mugger is responsible for catching incoming horses in between exchanges, while the holders calm the horses before and after runs.

You can find an annual tour of Indian Relays organized by the Horse Nation Indian Relay Council (HNIRC), headquartered in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

2023 Schedule:

  • May 20-21 (Fort Pierre, South Dakota)
  • June 24-25 (Crow Agency, Montana)
  • July 29-30 (Evanston, Wyoming)
  • August 5-6, 2023 (Pine Ridge, South Dakota)
  • August 12 -13, 2023 (Lower Brule, South Dakota)
  • August 18-20 (Crow Agency, Montana)
  • September 22-24 (Casper, Wyoming)

Check back here for the 2024 event schedule.

Indian relays began approximately 400 years ago, when the sacred horse was introduced to the Plains. Today’s Indian Relay competition is an organized sport with governing associations, rules and prize money. Photo courtesy of Travel South Dakota

For more information on South Dakota, visit TravelSouthDakota.com.

Unearth the History of the Black Hills Gold Rush in Rapid City

Embark on a captivating journey through the rich history of the area, shaped by the Black Hills Gold Rush. Discover how gold was discovered in 1874, igniting a population surge of gold hunters and mining camps. Today, you can still experience this rush by visiting various sites in the Rapid City area that showcase the profound impact it had on the region.

Start your gold rush experience at the Journey Museum & Learning Center, where you’ll explore exhibits on geology, pioneer history, and how the gold rush impacted the Lakota people. Witness the creation of Black Hills Gold jewelry with a tour at the Mount Rushmore Black Hills Gold Factory, where artisans are still handcrafting Black Hills Gold into iconic grape leaf designs.

Discover the underground wonders of the area at Black Hills Caverns with a guided tour and try your hand at gemstone mining. Or follow the historic Rockerville Flume trail, which weaves you through stunning views and into historic tunnels, and reveals pieces of the remaining flume used during the mining boom of the 1880s.

Discover the underground wonders of the Rapid City area at Black Hills Caverns with a guided tour and try your hand at gemstone mining. Photo courtesy of Visit Rapid City

For more information on Rapid City, visit VisitRapidCity.com.

The Great American West Has Many Claims To Fame

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Get To Know Hugh Glass, South Dakota’s “Revenant”

An epic tale of survival and revenge, the early 2016 film “The Revenant” tells the story of frontiersman Hugh Glass (played by Leonardo DiCaprio). Glass was a trapper in South Dakota, where he was mauled by a grizzly bear and left for dead by his companions. Fueled by revenge and the will to survive, he crawled for six weeks to the nearest settlement, Fort Kiowa, near present-day Chamberlain.

Today, you can follow the route Glass took through the South Dakota wilderness and be amazed just how he lived to tell the tale.

Start your journey in the northern South Dakota town of Lemmon. You can almost hear the roar while looking at renowned artist John Lopez’s sculpture in the Grand River Museum. Lopez used scrap metal to recreate the battle between Hugh Glass and a grizzly bear. Want to know more? Just head to Lopez’s studio in downtown Lemmon. Not only can you see more of Lopez’s work, you’re also likely to catch the sculptor himself at work.

For other famous South Dakota Films such as “Into the Wild,” “National Treasure: Book of Secrets,” “Dances With Wolves,” “Armageddon” and “Hidalgo,” visit https://www.travelsouthdakota.com/shows-films-shot-south-dakota.

You can follow the South Dakota route taken by trapper Hugh Glass, the inspiration for the 2016 film “The Revanant,” who was mauled by a grizzly bear and left for dead. Photo courtesy of Travel South Dakota

For more information on South Dakota, visit TravelSouthDakota.com.

Take a Tour of “Dances With Wolves” Set in Rapid City

Discover the great Western town experience of Fort Hays Town Square in Rapid City, South Dakota, made famous by a free tour of an iconic film set. “Dances with Wolves” is an American epic Western film first released in 1990 starring recognizable names like Kevin Costner and Graham Greene. Visitors to Fort Hays can see the original buildings used in the movie inside the South Dakota Movie Museum, which includes remnants of more than 50 other movies filmed in South Dakota.

This self-guided tour includes visiting artisans creating handmade tools, ropes, bricks, tin plates and knives, and even panning for Black Hills Gold at the Gem Shop. Be sure to explore it all, including the view you can find overlooking Black Hills National Forest and all the photo-worthy moments in between.

Fort Hays is also home to Mount Rushmore Tour Company, featuring sightseeing packages to top attractions in the Black Hills like Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park and Needles Highway. The Fort Hays season runs mid-May through the beginning of October. Whether you’re a fan of the Old West, scenic tours or even just Kevin Costner himself, there’s lots to love about a visit to Fort Hays.

Visitors to Rapid City, South Dakota, can experience an Old West town at Fort Hays, which features artisans and panning for gold in addition to the South Dakota Movie Museum. Photo courtesy of Visit Rapid City

For more information on Rapid City, visit VisitRapidCity.com.

There’s A Lot Coming Up On South Dakota’s 2023 Calendar

100th Anniversary: Custer’s Gold Discovery Day | July 21-23 (Custer)

In 1874, Lieutenant Colonel George Custer led the troops of the 7th Cavalry into the Black Hills and discovered gold near present-day Custer. More information: https://www.custersd.com/Gold-Discovery-Days

75th Anniversary: The Start of Crazy Horse Memorial/ Crazy Horse Volksmarch | June 3 & October 2 Volksmarch, June 4 Anniversary Celebration (Custer)

The bi-annual Crazy Horse Volksmarch is a 10K hike to the world’s largest mountain carving in progress. More information: https://crazyhorsememorial.org/visit/special-events/volksmarch/

Sitting Bull Stampede Rodeo | July 2-4 (Mobridge)

The annual Sitting Bull Stampede in Mobridge is the major event of the year, with parades, carnival and rodeos. More information: https://mobridge.org/rodeo

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally | August 4-13 (Sturgis)

The Rally is one of the world’s oldest and largest motorcycle gatherings, offering incredible riding, exhibitors, racing and concerts. More information: https://www.travelsouthdakota.com/trip-ideas/article/sturgis-motorcycle-rally

Chislic Festival | July 28 (Freeman)

Small-town food festival based around South Dakota’s most popular dish – chislic. More information: https://www.sdchislicfestival.com/

Black Hills Powwow & Art Market | October 6-8 (Rapid City)

Known as one of the premier American Indian cultural events in the U.S., the Black Hills Powwow attracts hundreds of dancers, singers and artisans, and thousands of spectators. More information: https://www.blackhillspowwow.com/

Hike up close and personal onto Crazy Horse Memorial, the world’s largest mountain carving in progress. Photo courtesy of Crazy Horse Memorial

For more information on South Dakota, visit TravelSouthDakota.com.

2023 Celebrates Native American, Western Heritage in Rapid City

75th Anniversary at Crazy Horse Memorial

Stand in awe before the world’s largest mountain carving in progress at Crazy Horse Memorial. Tour the grounds and witness Native American performances, visit with Native American artisans, spend time in the Indian Museum of North America and learn from one-of-a-kind exhibits.

The bi-annual Crazy Horse Memorial Volksmarch is a 6.2-mile hike that takes visitors around the base of the mountain and up onto Crazy Horse’s outstretched arm. Experience this unique event on June 3 and stay for the special public events held on June 4 to honor the Memorial’s 75th anniversary.

Black Hills Powwow

Take part in the Black Hills Powwow-He Sapa Wacipi and join in a celebration of community featuring hundreds of Native American dancers, drummers, singers and artisans. Every October, this premier American Indian cultural event in the United States draws thousands of visitors to Rapid City, South Dakota.

 Buffalo Roundup

Get a taste of the Wild West with an iconic experience at the annual Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival. Watch cowboys, cowgirls and park rangers drive the herd of nearly 1,400 bison through a valley and into a corral in Custer State Park at the end of September.

Get a taste of the Wild West at the annual Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival in Custer State Park. Photo courtesy of Travel South Dakota

For more information on Rapid City, visit VisitRapidCity.com.

Indoors and Outdoors, South Dakota Has Winter Covered

Cozy Indoor Attractions

  1. Museums: Redlin Art Center, South Dakota Art Museum and Days of 76 Museum are all worth spending hours enjoying.
  2. Breweries & Distilleries: Grab a brew, enjoy a tour and chat with a local in a cozy taproom at Lost Cabin Beer Company (Rapid City), Ben’s Brewing Co. (Yankton) or One-Legged Pheasant Brewery (Aberdeen).
  3. TV Famous Dining: CH Patisserie, located in Sioux Falls, features Chef Chris Hamner Winner of Bravo’s “Top Chef Just Desserts.” Food Network star Justin Warner recently opened Bokujo Ramen in Rapid City.

Winter Outdoor Activities

South Dakota’s parks remain open, along with incredible opportunities for outdoor activities.

  1. Skiing, Tubing and Snowboarding: Terry Peak Ski Area, Great Bear Ski Valley
  2. Snowmobile Trail Season
  3. Hiking & Snowshoeing: Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway and frozen waterfalls, Mount Roosevelt/The Friendship Tower

Winter Events & Festivals

  1. Annual Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo (Rapid City): January 26- February 4, 2023
  2. Forks, Corks & Kegs Food, Wine & Beer Festival (Deadwood): April 14-15, 2023
  3. PBR (Professional Bull Riding) Invitational (Sioux Falls): March 31-April 2, 2023

Did you know South Dakota is home to restaurants owned by Food Network and Bravo chefs? Delicacies from ramen to French-inspired patisserie. Photo courtesy of Travel South Dakota

For more information on South Dakota, visit TravelSouthDakota.com.

From Balloons to Powwows to Rodeos, Rapid City Has It All

Stratobowl Historic Hot Air Balloon Launch

Right outside Rapid City, South Dakota, lies the birthplace of the space-age Stratobowl. It was from this location in 1935 that the Army Air Corps and National Geographic Society launched a world-record-breaking manned hot air balloon. Each year in September, experienced balloonists gather to celebrate the flight.

Black Hills Powwow

Premier American Indian cultural event Black Hills Powwow-He Sapa Wacipi brings together Native American singers, dancers and drummers from all over the nation. All are welcome to come celebrate and learn more about why this event is so important to the Lakota culture. 

Scenic Cruising

At any given time of year, the open roads in western South Dakota live up to their glory. Fall scenic cruising adds colorful spice to the rolling hills of pines. Winter brings a beautiful, snow-dusted landscape, and spring brings the opportunity to spot baby wildlife amid the fresh scenery.

Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo

The largest agriculture event in western South Dakota wraps up our Western roots into one celebration. For a stretch of two weeks every January, spectators can enjoy entertainment from saddle bronc riders to roping events to livestock showings.

Visitors can enjoy scenic cruises near Rapid City year-round, like the stunning Needles Highway in Custer State Park. Photo courtesy of Jacob Moon

For more information on Rapid City, visit VisitRapidCity.com.

South Dakota is Packed With Picture-Perfect Vistas

Badlands National Park (Wall)
Known as the land of stone and light, the Badlands are a must-stop for South Dakota visitors seeking the most unique photos. Be sure to arrive before sunrise or sunset to capture the most incredible light in the park.

Spearfish Canyon (Spearfish)
Towering limestone cliffs and a rushing mountain stream keep you company along the 19-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 14A, known as Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. Be sure to plan a hike to Roughlock Falls for breathtaking sights.

Nicolette Tower (Sisseton)
Climb the tower to capture the vast prairie landscape of three states – North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota. The observation tower honors Joseph N. Nicollet, the French mapmaker who explored the Coteau Des Prairies in the 1830s.

Dignity (Chamberlain)
The Dignity sculpture is a stunning combination of art and history, designed to honor the cultures of the Lakota and Dakota people. You can capture a beautiful image of the sculpture with the sparking waters of the Missouri river.

Falls Park (Sioux Falls)
Visitors will be in awe of the triple-tier waterfall, located in the heart of Sioux Falls, South Dakota’s largest city. The views from the five-story viewing tower are well worth the climb!

The Dignity sculpture is a stunning combination of art and history, designed to honor the cultures of the Lakota and Dakota people. Photo courtesy of Travel South Dakota

For more information on South Dakota, visit TravelSouthDakota.com.