
June 16, 2021
Black Hills, Badlands, & Legends of the West — trip dates are: June 16–22, 2021.
Discover the Wild West as we visit the iconic Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park, Badlands National Park, Deadwood, and Fort Hayes, where they filmed Dances With Wolves.
*You are invited to view a complimentary, virtual travel show highlighting all the wonderful aspects of this trip: VIEW HERE.
DAY 1: ARRIVE RAPID CITY
Arrive in Rapid City and enjoy a welcome dinner with your fellow Our State magazine travelers. (D) Overnight: Rapid City
DAY 2: MOUNT RUSHMORE — CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL
Visit Mt. Rushmore which features the awesome sculptures of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln. Each face is 60-feet high and is carved into the rugged granite mountainside with intricate perfection. Continue onto the Crazy Horse Memorial, still in progress. View the giant mountainside sculpture of the famous Indian Chief astride his pony. In the afternoon, visit Custer State Park, a famous wildlife preserve featuring a herd of 1,500 free-roaming buffalo, and experience a thrilling Buffalo Jeep Safari ride in search of some of the herd. In the evening, enjoy dinner at the famous State Game Lodge, built in 1920 and listed on the national register of historic places with past guests including Presidents Coolidge & Eisenhower. (B,D) Overnight: Rapid City
DAY 3: DEVIL’S TOWER — DEADWOOD
Journey west into Wyoming to visit Devil’s Tower National Monument to view the 867-foot monolith, then turn east into South Dakota to visit historic Deadwood. A local guide will tell you all about the 1876 rough-and-tumble gold camp & gambling town where Wild West legends were made like Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, and Seth Bullock. You’ll also visit Mt. Moriah Cemetery where they are buried. Later, drive through beautiful Spearfish Canyon, a scenic drive in the Black Hills. (B) Overnight: Rapid City
DAY 4: WILD HORSE SANCTUARY
Visit the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary, a seemingly endless prairie where hundreds of wild mustangs roam free. The sanctuary is a 300-year step back into America with Native American petroglyphs & an authentic Sun Dance site. Next, visit one of Rapid City’s newest attractions, city-owned $12 million The Journey Museum, which traces the geology of the Black Hills and tells the story of the people who inhabited these lands. A museum guide will help you explore The Journey which features four museums, including the Sioux Indian Museum. Enjoy the remainder of the day at your own pace. (B) Overnight: Rapid City
DAY 5: BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK — FORT HAYS
Visit and drive through Badlands National Park, located between the White and Cheyenne Rivers. The area contains spectacular examples of weathering, erosion, fantastic ridges, and cliffs and canyons of variegated color. Later, explore the unusual and well-known Wall Drug Store, famous for its “Free Ice Water.” In the afternoon, visit the Fort Hays Dances with Wolves movie set to see some of the original buildings used in the Oscar-winning film. Later at the same location, enjoy a fun-filled Chuckwagon Supper & Cowboy Show. (B,D) Overnight: Rapid City
DAY 6: 1880 TRAIN — MT. RUSHMORE AT NIGHT
This morning, enjoy a short drive to Hill City to explore Main Street and board the 1880 Train for a rail journey through history & scenery. The 1880 Train is an authentic narrow gauge railroad dating back to the Black Hills Gold Rush. Then, stop at a Black Hills Gold Factory. Tonight’s special farewell dinner is at the K-Bar S Ranch nestled in the beautiful Black Hills just outside of Keystone. Following dinner, experience Mt. Rushmore at night to see this American treasure illuminated in a whole new light. (B,D) Overnight: Rapid City
DAY 7: RAPID CITY — FLIGHT HOME
Depart from Rapid City filled with wonderful memories of your Black Hills, Badlands & Legends of the West Tour. (B)
For more information, please contact Melissa Grant from Premier World Discovery by email at mgrant@premierworlddiscovery.com.