Wall, SD is a weird little town located between Rapid City and the Badlands National Park. There are signs all along Interstate 90 to be sure to stop in Wall to see "World Famous" Wall Drug Store. It's basically a huge five & dime-type store with a bunch of knicknacks of very low quality and really cheesey "attractions" like fake dinosaurs, fake cowboys, and other assorted stupid stuff that might entertain travellers under 5 but really isn't worth the time to exit the interstate and find a parking place. It was featured on the Today Show or something like that but that doesn't mean it's the hub of excitement their billboards along the road make it out to be.
If you must go, at least make it a short stop to refuel you or your car. Spending the night is a frustrating experience. There are very few restaurants and the ones they do have aren't very good and the motel rooms seem to fill up...
Keystone
by tarced
Almost the entire town of Keystone is a tourist trap, but that doesn't make it any less fun. There are quite a few shops that sell "Black Hills Gold". Speaking of which, there are gold mines where tourists can mine for gold. Don't expect to be able to retire on what you find - still the experience can be interesting if you keep a fairly open mind!
the town itself
by tarced
Almost the entire town of Keystone is a tourist trap, but that doesn't make it any less fun. There are quite a few shops that sell "Black Hills Gold". Speaking of which, there are gold mines where tourists can mine for gold. Don't expect to be able to retire on what you find - still the experience can be interesting if you keep a fairly open mind!
WALL DRUG
by kazander
Oh Wall Drug with your oh-so-many alluring signs on the side of the road...why oh why are you such a disappointment!? For Miles and Miles around, even in Wyoming, you will see signs pointing you in the direction of Wall Drug. You can't resist, you must go and see what all the fuss is about, but all you will find is a ridiculous, overpriced, over touristy, unfriendly (which is weird because most places in SD are quite friendly) just not worth your time tourist trap to end ALL tourist traps. There isn't even any decent cheesy souvenier that you must take home with you! So Sad.The story of Wall Drug is this...Way back in the day, even before Mount Rushmore was carved out of the mountain, Wall Drug was bought by a couple looking to make a buck out here in the middle of nowhere. The wife says to her hubby, "Hey why don't we put up signs saying we will give away free ice water, people need...
Dont be too much pushy!
by Alicja1
Native people dont trust foregin visitors, what is uderstandable after everything they went through. Dont treat them like a "museum item" Dont look for a stereotypes! They are like us. I know how it is to be treated almost like an "alien" Leaving in UK tought me how hard sometimes can be to deal with rasism or simply lack of knowledge.
Be honest and friendly but not pushy
Wall Drug
by sunchasers
Wall Drug will be impossible to avoid as it is signposted on billboards as you drive across the state. This mini-mall has nearly everything you could imagine road-trekking tourists: cheap food, souveniers, photo ops, singing cowboy machines, western attire and yes it's even a drug store too.
Crazy Horse Monument
by sunchasers
It's ironic that the destruction of land held sacred to the Lakota nation bears the face of Crazy Horse. Culturally, it's an abomination to Native Americans that European settlers chose to carve out the Presidents and later Crazy Horse in this once pristine region. Monetarily speaking, the admission to see Crazy Horse is a staggering $20. The reason for this is that this project is not federally funded so they must rely on other means to finance this endeavor. If you are a fan of Mt. Rushmore and want to see Crazy Horse completed, go ahead and pay the $20. If you feel a bit guilty about the history of the region or simply economical, bypass this monument. In any case, you can see his head, the only portion that is finished, from miles away.
Wall Drug
by Florida999
Of course we stopped! We are probably only going to drive through South Dakota once, so we didn't want to miss even this potential tourist trap, plus it was hot and we wanted to get ice cream. The homemade ice cream at Wall Drug was pretty good actually. And who says there are no Jackalopes? :-)
I would go look at it, you don't have to buy anything, and can just get snack or something. There is not a whole lot else in the area.
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Wall Drug = Waste of Time
by axeeugene
The very definition of a tourist trap, Wall Drug offers you nothing you can't find at Niagara Falls, Wisconsin Dells, or any other crap vendor locale. You'll probably visit it, since once you get out to the distant west of SD, there really isn't any other place to stop, but be aware--it's worth a postcard, and nothing else.
South Dakota's "Original" 1880 Town
by bpwillet
Just outside Murdo, SD this composite of buildings is not a town at all. It is a bunch of old style buildings set up to resemble an old town. The area has no historic significance other than a Lakota Indian ground. 605-344-2259
Check for the Dances With Wolves movie props.
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