Discover Black Hills & Mount Rushmore

From pinnacles and towering spires to colorful layers of sedimentary rock, this unique landscape showcases what forces of nature can create over millions of years. In addition to geologic wonders, this 244,000-acre park is one of the world’s richest fossil beds and contains remains of extinct mammals, like the saber-toothed cat. It’s also been home to Native American tribes for thousands of years, which is detailed at archaeological sites. Watch for a variety of wildlife as we learn more about the storied history of this land!

Journey back to the Wild West era at Fort Hays Old West Town Square. Kick off the evening with a self-guided visit to the award-winning Dances with Wolves film set and stroll the boardwalk where skilled craftsmen create handmade goods. Once the bell rings, dinner is served! Indulge in a good ol’ chuckwagon spread of barbecue baked chicken, Western baked beans, potatoes, old-fashioned spice cake, and more. Then, enjoy the best live entertainment in the Black Hills as the Wranglers take the stage for a night of great music and lots of laughter. 

Explore South Dakota’s largest and first state park, named after Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and known as one of the last places to see truly untamed wilderness in the United States. Enjoy traveling Wildlife Loop Road and going off-road to the private, interior routes during a 4x4 open-air Jeep adventure! Keep your eyes peeled for a variety of animals like mule deer, antelope, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, donkeys, elk, and the park’s herd of more than 1,300 buffalo. Along the way, our driver-guides share fascinating narration about the park’s history, help us spot wildlife, and safely get us up close. Have your camera ready to capture beautiful landscapes and the Black Hills’ most famous four-legged residents on this unforgettable safari, named one of the top ten safaris in the country!

Journey back in time to the lawless days of this iconic town, where the Wild West spirit is alive and well. Once a bustling gold rush hub and home to legendary figures like Wild Bill and Calamity Jane, there are countless stories of history and folklore to uncover during our guided tour. Stroll down Main Street, lined with beautifully preserved 19th-century buildings, to see lively saloons, historic casinos, and realistic reenactments of shootouts by the Deadwood Alive gunslingers. During lunch at leisure, there are plenty of cowboy restaurants with an Old West atmosphere to choose from.

Standing as a tribute to American history and the ideals that have shaped the nation, this iconic carving features the sculpted faces of four U.S. presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Created over a span of 14 years, from 1927 to 1941, the memorial symbolizes the birth, growth, development, and preservation of our country. Admire it in the daytime, then return another day after sunset for the Evening Lighting Ceremony.