REgional Attractions

D.C. BOOTH HISTORIC NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY & ARCHIVES

The D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery was constructed to propagate, stock, and establish trout populations in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming.  After a very successful fish production history, the Hatchery ceased operations in the mid-80’s and reopened with a new mission and partnerships to help preserve the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s historic and cultural heritage. The Hatchery is named after its first Superintendent. Admission to the Hatchery grounds is always free. The Hatchery is located in Spearfish Park, approximately 15 miles from Deadwood.

MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL

“Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a large-scale mountain sculpture by artist Gutzon Borglum. The figures of America’s most prominent U.S. presidents–George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln  and Theodore Roosevelt—represent 150 years of American history.”  The Memorial is located near Keystone in the Black Hills of South Dakota, roughly 50 miles from Deadwood.

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL

“Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski began the world’s largest mountain carving in 1948. Members of his family and their supporters are continuing his artistic intent to create a massive statue that will be 641 feet long and 563 feet high. To give that some perspective, the heads at Mount Rushmore National Memorial are each 60 feet high. Workers completed the carved 87½-foot-tall Crazy Horse face in 1998, and have since focused on thinning the remaining mountain to form the 219-foot-high horse’s head.”  The Crazy Horse Memorial is located approximately 52 miles from Deadwood via US Hwy 385 S.

‍

BLACK HILLS NATIONAL FOREST

“President Grover Cleveland established the Black Hills National Forest in 1897 as the Black Hills Forest Reserve. Now in its second century, the USDA Forest Service manages these 1.2 million acres of public lands for a diversity of wildlife and fish, recreation, water production, livestock grazing, timber harvest, wilderness and other uses.”  If you’re in Deadwood, you’re here. Get out and explore!

DEVIL’S TOWER NATIONAL MONUMENT

“An astounding geologic feature that protrudes out of the rolling prairie surrounding the Black Hills. This site is considered Sacred to the Lakota and many other tribes that have a connection to the area. Hundreds of parallel cracks make it one of the finest traditional crack climbing areas in North America. Devils Tower entices us to explore and define our place in the natural and cultural world.”

Devil’s tower is located in northeastern Wyoming,  about 74 miles from Deadwood.

RUSHMORE CAVE

“The closest cave to Mount Rushmore. Journey on our scenic cave tour & experience the stalactite filled “Big Room.” Go flying on the Soaring Eagle Zipline or shoot it out at the Gunslinger 7D Interactive Theater. Open Daily May-Oct.”  Rushmore Cave is located approximately 57 miles from Deadwood.

JEWEL CAVE NATIONAL MONUMENT

“Immerse yourself within the third longest cave in the world. With over 177 miles of mapped and surveyed passages, this underground wilderness appeals to human curiosity. Its splendor is revealed through fragile formations and glimpses of brilliant color. Its maze of passages lure explorers, and its scientific wealth remains a mystery. This resource is truly a jewel in the National Park Service and is located only 71 miles from Deadwood.”

WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK

“Bison, elk, and other wildlife roam the rolling prairie grasslands and forested hillsides of one of America’s oldest national parks. Below the remnant island of intact prairie sits Wind Cave, one of the longest and most complex caves in the world. Named for barometric winds at its entrance, this maze of passages is home to boxwork, a unique formation rarely found elsewhere.”  Wind Cave is located approximately 71 miles from Deadwood.

BLACK HILLS CAVERNS

“The caverns were discovered in 1882 by gold seekers. However, the Lakota Indians had found strength in the power of the calcite crystals centuries before. Come discover the wonder of the glittering underground world and see its many fantastic animal formations.”  Black Hills Caverns is located 36 miles from Deadwood via US Hwy 385 S.

REPTILE GARDENS

“Founded in 1937, and still under ownership of the same family, the Black Hills’ Reptile Gardens has steadily grown to one of the leading tourist attractions in the Midwest.  Since its beginning, Reptile Gardens has been a source of entertainment and family fun as well as an unforgettable learning experience for millions of visitors by providing them the rare opportunity to observe these exotic animals up close.”  Reptile Gardens is located on on US Hwy 16, approximately 48 miles from Deadwood via I-90 and Rapid City, or 55 miles via US Hwy 385 S through the Black Hills.