All-American Road Trip - Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3)

ON THE ROAD

Gold Country Loop SANTA FE N.M, TO FLAGSTAFF, ARIZ. TK miles, TK hours

All-American Road Trip

DEVILS TOWER; AT SUNRISE IN WYOMING

Pioneer legends, natural wonders and wildlife await on this 2,800-plus mile route.

PHOTO BY GRANT ORDELHEIDE

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

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tart in Chicago Grand Theodore N D Forks as your first stop Roosevelt National on this incredible Park Lewistown M T Glendive Duluth route through 94 Miles Fargo Yellowstone Medora MN Bismarck City some of the naNational Park Billings 94 tion's most stunning praiDevil’s 90 Belle ries, wide-open skies and Tower National Fourche Deadwood WI 29 SD 90 Monument gorgeous mountain peaks. Minneapolis 94 Cody From Chicago head west, 14 14 Rapid City Chamberlain 90 East stopping at the Akta Lakota Entrance 20 16 Gillette 90 Crazy 90 Museum to discover north90 Badlands Thermopolis Horse Custer NationalPark Sioux Falls Memorial Madison ern Plains Indian history. Mount Grand Teton Rushmore 39 Casper National Then head to the iconic National WY Park Monument 90 25 Des I A 29 Wall Drug in South Dakota Moines Chicago 80 80 and Badlands National Park. NE Iowa Cheyenne Omaha City Beyond lies Mount RushDinosaur National 80 more in Keystone, S.D., hot Monument IL springs in well, Hot Springs, Denver CO UT MO KS S.D., and two national parks Kansas City that give you a rare glimpse see Wild West reenactments. In Hill City, you'll ride The into the underbelly of the Earth:Mesa Wind Cave and Jewell. Verde National Park 1880 Train and in Belle Fourche, you can tour a museum Come up for air and head to Custer for Broadway-caliber performances and wildlife viewing at nearby Custer State and relax under shaded trees. In Wyoming, Gillette makes a Park. Then head to the Crazy Horse Memorial, the largest great base to explore Devils Tower National Monument and Thermopolis offers dinosaur digs. After exploring Yellowmonument carving in the world. This sculpture of Oglala stone National Park, head to Billings, Mont., and Medora, Lakota Chief Crazy Horse is still under construction. Head N.D., en route to Chicago. to Deadwood to walk cobblestone-lined Main Street and to MYYELLOWSTONEPARK.COM

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ON THE ROAD

All-American Road Trip CHICAGO TO WALL, S.D. 859 miles, 12 hours and 20 minutes

assemble a virtual skeleton and touch fossilized animal replicas. You also can watch the film Land of Stone and Light in the center’s 95-seat air-conditioned theater. Then head out to see the wildlife that roams the park today. Spot bison, bighorn sheep, black-footed ferrets and prairie dogs as you drive the Badlands Hwy. 240 Loop Road or explore the park by foot on one of its many hiking trails.

If it wasn’t for ice water, Wall Drug may have just been another casualty of the Great Depression that swept the nation and shuttered one business after another. When it opened in 1931, owners Ted and Dorothy Hustead waited for a steady stream of customers that never arrived. After five years, Dorothy Hustead decided it was time to hang signs on the highway advertising free ice water. The free ice water has brought a torrent of customers in ever since, totaling up to 20,000 people on good days. Stop by Wall Drug at 510 Main St., in Wall, S.D., for its burgers, 5-cent coffee, a photo of its famed Jackalope statue and of course, some free ice water.

Learn more about Badlands National Park at nps.gov/badl.

Learn more at walldrug.com.

BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK

GOOD THINGS IN THE BADLANDS See bison and bighorn sheep in Badlands National Park.

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hile you won’t see sabertoothed cats or rhinoceroses roaming the Badlands like they once did, you may see their remains in this stunning national park with some of the world’s richest fossil deposits. Located in Imlay Township in South Dakota, Badlands National Park has a Fossil Preparation Lab where you can watch paleontologists at work, literally uncovering the ancient history of the area. At the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, kids can use a touchscreen to

SEE CHICAGO In Chicago, join locals and travelers alike at Millennium Park downtown. A showcase of who's who in architecture, this interactive park is an adult playground. Check out these three architectural gems.

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1.

See Cloud Gate, a kidney-beanshaped sculpture that’s 66 feet long and 33 feet high. Made with polished stainless steel, the sculpture features an arch that enables you to walk under it and see your

contorted reflection in the steel walls. It’s the first public outdoor work of British artist Anish Kapoor in the U.S.

2.

Catch a music show at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Designed by architect

Frank Gehry, this outdoor concert venue has 4,000 fixed seats and room for an additional 7,000 people on the Great Lawn.

3.

Discover the Crown Fountain, which features the

faces of 1,000 Chicago residents on two 250-foot glass towers, each one at the opposite end of a shallow reflecting pool. It's designed by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, known for creating monumental public art.

PHOTO BY JERRY AND PAT DONAHO

Stop at Wall Drug

YELLOWSTONE JOURNAL 2017


3/9/17 11:30 AM

Book Your Vacation Today!

PHOTO BY JERRY AND PAT DONAHO

1/2 Price Attractions

Your Local Experts for an Amazing Black Hills Vacation

Hot Deals on Lodging

Vacation Packages

One Call Or Click 888.636.0626 • www.blackhillsvacations.com MYYELLOWSTONEPARK.COM


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ON THE ROAD

All-American Road Trip WALL, S.D., TO KEYSTONE, S.D. 75 miles, 1 hour and 17 minutes

Rush to Mt. Rushmore

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ere’s a pop quiz. Name the U.S. presidents who are carved into the granite hillside of Mount Rushmore National Memorial. If the names didn’t come to you in five seconds, step on the gas and head to the memorial. Constructed from 1927-41, the memorial features the faces of

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four U.S. presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Why did sculptor Gutzon Borglum choose these men? He felt they presided over the country during its most important moments. Learn more at nps.gov/moru.

PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK

Find monumental history in Keystone, S.D.



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Indian Museum of North America® • Native American Educational and Cultural Center® • Sculptor’s Studio Home and Workshop • Laughing Water Restaurant • Snack Shop • Gift Shop

Between Hill City & Custer • SD Hwy 16/385 • (605) 673-4681 • crazyhorsememorial.org

PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK

Daily performances and Legends in Lights® laser show - in season.

MYYELLOWSTONEPARK.COM


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ON THE ROAD

All-American Road Trip KEYSTONE, S.D. TO HOT SPRINGS, S.D. 54 miles, 1 hour and 2 minutes

WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK

140.47

MILES OF CAVE PASSAGEWAY, MAKING IT THE SIXTH LONGEST ON EARTH.

4 NEW MILES OF CAVE DISCOVERED EVERY YEAR.

7th

U.S. NATIONAL PARK, DESIGNATED BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT IN 1903.

The warm waters of Hot Springs are a catalyst for tourism.

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BY RYAN WICHELNS

f it weren’t for the “wiwila kata,” this valley tucked in the southwestern corner of South Dakota would have just been another dusty clearing at the gateway to the Black Hills. Instead, what the Lakota referred to as the “warm waters” gave rise to a mecca of health and hospitality unrivaled in the Midwest. The sacred healing waters of the Native Americans were discovered by settlers in the late 1800s, and the 87-degree waters flowing from a series of springs quickly became a sought after cure-all. In 1890, Fred Evans built his namesake Plunge over a collection of springs, turning Hot Springs into a destination for western travelers, and the largest resort before California. Today, Evans Plunge is still a mecca for rejuvenation and recreation featuring a collection of pools (refreshed with 5,000

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gallons of fresh spring water every minute), a steam room, weight room and a number of water slides. You’ll feel the different springs hit you as you swim from one end of the main pool to the other. The Lakota weren’t the first to take note of the springs, however. Tens of thousands of years earlier, woolly mammoths took advantage of the fresh ponds in the area, enough that more than 61 beasts were eventually trapped and buried, unearthed as fossils in 1974. Visitors can check out the Mammoth Site to see the sinkhole still riddled with mammoth bones, as well as a museum with a full-sized mammoth documenting life in Hot Springs before humans. Check in with the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce to learn more about the area. Visit hotsprings-sd.com.

THE MAXIMUM DEPTH OF THE CAVE FROM ITS ENTRANCE.

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STAIRS YOU’LL CLIMB OR DESCEND ON THE CAVE’S NATURAL ENTRANCE TOUR.

75 mph MAXIMUM RECORDED WIND SPEED AT THE CAVE’S ENTRANCES. Ryan Wichelns is a freelance writer from Saratoga, N.Y.



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PHOTO BY DEPOSITPHOTOS

TAKE A DIP

654 feet

PHOTO BY JUSTIN GAUSMAN COURTESY HOT SPRINGS

EVANS PLUNGE

South Dakota’s Yellowstone Basecamp in Custer, S.D., for incredible access to the legendary sites of the Black Hills. BY RYAN WICHELNS

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ith more than 1,300 bison roaming free, along with a fleet of pronghorn antelope, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, deer, elk and more, it would be easy to call South Dakota’s Custer State Park the Yellow-

stone of the Midwest. You’ll see it all in this 71,000-acre mix of mountains and open range surrounding the town of Custer. Drive the Wildlife Loop Road to maximize your fauna intake on the open prairies and pine-studded hillsides of the park. The ride normally takes about 45 minutes, but prepare to be stopped by roving herds that temporarily take over the roadway. Just up the road from the park’s main entrance, the town of Custer is a hub for the outdoor attractions surrounding it, including Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial. One of the Black Hills’ original settlements, the historic downtown is a hive of restaurants, shopping and museums, including one housed in an original Dakota Territory Courthouse from 1881. Spend a summer night at the Black Hills Playhouse for a Broadway-caliber performance at the 71-year-old theater. BISON IN CUSTER STATE PARK

Learn more about Custer, S.D., at visitcuster.com.

PHOTO BY DEPOSITPHOTOS

PHOTO BY JUSTIN GAUSMAN COURTESY HOT SPRINGS

LABOR OF LOVE

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See the Crazy Horse Memorial between Hill City and Custer, S.D.

hen the first blast took place to begin work on the Crazy Horse Memorial, five survivors of the Battle of the Little Bighorn watched. It was June 3, 1948, and sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski got to work. He had been hired by Henry Standing Bear, an Oglala Lakota chief, to build a memorial to honor all Native Americans. But the image being carved in the rock is of Oglala Chief Crazy Horse who fought to preserve his peoples’ way of life and led his warriors to victory at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876. Sixty-nine years after the first blast, you can watch crews drilling, carving and blasting the memorial, which

is still under construction. Four of Ziolkowski’s children and some of his 23 grandchildren work on the sculpture, which is the world’s largest monument carving. Located 17 miles from Mount Rushmore, the monument is financed by admission fees and donations. No federal or state funds are accepted. Hungry? Sample traditional Native American food at the Laughing Water Restaurant, featuring great views of the monument. Don’t forget to stop in the museum and gift shop that features local artists. See the laser show schedule, special tours and more information at crazyhorsememorial.org. MYYELLOWSTONEPARK.COM


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ON THE ROAD

All-American Road Trip CUSTER, S.D. TO DEADWOOD, S.D. 58 miles, 1 hour and 13 minutes

Making History Since 1876, Deadwood has been entertaining travelers.

OUTDOOR CONCERT

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met their end. The cemetery is the final resting place of Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and Seth Bullock. Discover all of Deadwood’s stories and legends in one of three world-class museums. There’s always something new in this Old West town. You’ll find plenty of 24/7 casinos, unique shops and awardwinning restaurants. Plan a trip during one of Deadwood’s many events and you’ll enjoy free Main Street concerts, food festivals, parades, classic cars or the PRCA’s “Best MidSized Rodeo” for 13 consecutive years. Learn more at deadwood.com.



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PHOTOS BY COURTESY

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oulette. It’s a game of chance. It’s also one of the many games you’ll find in historic Deadwood—a Wild West town famous for taking chances. In 1876, fortune seekers took their chance when they came looking for gold and settled in the rough and tumble camp of Deadwood. For many, just walking down the street was taking a chance. Today, visitors to this national historic landmark will find plenty of the Wild West without any of the danger. Walk the cobblestone-lined Main Street where you’ll meet Old West re-enactors who bring history to life. Visit Mount Moriah Cemetery to learn how western legends

KOOL DEADWOOD NITES

PHOTOS COURTESY DEADWOOD

LOCAL FOOD

PHOTOS COURTESY DEADWOOD

Entertaining Guests Since 1876.

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History. It’s what you’ll find -- and what you’ll make -- when you venture into Historic Deadwood in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Walk in the footsteps of Wild West legends and visit the gravesites of Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and Seth Bullock, watch daily re-enactments, try your luck in the gaming halls and explore world-class museums. Plan your trip to Historic Deadwood.

. .

deadwoOD com | 800 344 8826 | GET YOUR FREE VACATION GUIDE • 800-732-5682 • TRAVELSOUTHDAKOTA.COM



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ON THE ROAD


THE 1880 TRAIN

HEART OF THE HILLS Those with discerning palates won’t be disappointed in Hill City with its variety of contemporary fusion, European and Midwestern cuisine. You’ll also find an array of acclaimed South Dakota wineries and homegrown breweries with unique tasting rooms, local spirits and culinary presentations. Take in the Black Hills Film Festival, Sculpture in the Hills Show & Sale, Wine, Brew & BBQ, and the summer performances of Brulé, a New-Age blend of contemporary Native American music. If you’re looking for more than Rushmore, make your plans to stay in Hill City and elevate your Black Hills vacation. Learn more at hillcitysd.com.

Climb aboard The 1880 Train, a 2-hour, 20-mile ride aboard a historic train that runs between Hill City and Keystone, S.D. Narrated for all ages, the train is popular, so book early. See schedule for when diesel versus steam engines run.

Opening day is May 14, 2017. Learn more at 1880train.com. 114



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PHOTOS BY COURTESY

levate your next vacation in South Dakota by staying in Hill City, the heart of the Black Hills. Surrounded by towering peaks and lofty pine forests, Hill City is a charming small town with a distinct style. Find locally owned bed and breakfasts, brand-name hotels, timber lodges, secluded cabins and some of the area’s largest campground resorts. Main Street offers an eclectic blend of stylish stores, outdoor outfitters, boutique shops and fine art galleries and museums. Discover the grace of an authentic 1880 steam train, the beauty of the 109-mile George S. Mickelson Trail and the stunning scenery along the 12-mile drive to Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

PHOTO COURTESY HILL CITY

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Just minutes from Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial, Hill City, S.D., offers 200 miles of trails, great food and a historic train experience.

Just one stay and you’ll see what makes us

Super! MAKE YO U R N E XT VA C A T I O N

Free SuperStart® breakfast • Free Wi-Fi • HBO • Pet friendly In-room microwave/fridge, coffee maker & hair dryer Children 17 & under free with adult • Close to restaurants

Super 8 Belle Fourche

Hwy. 85 & National St. • 501 National St. • (605) 892-3361 Destination Super

®

SUPER8.COM | 1.800.800.8000 |

PHOTO COURTESY HILL CITY

The best vacations are

RESERVATIONS • 1880TRAIN.COM

Round trip departures daily from Hill City & Keystone, SD Early May - Mid October

Just an hour from the Tower!

605-574-2222 OR 1880TRAIN.COM MYYELLOWSTONEPARK.COM


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ON THE ROAD

All-American Road Trip HILL CITY, S.D. TO BELLE FOURCHE, S.D. 70 miles, 1 hour and 25 minutes

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

77 NUMBER OF YEARS THE RALLY HAS OCCURRED

448,000 NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED IN 2016

28 NUMBER OF MILES FROM BELLE FOURCHE

2001

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Stop in Belle Fourche, S.D., for a break at the geographic center of the nation.

ee silver spoons that traveled on the Mayflower in 1620 and antique saddles by the Duhamel Co., the nation’s largest producer of saddles by 1914, at the TriState Museum and Visitor Center in Belle Fourche, S.D. There’s also a historic cabin built in 1876, along with a monument locating Belle Fourche as the geographic center of the nation. Admission is free to the museum, cabin and monument. To really enjoy the experience, walk four blocks from the museum to Green Bean Coffeehouse and order lunch to go, so you can eat on the museum’s shaded property. Located in a green Victorian-era home, the coffeehouse, at 710 State St., serves

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salads, wraps, sandwiches and scones. The building was purchased back in the day by a saloonkeeper whose wife collected dimes in the saloon to pay for it. Don’t leave without a latté made with air-roasted Kaladi Coffee. Then stroll back to the museum and sit at one of the picnic tables (there are tables with colorful umbrellas on the museum’s deck). Tip: Contrary to the way it is spelled, Belle Fourche is actually pronounced “Bell Foosh.” It means “beautiful fork” in French, commemorating the confluence of Redwater River, Belle Fourche River and Hay Creek. Stop by the TriState Museum and Visitor Center at 415 5th Ave in Belle Fourche or go to thetristatemuseum.com.

7 DAYS A WEEK THE MUSEUM IS OPEN

Aug. 4-13 IS 2017’S RALLY DATES

Source: sturgismotorcyclerally. com



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PHOTOS BY COURTESY

GET CENTERED

YEAR THE STURGIS MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM & HALL OF FAME OPENED

PHOTO COURTESY TRI-STATE MUSEUM AND VISITOR CENTER

SUNSET AT THE JOHNNY SPAULDING CABIN

MUSEUM STOP

PARADISE AWAITS

Visit Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center.

Head to Paradise Guest Ranch for a true western experience.

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n the Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center, you'll find incredible displays focusing on the lives of northern Plains Indian tribes. “If you are in South Dakota, you are either headed to the Black Hills or to learn about the local culture, and there is no better place to learn it than here,” says Dixie Thompson, museum director. Start on the museum's east side and move clockwise to find exhibits on Native American life pre-European Americans, including interactive traditional games like “Hanpapecun,” a guessing game with bones and sticks. Move south to reach “Two Worlds Meet,” which details the arrival of Euro-Americans like traders and settlers. It marks a transformation from the use of organic objects to those manufactured. Metal knives replaced bone knives. Farther west is “Broken Promises,” detailing U.S. government involvement with Native Americans before you come full circle to “Continuity and Change,” which highlights Native American artists like Arthur Amiotte, one of the most renowned Native American artists today.

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he mountain meadows surrounding the Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyo., will convince you that you’ve found the Garden of Eden. Rustic but luxurious cabins, gourmet dining, hiking and fishing programs and a full slate of events keep the more than a century-old dude ranch running. But its horseback riding is second to none. No matter your ability, the ranch offers everything from twohour rides to full-day excursions through wildflower-strewn fields and into spectacular mountain scenery. The ranch is home to an award-winning kids program that gives parents time to pursue other ranch-related activities and gives children an incredible opportunity to connect with nature and each other. It’s open to infants all the way to teenagers and includes arts and crafts, pony rides, a talent show, a kids’ rodeo and beyond. The best part? Paradise is the perfect place to disconnect from the grid. With so much to do in the isolated 160 acres, it’s easy to forget during your weeklong stay that the outside world even exists. Learn more at paradiseranch.com.

PHOTO BY ANTOINE CHAMBERLAIN

PHOTO COURTESY TRI-STATE MUSEUM AND VISITOR CENTER

The museum, at 1301 N. Main St., is part of the St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, S.D. Call in advance to schedule a tour of the school. Learn more at aktalakota.stjo.org.



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ON THE ROAD

All-American Road Trip BELLE FOURCHE, S.D. TO GILLETTE, WYO. 102 miles, 1 hour and 32 minutes

Lighten Up

COAL MINE TOUR

TRAIN SPOTTING

WHY GO: This 55,000-acre ranch populated with 3,000 bison has been in the Flocchini family for three generations. In Wright, it's one of the world's largest bison operations. Take a 1.5-2-hour tour on board an 18-passenger bus. ACCESS IT: To sign up for a tour, call or stop by the Campbell County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 307-686-0040 or 1810 S. Douglas Hwy. in Gillette.

WHY GO: Anyone who has ever turned on a light switch should see where some of the nation's power comes from. The Powder River Basin provides 40 percent of all coal (via surface mining) utilized in the country. ACCESS IT: To sign up for a tour, call or stop by the Campbell County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 307-686-0040 or 1810 S. Douglas Hwy. in Gillette.

WHY GO: One hundred coal trains pass through town every day that have 115140 cars each. Each train car holds 120 tons of coal. When you see the train traffic, it’s easy to understand why Gillette is known as the “Energy Capital of the Nation.” ACCESS IT: Go to City Park located at 107 N. Gillette Ave, at 10th and Gillette Ave.

DEVILS TOWER NATIONAL MONUMENT

WRIGHT CENTENNIAL MUSEUM

GILLETTE BREWING CO.

WHY GO: Get a taste of the past as you view what cowboy kitchens and cook stoves of pioneer women looked like. You’ll also see a real sheep wagon, an item that dotted the landscape before coal replaced sheep ranching as a main industry in the area. ACCESS IT: The museum is located at 104 Ranch Court in Wright.

WHY GO: Get pizza and other dishes along with local craft beer in the welcoming atmosphere of this brewery located in Gillette’s historic downtown. It opened in 2012 and has been a great fixture in town for locals and travelers alike. ACCESS IT: The brewery is located at 301 S. Gillette Ave. in Gillette.

WHY GO: See a striking stone column rising seemingly out of nowhere. It’s Devils Tower, a 867-foot pillar beckoning everyone from Native Americans to geology buffs to rock climbers to come closer. ACCESS IT: From Gillette, it’s an hour and 13-minute drive. Take 90 east to US 14 to WY 24.

Learn more at the Campbell County Convention and Visitors Bureau, 1810 South Douglas Hwy., in Gillette, call 307-686-0040 or visitgillettewright.com.

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PHOTOS BY COURTESY

DURHAM BISON RANCH

PHOTOS COURTESY CAMPBELL COUNTY CVB - VISITGILLETTEWRIGHT.COM (DURHAM BISON RANCH, COAL MINE TOUR, TRAIN SPOTTING, GILLETTE BREWING CO.) GRANT ORDELHEIDE (DEVILS TOWER), WRIGHT-CENTENNIAL MUSEUM COURTESY WRIGHT CENTENNEIAL MUSEUM

Between Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone lies Gillette and Wright, Wyo., where much of our nation’s energy originates. It's also a close drive to Devils Tower National Monument. Here are the top six things to do.

ON THE ROAD

All-American Road Trip GILLETTE, WYO., TO THERMOPOLIS, WYO. 194 miles, 3 hours and 25 minutes

UNEARTH YOUR INNER PALEONTOLOGIST Locate prehistoric dinosaurs in Thermopolis, Wyo.

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BY VINCENT GUIEB

tologists unearthing fossils. This fun activity caters to healthy fit participants of all ages from young children to active people 65 and over. “Since [1995] we’ve been taking families out digging in the sites every summer, up to several families a day, just to give them that one-on-one paleontology experience,” says Andrew Rossi, a certified heritage interpreter at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center. Don’t forget to leave time for the museum's many exhibits. Among the three dozen mounted dinosaur skeletons is Jimbo the Supersaurus, one of the largest dinosaurs ever mounted in the world at a length of 106 feet. It was found WYOMING DINOSAUR in Douglas, Wyo., 180 miles northwest of CENTER Thermopolis. You also can walk directly underneath "Morris" the Camarasaurus, standing 30 feet off the ground. “Pretty much every kid who comes here dreams of becoming a paleontologist,” says Rossi. “Even better than that, some kids who worked with us 20 years ago are working on getting their Ph.D. in paleontology now.” Beyond the museum, head to Hot Springs State Park (see sidebar on this page). Then, head to Bangkok Thai for delicious curry and pineapple fried rice, or to One Eyed Buffalo Brewing for flatbreads and microbrews. Thermopolis may only have around 3,000 residents, but if there is one thing locals recommend, it’s time. “It’s to spend more time than you think you would because there is a lot Thermopolis has to offer,” Rossi says. Visit The Wyoming Dinosaur Center at 110 Carter Ranch Rd., in Thermopolis or at wyodino.org.

HOT SPRINGS In need of serious relaxing after digging for dinosaur bones? Head to Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis to unwind in the park's free

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bathhouse where the 104-degree natural healing water soothes aches and pains. Meanwhile, you don’t have to wait for Yellowstone to see bison. Take a drive through the park's two

bison pastures to view herds grazing. Stay in your car as bison are wild and unpredictable animals. For the adventurous, journey over to Swinging Bridge, a suspension bridge over the

Bighorn River, for beautiful views of the river and the Rainbow Terraces, which were created from minerals from the springs. “The idea of the old West is very much alive in Thermopolis,” says

Andrew Rossi of The Wyoming Dinosaur Center. “Most of the people work on ranches or in the oil fields. When you think of the West, Thermopolis is sort of the epitome of that.”

PHOTO BY LEVI SHINKLE COURTESY OF THE WYOMING DINOSAUR CENTER

f you ever dreamed of being a paleontologist and discovering a dinosaur fossil, you should stop at The Wyoming Dinosaur Center in the quaint town of Thermopolis, Wyo. The center offers a 12,000-square-foot museum with exhibits, a preparation lab with visitor viewing and more than 30 mounted dinosaur skeletons. In late spring through early fall, you can make reservations to do a "Dig for A Day Program" where you join a team of paleon-



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Contact us for that adventure of a lifetime.

PHOTO BY LEVI SHINKLE COURTESY OF THE WYOMING DINOSAUR CENTER

866-399-2339 • WWW.DUDERANCH.ORG

East Yellowstone

we are your

Destination! Great location near Yellowstone!

Located just outside the East entrance of Yellowstone National Park near Cody, WY



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ON THE ROAD

All-American Road Trip THERMPOLIS, WYO., TO CODY, WYO. TK miles, TK hours

BOB RICHARDS

YELLOWSTONE GUIDE Cody, Wyo., resident Bob Richards was Yellowstone’s first front-country ranger on horseback.

Q: WHAT’S YOUR FAMILY’S HISTORY IN THE AREA? BOB RICHARDS: My grandfather came from Eden, Vt., at the age of 12. He came out by himself on the railroad to Red Lodge, Mont., and caught a ride on a wagon to Meeteetse, Wyo., where he went to work for one of the cattle ranches there. In 1908, my granddad was guiding tours into Yellowstone and my grandmother was a guest on one of those trips. When it ended, she went home to Chicago and my granddad followed her. They married on New Year’s Eve in 1908 and then my grandfather brought her back to Cody, Wyo.

Q: WHAT ABOUT ON THE OTHER SIDE? BR: On my mom’s side, they were cattle and sheep ranchers out of Byron, Wyo., for about five generations.

in Jackson, Wyo. We got back to Yellowstone late that night, and the next day we exchanged phone numbers. Three months later, both girls came and got jobs.

Q: WHICH ONE BECAME YOUR WIFE? BR: I dated the prettiest one, of course! Really, from the first time I saw her, I knew it was June. It was just one of those connections. After June and I got married, her girlfriend went back to D.C. to get a job that paid more money than Cody did. We had three sons. June died after we had been married for 56 years.

Q: IN THE MARINE CORPS YOU FLEW PLANES AND HELICOPTERS. DO YOU FLY ANYMORE? BR: No, but I live out by the airport. I watch planes come and go and know most of the local pilots. I’ll go over there pretty often. It’s a nice place to have lunch and coffee and talk to pilots and friends who are still flying.

Q: YOU HAVE QUITE A PHOTO ARCHIVE—ABOUT 200,000 DIGITAL IMAGES AND ANOTHER 150,000 NEGATIVES. HOW DID YOU GET INTO PHOTOGRAPHY? BR: When I was in junior high school my dad started a newspaper called the Cody Times. He ended up needing help in the dark room. Then he purchased the {Cody} Enterprise and the radio station, so he needed more help. If I wasn’t involved in sports, I was in the community taking photographs for him. Since then, I’ve continued to keep a camera by my side. I have the files of my life in photographs.

Q: FAVORITE SUBJECTS TO SHOOT? BR: The landscapes in this area and the wildlife. Foremost will be grizzly bears. But I photograph bison the most. They’re always there. But any animal, be it the size of a chipmunk or bird, they get my fullest attention.

Q: HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR WIFE JUNE? BR: While I was working in the park, I arrested two young nurses from D.C. for feeding bears. I gave them the option of getting a ticket or going to dinner with a ranger. We went to the Silver Dollar

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This piece is written by Dina Mishev and excerpted with permission from Road Trip Yellowstone.



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PHOTOS BY COURTESY

ob Richards’ family has guided people into Yellowstone since 1906. In the 1950s, when he was home from college, Richards was Yellowstone’s first front-country ranger on horseback. “I’d ride a horse into a campground and visit with people about helping them correct things they didn’t know they were doing wrong like dumping wastewater out of their trailer,” he says. After graduating from college, Richards passed up a fulltime job in Yellowstone to become a pilot in the Marine Corps. He went on to fight in the Vietnam War. Later he became a teacher and school administrator, worked for the Red Cross in California and then returned to Cody to found Grub Steak Expeditions, which led visitors into Yellowstone. Richards sold Grub Steak in his 70s. Today, he fills his time with photography and writing books about the Yellowstone area. His most recent book is Cody to Yellowstone Beartooth Loop.

PHOTO BY NICK COTE

B

BY DINA MISHEV

Big Spring Creek State Fish Hatchery

Ram PRCA RODEO & Night Show featuring

(9 Fishing Accesses Nearby)

Slippery Ann Elk Viewing

Lewistown Walking Trails

with opener JOHN DUNNIGAN

July 26-28, 2017

Crystal Lake Crystal Ice Caves Crystal Hiking Trails

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Railroad Heritage Park

Missouri River Historic Homestead Auto Tour

Bear Gulch Pictographs

CLAY WALKER

Ghost Town Auto Tour

Central Montana Museum

World Class Hunting & Fishing

Central Montana Fair

Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering featuring DAVE STAMEY with MARY KAYE August 17-20, 2017

Central Montana Shooting Range

CMR National Wildlife Refuge

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Multiple Mountain Hiking & Biking Trails

Chokecherry Festival

Lewistown Dragstrip

300+ artisans and vendors Pancake Breakfast Chokecherry Run

Live Music

September 9, 2017 Montana Dinner Train The Charlie Russell Chew Choo Winner of the Food Channel’s Most Unique Dining Experience, 2015

211 E Main 1422 W Main Lewistown, MT Lewistown, MT 406-535-8721 800-862-5786 YogoInn.com MountainViewMontana.com

520 E Main Lewistown, MT 406-535-5496 B-Bmotel.com

102 Wendell Lewistown, MT 406-538-2581 Super8.com

216 7th Avenue S Lewistown, MT 406-535-5411

TheCalvertHotel.com

216 NE Main Lewistown, MT 406-535-5468

EnjoyLewistown.com v (406) 535-5436 Funding Provided By Lewistown Hoteliers Tourism Business Improvement District Central Montana Regional Tourism, and other Community Partners

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2/16/17 11:38 AM

ON THE ROAD

All-American Road Trip YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK NORTHEAST ENTRANCE TO BILLINGS, MONT. 227 miles, 3 hours and 40 minutes

Billings Top Seven Discover gluten-free pancakes and Old West charm in this city of 104,000. PICTOGRAPH CAVE STATE PARK

6.

1.

WALKABLE BREWERY TOUR

REASON TO GO: Visit six breweries and two distilleries on this 1.5-mile stroll. ACCESS: Start at Yellowstone Valley Brewing Co. with a Grizzly Wulf Wheat and end with Custer’s Last Stout at Montana Brewing Co.

2.

STELLA’S KITCHEN AND BAKERY

REASON TO GO: Legendary among locals, this downtown breakfast establishment serves up traditional morning food with stellar baked goods and even gluten-free pancakes. QUIRKY FACT: Pancakes here may be larger than your head.

3.

THE NORTHERN HOTEL

REASON TO GO: Restored three years ago, this elegant historic hotel has been voted “best hotel in Billings” for four consecutive years. It features two fantastic

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restaurants: Bernie’s Diner for breakfast and lunch and TEN for upscale atmosphere and innovative Montana cuisine. QUIRKY FACT: Break all the rules and order the “Vacation Breakfast” at Bernie’s- it’s chocolate cake coupled with a chocolate milkshake.

4.

SWORDS RIMROCK PARK

REASON TO GO: Walk, bike or skateboard along the 4.5-mile, ADA-accessible pathway that runs through the length of the city-owned park located along the top of the Rimrocks, a geologic formation. QUIRKY FACT: Yellowstone Kelly was buried here in June 1929. An army scout who chased Chief Joseph across four states, played tennis with Teddy Roosevelt and delivered mail to army outposts in the Yellowstone region, Kelly’s life story has appeared in four books and a movie.

POMPEYS PILLAR NATIONAL MONUMENT

REASON TO GO: On their return route after reaching the Pacific Ocean, members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition stopped here and Clark engraved his first initial and last name, along with the date, July 25, 1806, into the rock. QUIRKY FACT:The rock is named after Sacagawea’s child, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, also known as “Pomp.”

SWORDS RIMROCK

7.

LITTLE BIGHORN BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL MONUMENT REASON TO GO: See the site recognizing the June 25-26, 1876, battle where the U.S. Army’s 7th Cavalry fought Sioux and Cheyenne Indians in one of their final armed efforts to preserve their way of life. QUIRKY FACT: Sixty miles away, this is the third mostvisited place in Montana.

Stop by the Billings Visitor Center, 815 S. 27 St., to learn more or go to visitbillings.com.



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PHOTOS BY COURTESY

REASON TO GO: See warriors and animals painted on rock walls by ancient people more than 2,000 years ago in Pictograph Cave just five miles south of Billings. The cave is 160 feet wide and 45 feet deep, so bring your binoculars to see the art. QUIRKY FACT: Archaeologists have discovered more than 30,000 artifacts, including tools and weapons here.

PHOTOS COURTESY VISIT BILLINGS (BREWERY TOUR, SWORDS RIMROCK), MONTANA OFFICE OF TOURISM AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (LITTLE BIGHORN)

5.

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3/10/17 3:42 PM

ON THE ROAD


MOUNTAIN BIKING ON THE MAAH DAAH HEY TRAIL

OH, MEDORA In Medora, N.D., you’ll discover a cabin, national park and theater devoted to one of greatest conservationist presidents, Theodore Roosevelt. Here are the top six things to experience.

Place

Reason to Go

Tidbits

BULLY PULPIT GOLF COURSE

This 18-hole course has been ranked on a list of the country’s 100 greatest public golf courses.

Challenge your skills on holes 14,15 and 16, the infamous “Badlands Holes” that bring you through adventurous terrain.

MAAH DAAH HEY TRAIL

Spanning the north and south entrances of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, this 150-mileplus trail is a fantastic hiking, mountain biking or horseback riding trail.

Train for the Maah Daah Hey 100, a grueling 106-mile single-track mountain biking race that takes place Aug. 5, 2017. You gain an excruciating 11,975 feet.

NORTH DAKOTA COWBOY HALL OF FAME

See interactive permanent and traveling exhibits on all things cowboy, along with Native American exhibits, at this 15,000-square-foot museum.

It’s located at 250 Main St., one block east of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park entrance and is closed in the winter.

CHATEAU DE MORES STATE HISTORIC SITE

Explore this 26-room home built in 1883 by the Marquis de Mores as a hunting lodge and summer home. He founded a meat-packing business, which collapsed in 1886.

DeMores named the town after his wife whose first name was “Medora." This museum is only open end of May through early September.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK

See bison without the crowds of Yellowstone, as well as wild horses that were introduced to North America by the Spanish in the 1500s and to the Medora area in the mid-1800s.

This park has its own quarter. Released on Aug. 25, 2016, it commemorates the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service and features a young Teddy Roosevelt on horseback.

MALTESE CROSS CABIN

Located in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, this restored cabin was commissioned by Roosevelt after traveling to the Badlands to hunt bison in 1883.

The nation's 26th president and a conservationist long before it was fashionable, Roosevelt said, “I would not have been president had it not been for my experience in North Dakota.”

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PHOTOS BY COURTESY

Learn more at the Medora Visitor Center at 475 4th St, or go to MedoraND.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF MEDORA CVB

Place

&

S tay S ave

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018 in ening 2

Op

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alls!

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Big Timber Columbus Conrad

Hamilton Havre

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PHOTO COURTESY OF MEDORA CVB

Must request the “Stay & Save” package when making reservation.



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