The official geographic center point of America.

Oh My!  It is amazing to me how vast the western part of this country is.  In Custer, I visited a rock shop, and the owner asked me where we were from.  I told him, and then said that this was our first visit to South Dakota.  He told me that he had only been back east a few times and that mostly he travels west.

Now, why would people in the center of the nation want to travel mostly west?! By the way, about 20 miles north of Belle Fourche, South Dakota is the official geographic center point of America, so declared in 1959 by the US Coast and Geodetic Survey.  If you don't believe me, check out the follow source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_center_of_the_United_States


We drove through an interesting park called Bear Country.  It is a strictly a 'drive-through with your windows rolled up' adventure.  Bears are just a part of the experience.  All of the animals roam freely within defined areas.

I really like this pic.

Big Horn sheep.

Bears roam freely in the park.

Just outside of Hill City is the Circle B Chuckwagon.  It is much like the Bar J Chuckwagon in Jackson, Wyoming, in that they entertain you with cowboy music, while they feed you cowboy grub.

Across the meadow from the Circle B is an amphitheater; so we wondered over and found a seat.  Soon an Indian group began to play.  It was interesting the way they mixed native rhythm with modern harmony.  We stayed for only a few numbers, then left for Crazy Horse to see the laser light show, one of the highlights of the trip.  

While driving through Keystone, we found the remains of a once-active mine, shown below.  This town, once a mining mecca, is now loaded with tourists and motorcyclists.    

On the fence just outside the mine is a friendly reminder, to all that pass by, that you have to be born again.

Getting hungry, we stopped at the Keystone House for dinner.  Inside we found it to be a little old, but clean.  We were served by a nice, polite young man - a foreign exchange student.  We ordered the pork dinner and were delighted with the quality of food served.

The day before we left, we drove the Wind Cave Loop.  The buffalo were truly free to roam here.

The burros were free to roam also, and they were very friendly.  At one point people were actually getting out of their cars and petting and feeding these gracious animals.

We saw plenty of Antelope.

Saturday night, back in Custer, we found this place called Pizza Works.  Believe me, their pizza is one of the best I have ever tasted, and it is reasonably priced.  I totally recommend stopping here for lunch or dinner.  You won't be disappointed; and oh! the rock shop is only two doors away.  

This is where we camped.

I don't think these wolves are dangerous, but we kept our windows rolled up anyway.

We arrived home Sunday evening, tired but happy with all that we were able to see and do in the Black Hills of South Dakota.  I guess that I can now cross Mt. Rushmore from my list of places to visit before I pass on;  but believe me, I would go back for another visit if given another opportunity.