DONT MISS THIS PLACE!

REPTILE GARDENS

Right across the highway from us, on Highway 16

Reptile Gardens exhibits the world's largest reptile collection living among rare and beautiful minerals, fossils, sculptures and more.  There are several interesting shows plus wildlife viewing and a huge dome that houses beautiful exotic birds and plants.  We go here every year.  Their employees

are exceptional.    605-342-5873   

http://www.reptile-gardens.com/   

Fort Hays Dances With Wolves Chuckwagon Supper & Western Music Show - 1 mile northeast of Sweetgrass
Experience the West with their original Chuckwagon Supper and Cowboy Music Variety Show.  You can see the film set for "Dances with Wolves" in addition to old antiques from the 1800's that are still operational.  They also offer tour packages for Mt. Rushmore and Deadwood (605-343-3113 or 888-343-3113).  See their tours www.mountrushmoretours.com.  If you want to do your own touring of the area and its attractions, you can rent from them a "Smart Alec GPS Tour Guide" that you put in your car, turn the radio on and hear all about the area. 8181 Mt. Rushmore Road (Hwy 16) Rapid City 605-394-9653, 888-394-9653

Crazy Horse Monument - 34 miles southwest from Sweetgrass
The Crazy Horse Memorial is a memorial to the famous Native American leader.  Once the monument is completed, it will be in the form of a rider on horseback. They periodically have "blastings" as they continue the process of carving this huge statue into the side of a mountain.  To give you an idea of the size, the heads of Mt. Rushmore would fit on top of Crazy Horse's extended arm!  The site includes a Visitor Center and is the home of the Indian Museum of North America. Quite a story.  http://www.crazyhorse.org/   605-675-4681

South Dakota's Original 1880 Town
Take Interstate 90, Exit 170 605-344-2259 605-642-2248
More than 30 original turn-of-the-century South Dakota buildings have been relocated to this site from throughout the state and furnished with thousands of unique relics of the Old West. There are several displays and an 800-acre longhorn cattle ranch.

Custer State Park
40 miles southwest of Rapid City on Hwy 385

Beautiful scenic drives through 73,000 acres of natural beauty where you can see buffalo or even bobcats, bison, antelopes, bighorn sheep, coyotes and more.  I hate to add this but it is also possible to only see a squirrel!  It is a nice drive, you just cant rely on wildlife! http://www.custerstatepark.info/  800-658-3530

Deadwood - 45 miles from Sweetgrass

If you are interested in history and gambling, this old western town will be a delight to explore.  There are interesting shops and it is fun walking down the main street and checking everything out.  This is definitely a gambling/casino town. 

Badlands National Park
Enjoy the jagged cliffs, deep canyons and flat-topped buttes with one of the most stunning geologic displays visible on earth. Included are Indian cultural exhibits, roadside exhibits, nature trails.

51 miles east of Rapid City on I-90

http://www.nps.gov/badl/  (605) 433-5361

Jewel Cave National Monument

Jewel Cave is a giant underground labyrinth with a myriad of beautiful "jewel-like" Dogtooth and Nailhead Spar crystals.  It's the 2nd longest cave in the world with about 140 "mapped" miles.  Has 3 different types of tours.

40 miles southwest of Rapid City, Hwy 16     605-673-2288

http://www.nps.gov/jeca/ 

Wind Cave National Park

One of the world's oldest caves, about 57 miles from here.  It's the 4th longest cave in the world with 119 miles of explored cave passageways, its current length is 125 miles. Above ground, the park includes the largest remaining natural mixed-grass prairie in the United States. 

26611 US Highway 385   Hot Springs, SD 57747   605-745-4600

http://www.nps.gov/wica/    

Hot Springs and the Mammoth Site

This is about 55 miles from here.  It's the world's largest mammoth research facility where you actually tour an active paleontological dig site and can view Ice Age fossils as they are found. They show a short film about how the Black Hills were formed and the mammoth site is fascinating.  They even name the mammoths!  They can tell how many are underground and they have an idea of how long it will take to get to them. 

1800 West Hwy 18 Bypass  Hot Springs, South Dakota 605-745-6017  www.mammothsite.com

Devil's Tower National Monument 

This rock tower rises 264 meters above the Wyoming Plains.  It is actually the remains of the inside of an ancient volcano, featured in the film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind".  If you like hiking, there is a relatively easy trail that encircles the tower. My picture below does not do it justice, it is incredibly tall.  Take binoculars, you may even see people climbing the tower! 120 miles west of Rapid City - Wyoming Hwys. 14 and 24

http://www.nps.gov/deto/home.htm 

307-467-5283  

DONT MISS THIS PLACE EITHER!

BEAR COUNTRY USA

They're only 2 miles southwest of us on Hwy 16 as you head into the Black Hills.  This 200+ acre wildlife park is a definite must!  You drive through and see all kinds of wildlife up close - you can literally look into those beady eyes the bears have!  There are also white wolves, elk, bison, lots of creatures.  At the end, there is an area you walk around where you can see baby bears, wildcats, etc.  We go here every year.    605-343-2290

http://www.bearcountryusa.com/         

Mount Rushmore National Memorial - 17 miles from Sweetgrass
The monument consists of the statues of four US presidents - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln - carved from the side of the mountain. See exhibits detailing the life story of Gutzen Borglum, the monument's designer, and explaining how the monument was constructed.

http://www.nps.gov/moru/             605-574-2515

The 1880 Train - 15 miles from Sweetgrass
Depart from Keystone (off of Hwy 16) and this authentic steam train will take you to Hill City, another interesting town to explore and shop in.  The 20 mile trip through the Black Hills takes about 1 1/2 hours.      http://www.1880train.com/                 605-574-2222 

Hill City - 22 miles from Sweetgrass

This town is such a charming place to visit.  Head into the Black Hills and follow the signs to your right.  You'll find so many interesting shops, antiques, jewelry and more.  Also, one of our very favorite restaurants is in Hill City, the Alpine Inn.  They have a wonderful variety of German dishes for lunch.  At dinner, they serve 2 things, a small filet or a large filet with the trimmings of course.  The desserts they offer are incredible.  This place really can pack the people in so get there early!

GOLFING

Hart Ranch Golf Club, Upper Spring Creek Rd, Rapid City, SD 57701, (605)341-5703,  public, 18 hole, 6841 yds, Par 72.       They are only 2 miles from Sweetgrass!

Red Rock Golf Club, 6520 Birkdale Dr, west of Sheridan Lake Rd about 4 miles south of downtown Rapid City, 18 hole

Meadowbrook Golf Course, 3625 Jackson Blvd, Rapid City, SD 57702, (605)394-4191,  public, 18 hole, 7054 yds, Par 72

Rapid City Elks Golf Course, 3333 E 39th St, Rapid City, SD 57703, (605)393-0522, semi-private, 18 hole, 6126 yds, Par 71

Fountain Spring Golf Course, 1750 Fountain Plaza Dr, Rapid City, SD 57702, (605)342-4653, public, 9 hole, 2880 yds, Par 35

Executive Golf Course, 200 12th St, Rapid City, SD 57701, (605)394-4124, public, 9 hole, 1261 yds, Par 29

La Croix Links Golf Course, 3820 Odde Dr, Rapid City, SD 57701, (605)394-5325,  public, 9 hole, 1205 yds, Par 27 

MOUNTAIN BIKING

Try the 109 mile Mickelson Trail. You bike from Deadwood in the northern Hills to Edgemont in the south. 

SKIING & SNOWBOARDING 

Deer Mountain  (605 584-3230)

          Night skiing, rentals, lessons

          www.skideermountain.com

          50 miles from Sweetgrass

Terry Peak  (605 584-2165)

          Rentals, lessons, shops          
          www.terrypeak.com

          50 miles from Sweetgrass