RV Roddy

Sep 2024
Mt. Rushmore
Keystone, SD

Located in the Black Hills of South Dakota just 2 miles from the town of Keystone is the iconic monument of the faces of four U.S. Presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum and hundreds of workers used dynamite and drills to carve the faces into the granite mountainside. Each President's face is about 60 feet tall. Around 90% of the carving was accomplished with dynamite and the finer details were carved by hand. Construction began in 1927 and was halted and considered complete on Oct. 31, 1941 due to World War II. The Evening Lighting Ceremony at Mount Rushmore runs from Memorial Day through September 30 and includes a flag lowering ceremony and a salute to veterans. There are also 30 minute Ranger tours at various locations throughout the park held June through September. You can also visit the Sculptor's Studio at the information center. Mt. Rushmore is only 32 miles from Three Flags RV Park.

Mt. Rushmore, SD

Sep 2024
Deadwood South Dakota

Deadwood became a bucket list destination after watching the HBO series staring Timothy Olyphant. The town is steeped in Wild West history with the likes of Wild Bill Hickok, Wyatt Earp, and Calamity Jane. Wild Bill was shot and killed while playing poker in 1876 at the original Saloon #10 in Deadwood. His gave is a popular site to visit at Mount Moriah Cemetery at the top of the hill overlooking the town. Walking the brick-paved Main Street in Deadwood is like time travel back to the 1870s. So many of the landmarks from the HBO series and the history books are readily accessible including the Bullock Hotel and two versions of Saloon #10. The tribute to the 1870s Gold Rush, which popularized the town originally, is apparent throughout the town. There are a great many Restaurants and Saloons in town along with no shortage of tourist trap shops. Deadwood is completely walkable and can be enjoyed on a full day trip or just a couple of hours. There is fee paid public parking at several places in town. Great place to visit.

Deadwood South Dakota

Sep 2024
Sturgis South Dakota

About 28 miles northwest of Rapid City, the city of Sturgis is known for one major thing, the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The event that draws thousands of motorcycles and fans for races, motorcycle shows, and concerts. It's also home to The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame as well as Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle dealerships. The town of 7,700 grows during the motorcycle rally but it was pretty much dead the day I visited. The town has some huge bars with concert venues that attract famous rock and country bands. I made the 11 mile drive out to the "new" Full Throttle Saloon but it was closed for the season with a gate making entry impossible. This is very obviously a very special place for Motorcycle enthusiast during the rally period. Maybe one day.

Sturgis South Dakota

Sep 2024
Three Flags RV Park
Black Hawk, SD

I stayed 5 nights at Three Flags RV Park for a central location to see a great many sites in western South Dakota. This is a Passport America park so my pull through site cost was, 3 nights at $25 per night and 2 nights at $45 per night. Great value for the location. The park has 3 Bathrooms w/showers which I did not use. They have new coin operated washers & dryers in the laundry room which I did use. $3 to wash and $3 to dry. They do have Wifi but I opted to use my Starlink since I was there for 5 nights. Otherwise there were no other amenities to my knowledge. The last half mile before reaching the office is a very dusty gravel road so don't wash your truck until after you leave. ;o)

Three Flags RV Park