* Quick Search Tips - Select MLS Number OR Street/City/State OR Zip Code - then make your other selections.
Toll 866.889.2371
Fax: 605.717.0004
Sandy Donahue
Black Hills Area Guide
One of the most famous natural phenomenon in South Dakota, if not the country, the Black Hills are a small range of mountains that span the western part of that state. Home to the highest mountains standing east of the Rockies, the Black Hills get their name from the thick covering of pine and spruce trees, giving it the black look people see from a distance.
Originally formed hundreds of millions of years ago by volcanic activity, the area of the range is unique in their fossilized rocks, and myriad of flora and fauna as well a diverse wildlife population. Those with an adventurous spirit can hike the hills, discovering natural bridges, unexplored caves and other geographical marvels. For those who prefer to do their exploring in more urban surroundings, The Black Hills area offers an array of shopping at the famous Wall Drug to small specialty antique stores!
The Black Hills area also offers plenty of delicious dining options, from casual spots like the Four Aces in Deadwood to finer establishments like The Gas Light, near Mount Rushmore. Abundant shopping is available as well, from the famous Wall Drug to small, specialty antique stores.
History
Originally home to many tribes, primarily the Lakota and Dakota Indians, the thick forests of the Black Hills were a primary source of wood for building homes and fuel.
The area was soon overrun with miners though, after gold was discovered and the following gold rush drove out the native population while the whites began to settle over a widespread area. Today, the Black Hills is still actively mined for many precious resources, among them, gold, coal, silver, uranium and other specialty minerals.
Attractions and Activities
Deadwood Gulch Gaming Resort
Welcome to the award winning hotel with 24 hour casino gaming, shopping and enjoy your vacation! For more information, visit: http://www.deadwoodgulch.com/
Mr. Rushmore
Host to almost three million visitors a year from all over the world, visitors come to marvel at the breathtaking beauty of the Black Hills and learn about the birth and development of our country. To learn more, visit: http://www.mtrushmore.net/
Crazy Horse Memorial
This mountain crew uses precision explosive engineering to shape the rock of the mountain, slowly creating the memorial to Chief Crazy Horse since its dedication in 1998. For more information, visit: http://www.crazyhorsememorial.org/monument/
Parks and Recreation
Custer State Park
Spectacular terrain and a plethora of wildlife cover the 71,000 acres in Custer State Park, so pack those tents up, grab your backpack, and come join us for a world of adventure!
Wind Cave National Park
One of the world's longest and most complex caves and 28,295 acres of mixed-grass prairie, ponderosa pine forest, and associated wildlife are the main features of the park. The cave is well known for its outstanding display of box work, an unusual cave formation composed of thin calcite fins resembling honeycombs.
George S. Mickelson Trail
Trace the path of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane, roaming the trails laid out by them! Whether you’re on your bicycle or horseback, hiking and exploring the pine forests, you’ll have a great time. Young or old the trail is made for all ages to explore!
Bear Butte State Park
Bear Mountain is a unique formation at Bear Butte State Park, the formation being one lone mountain, not a flat topped butte as the name would suggest. One of several igneous rock intrusions formed millions of years ago, it lies along the northern edge of the Black Hills.
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
Join us for the experience of a lifetime where the locals would love to show you a thing or two about hospitality. Harley - Davidson and Victory introduce their new models each year during the Rally and love giving demonstrations of all kinds of bikes on the market! http://www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com/
Black Hills Stock Show Rodeo
Celebrating its 33rd year in 2010, the Black Hills Stock Show Rode is fun for all ages! Enjoy food and shows, demonstrations and more!
Black Hills Farmers Market
Promoting the sales of produce and farm goods directly from the grower to the consumer is just one of the functions of the Farmer’s Market. The other function is to have some fun with your neighbors!
Belle Fourche
The name Belle Fourche is perfectly suited for this town. Sitting pretty at the forks of Hay Creek, Redwater and the Belle Fourche Fiver, it’s also known as “The Center of the Nation,” thanks to its actual location of the center of the United States.
Sturgis
Sturgis offers a sense of community and pride in being a part of the Black Hills area, offering a feel of family and the opportunity to share in and enjoy the growth and the revitalization of its town.
Deadwood
Few towns come with the history of Deadwood in the Black Hills. An old mining town that’s almost as wild now as it was when gamblers, outlaws and gunslingers called it home. Today, all of Deadwood is a National Historic Landmark and the perfect place to let your wild side run free.
Rapid City
Unique shopping and dining, indoor as well as outdoor water parks, interactive museums and a wildlife park are just the beginning of the things to do and see in Rapid City. Downtown offers a wide range of shopping opportunities as well as the life size bronze sculptures of past U.S. Presidents on display.
