We moved camp to Rapid City, SD, a short trip east. We have learned that many places are so rich in sightseeing that we are only sampling the choices. Rapid City is another of those places where I could gladly spend a month or two.
We set up at the Ellsworth AFB FamCamp. I haven't stayed at a lot of FamCamps yet, but this one certainly seems nice, and while not totally cheap, a good buy. Plus, WiFi (which a lot of FamCamps don't have), which varied between barely useable to pretty good, depending on the time of day. My theory is that some people are either streaming movies or gaming, leaving the rest of us mere crumbs. Around 9:30 each evening, it dramatically sped up.
The next morning we headed east on a day trip. Our first destination was Wall Drug. Wall Drug, in Wall, ND, was started in the early thirties, while the country was in the grips of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl was compounding the misery. It gained fame through its brilliant promotion--signs by the road boasted of the wonders to be had at Wall Drug, and such gimmicks as free ice water--still offered--set it apart from the competition.
It grew from a small drug store/restaurant to an institution. Today, it's absolutely huge. When I stepped in, it was like stepping into a downtown mall.
I couldn't figure out a way to get a real sense of it in one picture. It's huge. To the left, one wanders through "shop" after "shop", finally reaching the restaurant,
the soda fountain, and the bakery, where Wall Drug's famous doughnuts are made. Camping equipment, books, jewelry, books, clothing, art,
gifts, sundries, boutique lotions and soaps--it goes on and on. There was even a chapel for the weary traveler!
And just when I thought I'd seen it all, we stepped across the rear alley to a whole new section.
Across a courtyard, more attractions, some of them closed now that it is late September. A mining village
Do you see what's at the end of this indoor "street"?
When I got to the end of the street, buzzers sounded and lights flashed, and then this guy began menacing me.
Turns out he is set to "feed" every 12 minutes; I just happened to reach him at the moment he became hungry.
In the courtyard, Damien rode a giant jackalope,
and we got our first glimpse of Mount Rushmore. Well, sort of.
There was a big diorama narrating the history of the United States, culminating, of course, with the establishment of Wall Drug.
This place is huge, entertaining, and everything it's cracked up to be. It's well worth a visit, even if you don't buy anything.
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