Image credit: SD Tourism
September 23-29, 2024
The Inclusions:
- Roundtrip Motor-coach to and from Airports
- Custom Destinations Tour Director
- Roundtrip Airfare
- Roundtrip Motor-coach in South Dakota
- 6-Night Hotel Stay
- Baggage Handling at Each Hotel
- 18 Meals (6 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 7 Dinners)
- Guided Driving Tour from Sturgis to Deadwood (Including Historic Deadwood)
- Visit to Fort Meade
- Wild West Shootout Reenactment
- Guided Tour of Days of ’76 Museum
- Roundtrip Steam Train Ride
- Free-time
- Time at Crazy Horse Museums
- Visit to Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary
- Donation and Visit to the Bison Center
- Buffalo Safari Jeep Tour
- Chair Rental for Buffalo Roundup
- Buffalo Roundup
- Guided Driving Tour at Badlands National Park with Various Stops at Overlooks
- Time at Prairie Homestead Sod House Historic Site
- Time at Wall Drug
- Variety Show
- All Taxes and Gratuities (including driver & tour director)
The Itinerary:
This 7-day, 6-night journey will help you explore the Old West. From the legends of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane to an actual buffalo roundup and many other experiences, we will gain great insight into the way of life when this country was still developing. So, grab your cowgirl / cowboy hat and boots, and saddle on up for this exciting adventure! Yeehaw!
Day 1: Start the day en route to the Airport. We fly the skies this afternoon and evening with great anticipation of exciting things to come on this trip. (D)
Day 2: This morning, we begin the day with breakfast at the hotel. Then, our tour guide will join us so the bus can whisk us away for the day’s adventures. We will drive through Sturgis while listening to fascinating narration given by the tour guide. Then, we stop at Ft. Meade. This former US Army post was active from 1878-1944. The mission of the post was to provide military protection against the resentful Sioux for the gold seekers and settlers who invaded the region both before and after the Black Hills Treaty of 1877. We then continue through Spearfish Canyon and into Lead. We will make a stop in Lead to learn about the old gold mine. Then, we make our way into the Wild West town of Deadwood where we can truly explore what it was like in the Old West. We start this part of the day with a buffet lunch. After lunch, take your spot near Saloon #10 for a shootout. Which famous westerner will get shot? Join the guide on a historical guided tour of the town as they dole out all of the stories of legends like Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, Seth Bullock, and more. Over the course of the afternoon, perhaps you will find that the old Wild West is still just as wild today. Then, enjoy some free-time before this evening’s dinner. Our dinner will be a unique experience in the Days of ‘76 Museum. Dine among the carriages, wagons, and stagecoaches of yesteryear. In addition to dining in the museum, you will have a guided tour as well. (B, L, D)
Day 3: Our day starts in Hill City where we board the 1880 Train of the Black Hills Central Railroad. We’ll traverse the steep grade between Hill City to Keystone in this vintage steam train experience. This journey will allow you to commemorate and see the important roles that trains played in the development of this country. The train stops in Keystone where we will have some free-time to explore before heading back to Hill City. Once free-time is over, it’s all aboard once more as we head back to Hill City. Our rail journey ends with some more free-time (this time in Hill City). During your time of leisure, be sure to pick up your boxed lunch from High-Liner Eatery. This afternoon, we make like a horse and gallop our way to Crazy Horse. Our time here will be greeted with opportunities to delve into history and culture as we examine the three museums on site. This evening, we’ll have a buffet dinner before heading back to the hotel. (B, L, D)
Day 4: Today, our bus brings us to the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary for some time in the visitor center. The horses are wild, so, sightings cannot be guaranteed. Then, we head straight to the Bison Center in Custer State Park. The center tells the story of Custer State Park’s bison herd and keeps the hopes of educating future generations on the importance of bison through engaging and dynamic interpretive displays. We stay in the park as we make our way to one of the restaurants within. Lunch will be plated and served to make for a relaxing meal. Late this afternoon, we put our grand adventure shoes on for a buffalo safari jeep tour. This expedition will take you where only the jeeps can go: off-road to the private, interior dirt roads of the Park. We will trek through the park in an open-air jeep in search of pronghorns, elk, and the noble buffalo. Along the way, our guides will share historical and educational facts about the park and wildlife—and help you spot the critters. This evening, dinner will be in Custer city limits at a one-of-a-kind place. Be sure to bring your sweet tooth because dessert consists of homemade pie. (B, L, D)
Day 5: More adventure abounds today as we get an early start so we can get the best seats that we can for the Great Buffalo Roundup! This annual event happens within Custer State Park. We will witness real, live cowboys and cowgirls rounding up and driving the herd. Not only is this a fascinating occasion to see, but it plays an integral role in the health and maintenance of the herd. Once the buffalo are corralled, testing will occur to ensure they are healthy. After watching this exciting event, we make our way to one of the restaurants in the park for lunch. This afternoon, we bid adieu to Custer State Park and the buffalo and head back to Rapid City. Before this evening’s dinner, we will have time at the hotel to freshen up. (B, L, D)
Day 6: Travel to Badlands National Park is in store today. Before we go anywhere though, we are joined by our tour guide. En route to the park, we will stop at the Prairie Homestead Sod House Historic Site which is one of the last sod homes that is still intact today. This home was built in 1909 and perfectly demonstrates what life in the early 1900s was like for the pioneers. Then, we continue on to Badlands National Park. We will have the opportunity to get off the bus at various lookout points for those photo opportunities. After learning the stories of the park and seeing it first hand, it will be time to move on to Wall Drug. Once known as the geological center of nowhere, this attraction is now a must-stop destination. By the time we leave, you are sure to find out why over 2 million people visit Wall Drug Store each year. Oh yeah, don’t forget to get some of the free ice water. It was free in the old days, and it continues to be so today. Upon departing Wall Drug, we make a very brief stop at the hotel to say goodbye to our guide. Then, we head to Fort Hays for a unique chuckwagon dinner and show experience. But, before we attend to dinner and a show, we have a bit of free-time to explore the old western town of Fort Hays. Perhaps you will have the chance to explore some of the Dances With Wolves movie set. (B, L, D)
Day 7: This morning, we board our trusty steed (the bus) one last time as we make our way to the airport. Reminiscing of the good Old West and the days gone by, perhaps we will be inspired to hold close the cultures and animals that we explored during this Great Buffalo Roundup tour. (B, D)
The Cost:
$3797 p Single, $3135 pp Double, $2919 pp Triple, $2807 pp Quad