These 7 Towns Are South Dakota's Best-Kept Secret
In a state that popularizes world-famous American landmarks like Mount Rushmore and the Jewel Cave, you will be smitten by several unassuming small towns that happen to be South Dakota’s best-kept secrets worth discovering. From historic dwelling places like Deadwood that remembers the hectic and violent period of the Wild West to lovely and lavish villages like Madison and Hot Springs which highlight South Dakota’s tranquil terrain, these small towns encapsulate the hidden and secretive beauty of a state so named after the Sioux word for “friend” or “ally.” After or before you grand visit to the stunning manmade wonder of Mount Rushmore, you ought to uncover South Dakota’s best-kept secrets which are its many beautiful small towns worth visiting this year.
Deadwood
Deadwood is a vivacious and historically relevant small town in South Dakota with some of the most intriguing secrets from the violent days of the Wild West. Only about 40 miles from Rapid City, Deadwood was founded in during the Gold Rush of 1876 and was named after the dead trees located in the nearby canyon. Since its founding, Deadwood was alive with vicious gangs and famous outlaws vying for control of the mining operations in town. James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok was one of the gunslingers seeking plunder from Deadwood, though he was gunned down by Jack McCall in 1876 while holding a poker hand of aces and eights, an event forever after known as the Dead Man’s Hand. On Mount Moriah Cemetery, you can find the grave of Wild Bill Hickock as well as Calamity Jane who also made a name for herself in Deadwood.
Other famous figures of the Wild West whose boots walked the dusty streets of the town included Preacher Smith, Seth Bullock, Potato Creek Johnny, and Al Swearengen, whose stories you can appreciate thanks to the Deadwood Alive, a local theater troupe that reenacts the major historical events in town. You can also learn more about Deadwood’s past by touring the Broken Boot Gold Mine with its preserved underground systems, or from the Adams Museum which also features a huge gold nugget and a fossil of a plesiosaur. Should you wish to have a prolonged vacation in Deadwood, you can feel safe and sound in amicable lodgings like the Historic Bullock Hotel, the Cedar Wood Inn, or The Lodge at Deadwood.
Sturgis
The awesome town of Sturgis is a well-loved and well-maintained community about 14 miles away from Deadwood. Founded in 1878 on a site just west of Fort Meade, Sturgis derived its name from Lieutenant Jack Sturgis who died during the American Civil War with Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Both Fort Meade, an abandoned military outpost from the 19th century, and the Old Fort Meade Museum document the history and happenings that occurred in the small town of Sturgis. Meanwhile, the Poker Alice House (c. 1890) is one of the many historic buildings in Sturgis that specifically used to be a casino, a dance hall, and a brothel.
These days, Sturgis is famous for hosting the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which has been around since 1938, where fans of motorcycles can watch races, cycle shows, vintage motorcycle displays and exhibits, and concerts revolving around the theme of motorcycles. You can also admire vintage cars at the Saab Heritage Car Museum USA - Sturgis Car Museum, opening on March 1 this year. On the other hand, people who prefer the quiet and serene outdoors can go traipsing through the Fort Meade Recreation Area Park and Bear Butte State Park. Lastly, you can retire and rest in one of Sturgis’ welcoming establishments, among them The Hotel Sturgis and the Sturgis Lodge and Suites.
Dell Rapids
On the Big Sioux River, and around 30 minutes north of the big city of Sioux Falls, the delightful town of Dell Rapids is lauded for being “The Little City with the Big Attractions.” Among these big attractions that you will enjoy from this little city are the turn-of-the-century Sioux quartzite buildings all over Dell Rapids, which were constructed after a fire ruined the original downtown. Additionally, Dell Rapids happens to be a convenient gateway and getaway towards the nearby Palisades State Park, a unique natural playground filled with pipestone quarries, quartzite formations, and campgrounds for you to pitch your tents in the starry evenings. The Big Sioux River which bisects the town is also something to enjoy, considering that the rolling rapids of this particular river are likened to the Wisconsin Dells of the Wisconsin River. More secrets await discovery in this delightful small town on the Big Sioux River, so do consider staying a long while in Dell Rapids, particularly in one of the town’s quaint lodgings like the Bilmar Inn & Suites.
Spearfish
Spearfish boasts plenty of attractions and activities close to the border of Wyoming. As home to the prestigious Black Hills State University, Spearfish is a prosperous and prominent college town with much history connected to the indigenous peoples of the land. For example, the town’s name derives from the fact that the Sioux Native Americans once speared for fish in a creek now known as Spearfish Creek. Prospectors and settlers from Deadwood and beyond established a mining base of operations in the year 1876, a history which you can learn more about from the High Plains Western Heritage Center.
Although you will not find many people spearing fish in Spearfish, you can still appreciate the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives. Those with a desire for adventure can go spelunking into the Spearfish Community Caves. You can also take photographs of the famous Bridal Veil Falls to the south and be tempted to take a dip at the Devil's Bathtub. If ever you become exhausted from all the scenic travels, you can relax and recharge in soothing lodgings like The Inn at Spearfish Creek, Queen City Inn, or Orchard Creek Cottages.
Madison
On the northwest side of Lake Madison, the sublime small town of Madison is home to the well-beloved Dakota State University, one of the finest computer and information systems schools in the American Midwest. In the 1870s, Madison was named after the city of Madison in Wisconsin since its two founders, William Lee and Charles Walker, once lived in Wisconsin. When the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad was established in 1880, Madison became even more prosperous, and a year later the Dakota State University was opened and became the first pedagogical academy in the Dakota Territory.
To better immerse yourself into Madison’s pioneering heritage, you can explore the old pioneer buildings and well-preserved memorabilia of early settlers at the Prairie Village. The Prairie Village is also a grand venue site for the annual Steam Threshing Jamboree on August, where one can watch antique farm equipment show to see how early agriculture was done in Madison. If you are eager for recreation and exploration, you can go strolling through both the Lake Herman and Lake Madison. Ultimately, you will not be remiss in your adventures through the lovely college town of Madison.
Hot Springs
As the name implies, the town of Hot Springs is abundant with hot springs for you to soak and warm yourself from the South Dakota chill. You can specifically enjoy a nice luxurious bath and water-themed park at the Evans Plunge Mineral Springs close to the Upper Chautauqua Park.
Hot Springs is also a hotbed of prehistoric finds, as destinations like the Mammoth Site contain the largest concentration of Columbian mammoths in the world from when the Ice Age was far from thawing. Additionally, you can find a vast collection of prehistoric fossils at the World Fossil Finder Museum, which paleontologist Frank Garcia, chief investigator for the Smithsonian Institution, collected all over the country and relocated to Hot Springs, including a 47.5-foot-long Tylosaurus called “Debby Sue.” Some of you with more interest in recent history can appreciate Hot Springs’ pioneering origins at the Pioneer Museum.
Chamberlain
Nestled on the Missouri River, at the dammed section of the Lake Francis Case, the sublime small town of Chamberlain enchants newcomers to a plethora of amusing attractions. The most defining and impressive feature you can find in Chamberlain is the Dignity: Of Earth and Sky, a 50-foot-tall statue of a Native American woman wearing a quilt of 128 stainless steel blue diamond shapes designed to flutter in the wind. In addition to this notable landmark, visitors can find several other historical sculptures along Chamberlain’s Main Street.
At the South Dakota Hall of Fame, travelers can appreciate the numerous individuals who have gained honor and repute in South Dakota, including Mary Hart from Entertainment Tonight and Lawrence Welk. Meanwhile, at the Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center, you can learn all about the Native American tribes that have prospered in South Dakota and beyond, as well as explore an outdoor Medicine Wheel Garden and shops with Native American products. There are many more serene and beautiful attractions to enjoy in Chamberlain, so consider taking your time and seeing all there is from this best-kept secret of South Dakota.
The southern half of the Dakota Territory promises a number of unforgettable and amazing experiences that all ought to try out. Among these grand and memorable experiences is visiting the many beautiful and serene small towns that happen to be South Dakota’s best-kept secrets. Even though destinations like Mount Rushmore and the Jewel Cave are more famous than these small towns, you should nevertheless consider sightseeing the various attractions that each town has to offer. Hot Springs, for example, has quite a collection of prehistoric fossils and amenities amidst an area filled with mineral hot springs. Spearfish, Deadwood, and Sturgis are a history-preserving trinity that will make you rethink your expectations and assumptions regarding the Wild West. Most of all, places like Madison and Chamberlain exemplify the artistic nuance and natural splendor that South Dakota gives to its friends and allies. This year, have a merry and marvelous experience in South Dakota’s best-kept secrets, i.e. the state’s many small towns.
