Starving from our lunch-free afternoon at the Reptile Gardens, we arrive early for the Ft. Hays Chuckwagon Dinner and Show. Ignoring our rumbling stomachs, we kill some time perusing the old timey village here. A South Dakota mystery perplexing Storm and I since we took the back road to Roughlock Falls is finally solved in the gift shop. While traveling the dusty backroad to Roughlock Falls a week or so ago, we pass a pull-off near Little Spearfish Creek. At the pull-off is a sign labelled “Dances with Wolves Film Site.” There was absolutely nothing else to see so we are baffled about what was filmed here.
Mystery Solved
The Ft. Hays gift shop cashier explains to us that the buildings and set originally out in the woods near the sign we observed were moved to the Ft. Hays site some time ago. We have been walking in them during our visit. Maybe if we were not so hungry that we rushed through the museum, we might have figured that out ourselves. The original site on the dirt road was not in a “tourist friendly” location due to its distance from civilization and the road’s nasty habit of becoming a muddy trap for tourist buses.
We are finally admitted to the dinner and show. Buckaroos serve up our meal on tin plates with a squashed potato and applesauce. My meal may have been delicious. In a ravenous fit, I consume each morsel of it before it can properly get acquainted with my taste buds so it is hard to tell. The musical show features local artists who are musical marvels. They thrill us with songs by artist ranging from Sons of the Pioneers to Queen.
This really hits home, we told you all about this place when we got back from our trip, but we did not explain it as good as you guys do so you probably forgot we mentioned it. We stayed at the “Holiday Camp Ground” right across the street. They said that we could only stay one night but we ended up staying 3 or 4 nights and had a wonderful time. Lady at the camp ground talked Sandy into taking the buss tour that starts and ends there, it was GREAT. They even come over to our camp ground to pick us up in a van and then drove across the street to the Fort. I thought it was silly and we could have walked just as easy, NOT traffic on that road was not conducive to walking across for anyone so it was a good thing. We really enjoyed that stop but did not see all that you guys have found. Thanks for taking us along. Keep up the good work. Florence is going more South than originally thought so we should be OK but the folks in South Carolina are going to get hit along with ILM. Take care. GOD BLESS
JD
Jim
We saw that campground and it looks really nice – a great place to base in order to enjoy all the local sites. Glad you got to take the tour – I bet the trip through the tunnels in the bus was a hoot! We are glued to the TV watching Flo – so concerned about our friends in New Bern. Hope everyone in NC weathers through this OK.
Take Care – S