The road through Spearfish Canyon is delightful and beautiful ride which Bessie enjoyed. It has twists and turns, but is less treacherous than the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byways. The road winds along a river cutting through the canyon. Along the way we stopped to see the Bridal Veil Falls. View photos…
The road lead us to Deadwood, South Dakota, site of the famous shooting of Wild Bill Hickock. The town uses its status to capitalize on tourists which seems to have slot machine in every corner. However, the wonderfully restored downtown area and nuggets of history make up for the electronic beeps and flashing lights. While there, we stopped in at the Adams museum to learn more about the history of the area. We also popped into the Lucky Nugget to see the spot where Wild Bill was shot. Across the street, we found a Hollywood memorabilia museum/casino. James Bond movies seemed to be their specialty along with some famous TV and Movie cars. Jenny spent a dollar on a slot machine. She didn’t come out ahead. View photos…
Finally, we wound our way south for dinner and ice cream at The Boondocks, a fifties diner, Hollywood memorabilia shop, old-time portrait studio, amusement park, filling station and Studebaker museum. At the diner we learned they were out of ice cream. Imagine our devastation after having driven 1,000 miles, give or take. We did enjoy our dinner and seeing them make fries from potato to slicer to fryer to our plates. Our overall impression that evening of Boondocks was something out of a weird horror film. The silent amusement park rides and games have a strange sense of ghostly vacancy, like we were intruding on past memories before something horrific happened. Don’t worry, it’s probably just not peak season. View photos…
Spearfish Canyon
After Devils Tower, we get off the beaten path and onto the winding road of Spearfish Canyon on our way to Deadwood.
After Devils Tower, we get off the beaten path and onto the winding road of Spearfish Canyon on our way to Deadwood.
Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls
And then down the mountain...
And then down the mountain...
Deadwood
The streets of Deadwood
The streets of Deadwood
The Beatles drum set
The Beatles drum set
Diamonds are forever props
Diamonds are forever props
Goldfinger golf brick
Goldfinger golf brick
Elvis suit and guitars including Mick Jaggers
Elvis suit and guitars including Mick Jaggers
Evil Kneivel Bike
Evil Kneivel Bike
MASH Jeep
MASH Jeep
Rockford Files Firebird
Rockford Files Firebird
2 Fast 2 Furious Camero
2 Fast 2 Furious Camero
Smokey & the Bandit Trans Am
Smokey & the Bandit Trans Am
Magnum PIs Ferrari
Magnum PIs Ferrari
The Man with the Golden Gun Golden Gun
The Man with the Golden Gun Golden Gun
The Living Daylights Aston Martin
The Living Daylights Aston Martin
Moonraker Costume
Moonraker Costume
Jenny, with the machine that ate her money and the hand stamp proving she's old enough to have lost it.
Jenny, with the machine that ate her money and the hand stamp proving she's old enough to have lost it.
Harry Potter's Wand
Harry Potter's Wand
Wild Bill sign by the Lucky Nugget
Wild Bill sign by the Lucky Nugget
Yet another recreation of Wild Bill's last moments
Yet another recreation of Wild Bill's last moments
And, of course, the very spot.
And, of course, the very spot.
We could have had ice cream here, but we were saving ourselves for Boondocks
We could have had ice cream here, but we were saving ourselves for Boondocks
This ice cream place is closed, but its also the spot where they caught Wild Bill's murderer
This ice cream place is closed, but its also the spot where they caught Wild Bill's murderer
The train station and tourist building.
The train station and tourist building.
The Adams Museum
The Adams Museum
One of many dressed windows
One of many dressed windows
Wild Bill, he's everywhere!
Wild Bill, he's everywhere!
Tip: Don't visit on Monday. All the fun recreation of past events happens every day but Monday.
Tip: Don't visit on Monday. All the fun recreation of past events happens every day but Monday.
The Boondocks
The Boondocks, the fifties dinner
The Boondocks, the fifties dinner
Hot Dog with a ketchup toupee
Hot Dog with a ketchup toupee
We gather at the counter for dinner.
We gather at the counter for dinner.
The hollywood flavored menu, not literally mind you
The hollywood flavored menu, not literally mind you
Surrounded by our favorite stars... of the 30's - William Powell, Myrna Loy and Asta.
Surrounded by our favorite stars... of the 30's - William Powell, Myrna Loy and Asta.
The Marx Brothers
The Marx Brothers
Harpo Marx, my favorite!
Harpo Marx, my favorite!
My cheese burger
My cheese burger
Jenny's Roy Rogers with a side of fresh-from-the-potato fries
Jenny's Roy Rogers with a side of fresh-from-the-potato fries
A BMC bike with Cowlamity Jane
A BMC bike with Cowlamity Jane
A Nash
A Nash
The rides take on a slightly spooky look in the growing dusk.
The rides take on a slightly spooky look in the growing dusk.
Studebaker Champion
Studebaker Champion
A Baron, a 1937 Mercedes look-a-like
A Baron, a 1937 Mercedes look-a-like
A toy solider guards the cars. Does he come alive at night?
A toy solider guards the cars. Does he come alive at night?
