Have you ever seen the “deer in the headlights” look up close, say about 6 feet.   Although I’ve never been hunting for mule deer in the Black Hills of South Dakota I ‘tagged’ my first deer this season.  Burned onto the walls of my memory is the ‘dreaded’ look from an 8 point buck staring my Ford Ranger down on Sheridan Lake road.  I usually give big bucks the benefit of the doubt about not getting in the way.  After all they must know something lasting all the past hunting seasons.  In my precious few moments I named the gravity bound cousin Read More…

Posted under Videos, Whacky Stories & Thoughts

As I begin to relate my experience at Old MacDonald’s Petting Farm, a quick stop as we head into the thick of South Dakota’s Black Hills, I must confess: I underestimated the pigs. It’s just that they looked so unimpressive as we watched them eat in their pen - shoving their snouts full into the dirt to get a nibble of the hay, that thin line of drool bubbling at the side of their mouths. And then it didn’t help when they all fell asleep in the starting gate as the time for the pig races approached.

I had heard the pig races were “funny” and so I was expecting a gloriously amusing disaster - pigs sleeping at the word go, running in the wrong direction, a combination pig race, greased pig contest. Boy, was I wrong. Thirty seconds before the race began, those pigs woke up and practically knocked down the starting gate, so eager were they to drink the Kool-Aid at the end. And then they all sprinted around that track so fast I barely realized what was happening. Well, maybe not “they all” - the one named Sausegawea was willing to drink the mud puddle instead of the Kool-aid to avoid sprinting the last 15 feet. My expectation, of course, reveals my lack of farming experience, and it’s folks like me who are the prime targets for Old MacDonald’s Petting Farm: folks who didn’t go to many state fairs growing up and who are even a bit nervous the first time we let the goats eat food out of our hands. There’s no need to be nervous, of course, and even my daughter figured that out before we left - she was willing to pet a rabbit, a sheep, and a goat (This is the girl who, when smaller, took five minutes to build up the courage to touch a dandelion). Petting or feeding an animal is a simple pleasure, I am aware, but looking back to it, I’m pleased that we enjoyed it as much as we did, pleased that we’re not jaded so much that we miss the thrill of creatures up close.

My only regret is that I underestimated the pigs. Don’t make the same mistake I did - and if you’re betting, go with the little one. He’s quicker than you think.

Quick Look:

Where it is: Hwy 16 just before you get to Rockerville (if coming from Rapid City) and just under 15 minutes from Rapid City, South Dakota. It’s on the way to Mount Rushmore, which makes it an early stop on the SmartAlec blue route. See the map for more.

Cost: Adults: $9; Seniors: $8; Children over 2yrs: $6; Children under 2: Free  (2008)

How much time: Leave yourself two hours and most of the kids will be persuaded to leave without getting grumpy. That way you’re also sure to catch a pig race.

Works well with: Since it’s on the way to Mount Rushmore, this can be a nice stop to satiate the kids’ interest for the day. It also can be a quicker stop than places like Reptile Gardens or Bear Country, which could allow you to do more when you leave, like attractions in the Hill City or Keystone area, which are each only about 15 minutes further down the road. If you’re spending a quiet day without too many activities, consider following SmartAlec’s directions to the Stratobowl Rim Trail - a short hike that begins about 200 yards from the Old MacDonald parking lot.

Best time to go: Anytime, really, since the animals don’t settle into a lethargy that will ruin your experience and the pig races take place every 90 minutes. The grounds are generally unshaded, though, so if the sun is a concern you may want to avoid the mid-day heat.
Highlights:

• The pig races: Don’t miss them!
  

  Kid with baby goat

• The tameness of animals: After visiting the potentially charging buffalo in Custer or the predators of Reptile Gardens and Bear Country, it’s great to be somewhere where a kid can con a goat into climbing on his back.
• Sanitation: Hand-washing stations are set up in a couple places, making it easy to get those little fingers clean before heading off to lunch.

Good to know:

• Kids even two years old have to pay for entrance.
• Kids under two might get frustrated when you don’t let them touch anything, and you probably do not want them to touch anything, since they generally can’t keep their fingers out of their mouths.

Posted under Attractions

The last time we visited Bear Country, we had the good fortune of going during feeding time, which occurs daily at 9:00am. Sitting in the safety of our van, we watched Tim, a veteran employee of Bear Country, sling frozen hunks of meat over a 20 foot fence into the mountain lion enclosure. The back of his pickup was full of this meat, a fact well known by the black bears and timber wolves that were creeping up behind him. After a few steaks, Tim grabbed a six foot pole from the bed of the pickup, stepped aggressively towards the wolves and bears, and swung it widely. The predators leaped back, and he returned to the steaks, tossing a few more to the lions before flinging one to the nearest bear and jumping back into the cab of his pickup. With Tim gone, the animals stopped playing nice, and the steak’s recipient ended up losing his prize to a relative when he chased off the wolves. Satisfied, we drove on, thrilled that the spectacle had occurred only 20 feet from our van.

Such is the thrill of Bear Country, and while not every trip through the drive-through park is as exciting as ours, it’s always a thrill to have your way blocked by a black bear and to see an arctic wolf in person.

The quick look:

Where it is: On Hwy 16 about 12 minutes outside Rapid City, on the way to Mt. Rushmore. See the map for more.

How much time: Most people take around 2 hours to soak in the park and enjoy it thoroughly. If you are one for loitering in gift shops, add plenty more. A café is on the premises if you run into lunch.

Cost: $15 adults, $8 for kids, $12 for seniors, with a max. of $55 per vehicle (2008 price). See their website for the most current prices.

Best time to go: Mornings, when the animals are more active and the traffic in the park is lighter

Works well when coupled with: It’s on the way to Mt. Rushmore, so it can go well with the big attraction. The Smart Alec takes you to Mt. Rushmore and if you’re in for a long day of driving, you could tackle the Needles and Iron Mountain Road. We’d recommend going slower, however, which is why some folks like to pair Bear Country with Reptile Gardens. Even then, though, if you like these places, it might be better to save the second round of animal watching for another day.

Highlights:

• 

  Babyland Bears climb tree

  Babyland: The walk-through area where you can watch the bear cubs up close, as well as otters, a grizzly bear, and more.

• Feeding time: if you can get there when we did, by 9:00, you could be in for a show, and even if you miss the actual feeding, the animals are still quite active around that time.
• Smart Alec: We’ve crafted a full audio tour through the park, detailing animals and explaining the history of the attraction. It’s like riding with the owner in your vehicle.

Good to know:

• Leave your road-rage tendencies at the gate, traffic can be slow in the park.
• No matter how badly you want to open them, windows need to stay closed.
• Admission to the park can add up, though the max is $55 a vehicle. We would advise looking into discount opportunities (like a discount card, which pays off if you’re planning on hitting a lot of attractions) and leaving plenty of time to soak in your money’s worth.

Posted under Attractions