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News • South Dakota • United States • 2014-01-29

Ride ‘em Cowboy in South Dakota

Imagine a place where as far as the eye can see, miles and miles to the horizon, a landscape tells stories of western settlers and gold-seeking miners in pursuit of better lives. With attractions like Fort Sisseton Historic State Park, the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary, and the High Plains Western Heritage Center, South Dakota is considered a top tier western getaway destination. Visitors to South Dakota can immerse themselves in western heritage by attending rodeos, a buffalo roundup and going on trail rides, just to name a few attractions and activities.

Take a trip to De Smet to visit the homestead of one of the most famous pioneer authors of all time, Laura Ingalls Wilder. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society preserves a collection of more than 2,000 original artifacts and three historic structures where the Ingalls family lived and studied. The original Ingalls Homestead, the house that Pa Ingalls built, and the original Surveyors’ House, were all mentioned in Laura’s book “By the Shores of Silver Lake.” The annual Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant is also held in De Smet three weekends every July.

Located on the eastern portion of South Dakota, near the cities of Garretson and Sioux Falls, lies Devil’s Gulch. Devil’s Gulch earned its way into western history books when, during a bank robbery getaway in the fall of 1876, outlaw Jesse James jumped his horse across the nearly 20-foot gorge. Today, individuals and groups can walk across a steel bridge in an attempt to reenact the daring feat. Visitors can also explore the visitor center along with miles of walking trails.

The Casey Tibbs South Dakota Rodeo Center located in Fort Pierre in central South Dakota, is a historical museum devoted to the legendary sport of rodeo, its history and its stars. The official state sport of South Dakota, rodeo events take place throughout the entire year. Each celebration displays the proud heritage inherent in South Dakota culture and illustrates why South Dakota is a beautiful, exciting place to visit.

Located in the Black Hills region of South Dakota is the western town of Deadwood, known for its history of saloon brawls, gambling, shootouts and characters like Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok. During the summer months, visitors can watch as reenactments of shootouts take place on historic Main Street or within famous Saloon #10. Make sure your clients also stop at the Adams House and Museum, the oldest history museum in the Black Hills which ranked third among True West magazine’s 2009 Top 10 Western Museums.

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