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News • South Dakota • United States • 2013-04-22

South Dakota Travel Professionals E-newsletter (2013, #3)

Thunder on the Plains: 48th Annual Buffalo Roundup & Arts Festival

NOTICE: The 48th Annual Buffalo Roundup will take place on Friday, September 27, 2013, with the Buffalo Roundup Arts Festival taking place over the weekend of September 28-29, 2013. In past years, the Buffalo Roundup took place on the Monday following the Buffalo Roundup Arts Festival. Please note this change when planning Buffalo Roundup bookings for your clients.

The American bison, or buffalo, is an iconic creature native to the grasslands of North America. This majestic beast was on the verge of extinction in the 19th century, but has seen a resurgence in recent decades. Historically, the animal played an essential role in the lives of the Lakota (Sioux), who relied on the \"tatanka\" for food, clothing and shelter. Today, large numbers of buffalo can be found in areas of South Dakota.

Located in the Black Hills of southwestern South Dakota, Custer State Park is the second-largest state park in the United States (71,000 acres). The park is home to one of the largest publicly-owned buffalo herds in the world. Nearly 1,300 bison roam freely throughout the park and are often viewed along the 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road. Sightings of pronghorn antelope, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, deer, elk, wild turkeys, and friendly burros are also common on this stretch of road.

Each September, Custer State Park holds the Buffalo Roundup (September 27, 2013), an annual event at which park staff round up the buffalo and herd them into corrals. The roundup is the first step in preparing part of the herd for auction. Once the herd is in the corrals, spectators can watch park staff sort, brand, test and select certain animals for the fall sale. The majority are released back onto the grasslands of Custer State Park. The roundup is conducted to keep the bison population in check with the available grassland.

In addition to the Buffalo Roundup, Custer State Park hosts the Buffalo Roundup Arts Festival (September 28-29, 2013). Following the Buffalo Roundup, visitors are invited to enjoy a fun-filled weekend that includes the Annual Buffalo Wallow Chili Cook-Off (September 29, 2013), a craft fair comprised of 125 exhibitors, and non-stop entertainment under the big top pavilion. In addition to the roundup festivities, Custer State Park features some of the most unique scenery in the state – slender granite outcroppings dominate the skyline and can be viewed on Needles Highway (SD-87) near Sylvan Lake, which was a film site for the movie National Treasure: Book of Secrets. Visitors can also enjoy leisurely walks along extensive hiking trails throughout the park or climb to the summit of Harney Peak, the highest point in North America east of the Rocky Mountains.

When your clients visit South Dakota for the Buffalo Roundup, they’ll also be able to visit many of the state’s world-renowned attractions. Located near Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial is the world’s largest sculpture in progress. Each year, Crazy Horse Memorial holds an annual Volksmarch, in which the public is invited to hike to the arm of the memorial. This year, Crazy Horse Memorial is holding a special Volksmarch (September 29-30, 2013) for a cost of $3 per hiker. America’s Shrine of Democracy, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, is a short 15-minute drive from Crazy Horse Memorial. Two of the world’s premier caves, Jewel Cave National Monument and Wind Cave National Park, are also located near Custer State Park. Other popular sites in the region are the Old West town of Deadwood in the northern Black Hills and Badlands National Park, which is located one hour east of Rapid City.

If your clients are flying to South Dakota for the Buffalo Roundup, the most convenient airport is Rapid City Regional Airport. Regarded as the gateway to the Black Hills, Rapid City is the biggest city in the region and has a number of lodging, dining, shopping and entertainment options.

Travel Professionals Tip

There are a number of tunnels in the Black Hills, with many of the restrictive tunnels located near Sylvan Lake on Needles Highway (SD-87). Motorcoaches operating in Custer State Park need to be aware of the tunnel sizes and route accordingly.

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Featured Itinerary: Highway 12 – The Yellowstone Trail

Day One

Your itinerary begins in Milbank, where options include a tour of a cheese factory or a tour of a granite quarry. Traveling west on Highway 12, Waubay National Wildlife Refuge offers wildlife watching, hiking trails and an observation tower. The Blue Dog Fish Hatchery nearby is another interesting stop. Overnight in Webster.

Day Two

Turn north on Highway 25 for a slight detour to Roslyn and a visit to the unique International Vinegar Museum. Hop back on Highway 12 to Andover, where townsfolk will set up special steam-threshing demonstrations for your group, complete with steam plowing, wooden shingle cutting, and, if you’re lucky, homemade pies! Continue west on Highway 12, then turn north on Highway 37 for six miles to the Granary Rural Cultural Center near Putney. The Granary is an art gallery housed in an old grain storage building. Next, it’s on to Aberdeen, home of Storybook Land, a theme park featuring scenes from popular nursery rhymes and fairy tales. Storybook Land promises fun for all ages; the castle is a great place for picnics. Overnight in Aberdeen.

Day Three: Option One

Spend the morning touring a Hutterite Colony, hiking at Richmond Lake Recreation Area and/or visiting the Dacotah Prairie Museum and historic Centennial Village. Travel west on Highway 12 (which intersects with Highway 83 near Selby) to Mobridge, where highlights include Sitting Bull’s grave site and a memorial to Sacagawea, a gaming casino and the Oscar Howe murals at Scherr-Howe Arena. Consider a guided fishing excursion on Lake Oahe. Overnight in Mobridge.

Day Three: Option Two

When you reach the junction with Highway 83, turn south to Pierre. (Take a side trip to see the Cathedral of the Prairie in Hoven.) In Pierre, visit the State Capitol and the Cultural Heritage Center. You can also fish on Lake Oahe or take a farm tour. Fort Pierre offers the Casey Tibbs South Dakota Rodeo Center and livestock auctions at the sale barn on Fridays. Overnight in Pierre/Fort Pierre.

Day Four

Located approximately 100 miles west of Mobridge, Lemmon is the final stop on Highway 12. Visit the Petrified Wood Park, tour an agate jewelry factory, and see the Grand River Museum, and discover the legend of Hugh Glass at Shadehill Recreation Area. Continue west on Highway 12 into North Dakota or travel south and west to the Black Hills National Forest. Next day: Follow one of the other itineraries going east or west.

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Featured Attractions [more attractions]

Strawbale Winery – Renner

Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society – De Smet

South Dakota State Capitol – Pierre

Wall Drug Store – Wall

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Featured Events [more events]

September 6, 2013 – Crazy Horse September Night Blast – Crazy Horse

September 6-7, 2013 – Ribs, Rods & Rock ‘n Roll – Vermillion

September 20-22, 2013 – Mickelson Trail Trek – Lead

September 26-29, 2013 – South Dakota Film Festival – Aberdeen

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