Gettin’ Groggy in Custer, SD

The Custer Beacon – Winner!! In a recent visit to Custer, South Dakota, we found a PHENOMENAL brewery called Custer Beacon. They are only open Wednesday-Saturday 4-11pm so adjust your travel schedules accordingly! They have craft beers and wine, a scratch kitchen and live music… and from the looks of the line up, some really good bands. I had a scotch ale that was fantastic and the pulled pork sandwich was good but the Real Shrimp BLT was the big winner, it was huge and mouth wateringly delicious (see photo)! You order drinks inside the brewery or at the outside kitchen and they bring it to your table. It was so good, I look forward to returning to Custer Beacon to enjoy great beer and music the next time I’m in town!

South Dakota, real FUN things to do:

The Buffalo Round Up in Custer State Park takes place annually during the last weekend of September. Around 1,300 head of buffalo are corralled through the park and down the mountain in a sweeping romp of glory, it is a site to behold! We camped at Horsethief Campground just outside of Custer State Park and got up VERY early to drive into Custer State Park and wait in line with 20,000 people to watch this event which starts at 9am. Was it worth the wait – and the lines – and the crowds? HELL YES! Of course, it depends on the direction the herd rolls in, but either North or South viewing areas are great. When you go, my suggestion is to bring a picnic basket of sandwiches and beverages in your car – go extra early and enjoy the pancake breakfast at the roundup, pick a spot on the hill for your chairs and enjoy the buffalo all day! While the parking lot is clearing out, relax while you have a picnic lunch, enjoy the scenery and walk a few steps over to the field where the buffalo are lounging after the big run – it is a rare opportunity to see these magnificent animals up close!

After Custer, we drove to Badlands National Park in hopes of viewing more buffalo, but a trip to the Badlands isn’t complete without a stop at Wall Drug “the geographical center of nowhere”, Wall Drug has been in existence since 1931. It is a block long souvenir shop that attracts two million visitors yearly, but for some of us, Wall Drug is a trip down memory lane, who remember a stop at Wall Drug on the family road trip through South Dakota. A well known rest stop to stretch the legs and fun place to peruse through the numerous shops, take some pictures in front of an old saloon or try on some cowboy hats, but the best thing to do here is try a warm homemade donut… or two… they are fantastic!

Badlands National Park – “Land of Stone and Light” this national park is magical at sunset when the sun reflects off of the rocks to create a glowing pink and orange hue. It is full of amazing wildlife not to be missed but the buffalo (and prairie dogs) are the main attraction. The Dakota Indians named this area “mako sica” meaning “land bad” and the French trappers who explored the west labeled it “bad land to cross”. When you first arrive, it is obvious to see that this is hard country but stay for a minute and the Badlands will amaze you. The gorgeous peaks and valleys, the ancient life, the wild weather and wild colors that shift in the sunshine… this lonely and desolate “land bad” is full of life and mystery!

We were greeted by buffalo at the Pinnacles entrance our first day, and the next day, fortunate again to see two massive buffalo hanging out at the Sage Creek Basin Overlook, they stayed for a long visit and posed for pictures with the Badlands as a backdrop! I could have stayed THERE all day taking pictures!! Another great stop is the Fossil Exhibit Trail; the fossils here are 30 million years old and include many prehistoric animals such as Leptomeryz (deer), Oredonts (sheep) and Mesohippus (horse).

On our way to Custer, we stopped at Red Feather Super Market on County Road 150 and across the street found a little gem called Smileys Rock Shop. They have all sorts of interesting rocks and minerals, and their famous Red Feather Quartz Crystal that they mine themselves in the Red Feather Lakes area. I picked up an “Orthoceras” fossil (a marine mollusk which is basically the fossilized shell of a 400 million year old squid)! My step Dad made it into a necklace and gave me a fancy piece of African wood to display it (cuz that’s what Dad’s do) and I just love my new (old) fossil necklace!

To Suzanne and Chuck, our Roundup buddies and fellow travelers, thank you for making our day extra special… kisses to Dakota!

Thank you Mike, for letting me “borrow” a few of your extraordinary photos taken in the Badlands. See you on the road, my friend!

A big kiss and hug to my Step Dad Gary for our amazing “Buffalo and Badlands Tour 2023” a memory that I will cherish forever, love you!