2013 Bennett Family Trip - Rushmore, etc.

[JumboJet]

The Bennett Family 2013 Trip
States – Arkansas – Missouri – Iowa – South Dakota – Wyoming – Utah – Colorado – New Mexico - Oklahoma
National Parks/Monuments – Black Hills - Mt. Rushmore – Devils Tower - Buffalo Bill Dam – Yellowstone – Grand Tetons – National Elk Refuge - Flaming Gorge – Dinosaur – Capulin Volcano
State Parks – Custer – Crazy Horse – George Washington Memorial
Getting to Rushmore, etc.
Our first stop was North Sioux City, SD – KOA- Our Lance 1050S – Sons Lance 820

Mandatory Wall Drug Sign – (Been there done that – kept going)

Crossing Missouri River (Lake Francis Case)

1880 Town – We needed a break.

My daughter and 3 rootin’ tootin’ grandsons (especially the little one – tootin!)

The Badlands NP

Sunset Rapid City, SD at Tee Pee Campground

Mount Rushmore Tour Driver – After the 99 cent all you can eat pancakes

Mount Rushmore – Not enough room for another Rushmore wannabe!

View from 1st tunnel on Needles Highway – Custer State Park

Bison herd at Custer State Park – Roundup once a year and auctions bison to public

Driver puts sign in window before the tight tunnel – always a crowd watching the big bus come through. About 2” clearance on both sides.

Tight tunnel – driver has to position bus and turn slightly in middle of tunnel

State Game Lodge – Former Presidential Retreat – Calvin Coolidge

What the Crazy Horse Monument is supposed to eventually look like. Started carving in 1945

What it looks like after 68 years (Where is the Indian Casino $$ going?)

[Mello_Mike]

Great pics. Brings back memories of our family visit back in 2001.

[Specularius]

At first glance last week I was a bit disappointed in how it did not appear to change much since 1995 when I first saw it. Upon closer inspection though there has been a lot of mountain removed and I mean a lot. In the past 18 years they have removed the equivalent of 10 Mount Rushmore's from the mountain. That is a LOT of rock!

[JumboJet]

gkainz wrote:
There's more progress on Crazy Horse in the last 20 years than the first 45 years. I grew up in Custer and went to school with a bunch of the Ziolkowski kids.

That is absolutely one huge undertaking. I just hope they haven't "bit off more than they can chew!".

[gkainz]

There's more progress on Crazy Horse in the last 20 years than the first 45 years. I grew up in Custer and went to school with a bunch of the Ziolkowski kids.

[dadwolf2]

Nice vacation. I refuse to pay to see Crazy Horse since it hasn't changed in many decades last time I was in the area.

[dakonthemountai]

Yet another place I have NOT been to... YET! Your photos give me a little shove though to get going!

Dak

[Tarkin75]

That's awesome.... A trip to Mt. Rushmore is one of the primary reasons I got my TC. thanks for the pics!

later
C

[fla-gypsy]

Looks like a fun trip

[Tiger4x4RV]

Nice! I remember those Wall Drug signs from many years ago.

[WoodGlue]

Nice photos!

Gotta love it! A 2 Lance family!

WoodGlue