From Deseret News archives:
Custer State Park The heart of South Dakota's Black Hills
Iconic Mount Rushmore was already at the top of our list of places to visit. The towering memorial-in-stone to presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt was, in fact, intended all along to be the long-range target of our summer cross-country trip, which in the end included huge swaths of Wyoming and bits of Montana, Idaho and Utah.
Also on the proposed itinerary in South Dakota were the still-in-progress Crazy Horse memorial near Rushmore, Badlands National Park east of Rapid City, fabled Wall Drug in the tiny town of Wall (just for kicks) and the historic gold-and-gambling center of Deadwood. Oh, and Custer State Park, subject like the others to last-minute decisions and the weather.
Barbara's enthusiasm vaulted Custer State Park into the top tier.
When we got back home, I couldn't thank her enough.
Its size (71,000 acres), varied scenery (from grasslands and lakes to mountaintop granite spires) and wildlife (including one of the largest bison herds anywhere) make Custer as close to a national park as a state park could hope to be.
"We do hear 'wow' a lot. We do hear that we're the 'best-kept secret,"' says Custer State Park Superintendent Richard Miller.
Not that the park really is a secret anymore or that South Dakota wants it to be considered as such.
"We host over 1.5 million visitors a year," Miller says. "And no, we are not a secret. We market extensively, doing our darndest to attract people. And we're centrally located" among other national parks, national monuments, forests, famous caves and other Black Hills attractions.
Originally organized as the 48,000-acre Custer State Forest in 1912, and soon to include a state game preserve, the park itself was created in 1919, due in large part to the foresight of Peter Norbeck, at the time South Dakota's governor and subsequently a U.S. senator.
"He's generally known as the father of Custer State Park," Miller says. "It was his vision and his hard work that brought it together."
Recent comments
If you go to Custer State Park, don't miss the cave exploration in...
Kevin | Aug. 20, 2007 at 7:24 a.m.
I love this area of the USA. Helps me to feel the back to nature...
Mark G | Aug. 20, 2007 at 12:27 a.m.
This is a great place to see. The park was wonderful. We camped every...
Steve S. from Portland Or. | Aug. 19, 2007 at 1:35 p.m.
- Hockey HOF class gets its rings 3:03 p.m.
- Phelps to test old suits at World Cup 3:03 p.m.
- Flyers get QB back for semifinal tilt 3:02 p.m.
- Former DPS head pleads guilty 2:46 p.m.
- Hasan's lawyer to meet with him 2:45 p.m.
- Hatch empathizes with Muslims 2:42 p.m.
- Two arrested in $3 robbery 2:41 p.m.
- Dow hits highest level in a year 2:33 p.m.
- 2 more in GOP may challenge Bennett 2:31 p.m.
- Life sentences for juveniles examined 2:20 p.m.
- TCU showdown has big implications
- Seniors helped BYU regroup
- Hope for single moms
- Lambert surprisingly tops news
- Bystanders framed for child porn
- Korver and Miles to be evaluated
- TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
- Utah Jazz Extra: Whose hot/not
- Newhouse Hotel, an explosive end
- TCU moves into 4th place in BCS
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
246 - House passes health care bill
212 - Lobo suspended
176 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
153 - TCU showdown has big implications
145 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
130 - Thousands protest health bill
107 - Provo company innovating engines
106 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
103 - RSL rallies to advance
103
All lawyer/legal tactics aside, there are only three ultimate possibilities:...
"I read they do like people w/ accounting degrees and/or people of the LDS...
God was only aiming for one of us. The rest of us have minor bumps bruises,...
Welcome sir ! You're extremely important to all of us ! Thank you for your...
Welcome to the Salt Lake City Field Office Mr. McTighe. Maybe we'll get some...
Interesting article, but don't understand the danger of non carbon receipts....
The "progressives" and "liberals" who think that the Constitution has no...
Soon we will see if CJ is as good as you think he is?? I'm not sure he would...
That's kind of the point. Most people don't mind Bingham or Alta saying they...
JD you and your school SS are nothing but losers! your season is over!!!!!!...

