To our daughter, Shantel, this week, Papa and I took a trip to the Badlands, and of course, we made a stop at the famous Wall Drug.
The story of Wall Drug is that “in December of 1931 Dorothy and Ted Hustead bought the only drugstore in a little town called Wall on the edge of the Sough Dakota Badlands. By the summer of 1936, the business had not grown much. They had given the business five years trial time, but they were still seeing a lot of cars going by without stopping. Then on a hot July Sunday, Dorothy came up with a startling idea. Realizing that all the cars going by on Route 16A through the hot, dusty prairie would have thirsty folks inside, she proposed that they put up signs on the highway telling people to come in for free ice water. The rest, as they say, is history!
FREE ICE WATER! This simple, but innovative idea has brought the Husteads a long way. They have discovered that no matter where you are, you can succeed if you offer people something they need and serve up good humor, great service and good deals.”
Wall Drug is a quirky place filled with lots of different kinds of shops within the building called Wall Drug. And all sorts of unusual and unexpected characters can be found both inside and outside of all the shops.
Shantel, I so wish you could have been with us so I could take you sighted guide to “see” the characters that were all over Wall Drug. There was a full-sized figure of a saloon girl sitting on a bench outside one of the shops,
and cowboy sitting on a bench outside another shop.
Just outside is a giant jackrabbit with a saddle on it’s back. On one side of the jackrabbit are some steps so folks can climb up on it and have their pictures taken.
Two brown horses are hitched to a green covered wagon with red wheels.
One shop had some life-size figures of some men playing poker at at table, and one of the men has a pistol drawn and is pointing it at another man.
We saw a figure of an old prospector leading his donkey by a rope.
And Wall Drug also has a cafe, so Papa and I decided to have lunch there.
We both had buffalo burgers that were very good.
Wall Drug even has a Travelers Chapel on site.
Papa and I stopped in the chapel for a visit.
When we left Wall Drug, we made our way on to the Badlands. What an amazing and beautiful place. Every time I see beautiful places like that, I think of you Shantel, and how I can describe what I saw to you. The best I can do is let you know what the information sheet says about the Badlands which is, ” The Badlands area is a wonderland of water chiseled spires, ragged ridges, rugged canyons and prairie. In the Badlands, you will see some of the most rapid landscape changes anywhere on earth. Erosion has carved knife-like edges and canyons, chimneys, pinnacles and turtleback mounds. The siltstone, mudstone and volcanic ash areas are easily worn away by the forces of nature, and these forces have sculpted a magic land.” I couldn’t agree more!
As we traveled through the Badlands, we saw so many different colors. Warm and cool colors of red, yellow, green, blue, white…
Every turn in the road provided something more beautiful than the last to see..
At one of the pull-outs we stopped at, we saw a sign that said “zero tolerance policy. Federal law strictly prohibits the collection and/or removal of fossils, rocks, plants, and cultural artifacts from Badlands National Park. Violators will be subject to a maximum fine of $250,000 and sentenced to up to five years in federal prison.”
I just can’t say enough how beautiful the Badlands are.
It’s hard to imagine how water and wind can create such beautiful scenery.
It was a beautiful, relaxing day, and Papa and I are so happy we have this opportunity to be here and experience all South Dakota has to offer.
This week Papa and I are going to the Fort Hays Chuckwagon Supper & Music Variety Show, and after that, we are going to the evening lighting of Mount Rushmore. We love and miss you, and wish you could be here with us.
Stay Tuned!
