zzzippper
Member
I'm reading some fairly negative reviews online, especially about CH. CH is only 1/4 complete but they charge $26 per person. Are these good vacation destinations?
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Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial
- Thread starter zzzippper
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Rushmore is - CH was only 1/4 done when I was there in 1967! I don't think that one will ever be completed. I always felt that area was just a great big tourist trap, but that is just me. Many people find it a fun destination. Personally I feel that there are many more interesting back road (historical) places in Colorado - not very far for you.
Pete
Check out this book I found back in the 80's for a few interesting side trips:
Back-roads of Colorado Paperback
by Boyd Norton (Author), Barbara Norton
its still available on Amazon.
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36general
Member
Crazy horse will never be completed... It's worth seeing, but only from the road. Grab a pair of binoculars and save the $26. Then it's worth it.
Marshwheeling
Member
I have been out to the Black Hills and western South Dakota about fifty times since 1973. In all of those trips, I have been to Crazy Horse once and Rushmore once, and that was plenty. If you have never been there, I guess they are worth seeing once, but I would not make that the point of my vacation.
OTOH, the Black Hills is one of the world's great vacation destinations, in my opinion. If you ride a motorcycle, even better; an off-road motorcycle, still better yet. The overwhelming majority of my trips have been on a bike or with one or two trailered up behind my van. I have also done family vacations with no bikes involved and still had a wonderful time.
There is no end of fun things to do without ever going into a tourist trap. I know people from Colorado who vacation there.
OTOH, the Black Hills is one of the world's great vacation destinations, in my opinion. If you ride a motorcycle, even better; an off-road motorcycle, still better yet. The overwhelming majority of my trips have been on a bike or with one or two trailered up behind my van. I have also done family vacations with no bikes involved and still had a wonderful time.
There is no end of fun things to do without ever going into a tourist trap. I know people from Colorado who vacation there.
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Go to Rushmore, use binoculars to look at CH from the road. What ever you do don't miss going on some cave tours. Jewel cave is my favorite. Also go to Custer and see the museum. Last I was there it was in the old court house and managed by the senior citizens club. I got to talking to one old fellow and he took me down into the basement to see old wooden barrels full of guns! Must have been six or seven full of rifles and revolvers. Wouldn't let me touch any however. They did have a fair amount of firearms on display in the regular collection.
I have been to Rushmore several times, I use the Golden Years Senior Card and it is Free. You pay a small fee for parking there. I enjoy the diarama down town of how they built it.
Also enjoed The Badlands and Wall Drug, a world wide known Tourist Trap. Food there is not bad and they have some very nice collections or guns and brands on the walls of the place.
To get the Golden Years Senior card, the next time you visit any national park just ask the Ranger at the entrance. I think it only cost $10.00 and is good for life.
For some very interesting motorcycles stop by Sturgis.
Deadwood and Devils Tower are both worth the trip.
As someone else posted the Black Hills are all encompassing in beauty.
Also enjoed The Badlands and Wall Drug, a world wide known Tourist Trap. Food there is not bad and they have some very nice collections or guns and brands on the walls of the place.
To get the Golden Years Senior card, the next time you visit any national park just ask the Ranger at the entrance. I think it only cost $10.00 and is good for life.
For some very interesting motorcycles stop by Sturgis.
Deadwood and Devils Tower are both worth the trip.
As someone else posted the Black Hills are all encompassing in beauty.
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My wife and I went out west a few years ago. We spent a good bit of time at Mt. Rushmore and the Crazy Horse memorial. It was a wonderful way to spend part of our trip. I very much enjoyed Rushmore and Crazy Horse. We also spent time at Yellowstone. If we ever get the chance, I'd love to return. I do not consider the prices charged unreasonable. People pay similar type prices to go to Six-Flags, etc.
GRIZZLYBEAR
US Veteran
IMHO Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore are worth seeing once. I took the wife and kids to one vacation to see them in '73 or '74. I don't remember what the cost was but it must have been worth price.
dougb1946
Member
Crazy Horse is a fine example of marketing. Why would you be in a hurry to finish it when it provides employment for a family. Push a few rocks around, blow up a small amount of TNT, open the ticket booth.. Granted, when I saw it, it was a lot lower priced, but you needed a lot more imagination to see it then.
The Rushmore carvings are worth the trip, especially when you drive away and see them in the mirror, while driving through a tunnel. A little startling.
The Rushmore carvings are worth the trip, especially when you drive away and see them in the mirror, while driving through a tunnel. A little startling.
UncleEd
Member
Correct me if I'm wrong:
Mt. Rushmore, government project
Crazy Horse, private project
Mt. Rushmore, government project
Crazy Horse, private project
vito
US Veteran
I few years I went to Mr. Rushmore in early November, just when the first snow had started. We were one of only two cars in the entire huge parking lot. The view was impressive from the visitor center, and something I had always wanted to see.
On the same trip we went through the Badlands, which was incredible, especially since it was totally deserted. Never got to see Crazy Horse but I don't think I missed much.
We did also drive through Custer State Park. Since the roads were starting to get snow covered it became a real adventure as the snow thickened and I had trouble seeing where the road was and where it wasn't. We encountered a huge herd of bison on the road, and because I was fearful of getting lost and isolated in this huge state park (the rangers had already closed their stations for the winter and we did not see another vehicle the entire time we were in the park) we weaved among these huge animals rather than waiting for them to get off the road. My young son was terrified as we drove within 3 feet of some of the bison. When we finally made it back to Rapid City that night it felt like we had survived a near-death experience.
Overall it was a great 4 day road trip of over 2,000 miles to and from northern Illinois. My wife and I are going back to that area this summer to visit Yellowstone and Grand Tetons national park and doing it a bit more luxuriously this time! I hope we don't have to worry about snow in July, and we will be staying at the Inns right inside the national parks.
On the same trip we went through the Badlands, which was incredible, especially since it was totally deserted. Never got to see Crazy Horse but I don't think I missed much.
We did also drive through Custer State Park. Since the roads were starting to get snow covered it became a real adventure as the snow thickened and I had trouble seeing where the road was and where it wasn't. We encountered a huge herd of bison on the road, and because I was fearful of getting lost and isolated in this huge state park (the rangers had already closed their stations for the winter and we did not see another vehicle the entire time we were in the park) we weaved among these huge animals rather than waiting for them to get off the road. My young son was terrified as we drove within 3 feet of some of the bison. When we finally made it back to Rapid City that night it felt like we had survived a near-death experience.
Overall it was a great 4 day road trip of over 2,000 miles to and from northern Illinois. My wife and I are going back to that area this summer to visit Yellowstone and Grand Tetons national park and doing it a bit more luxuriously this time! I hope we don't have to worry about snow in July, and we will be staying at the Inns right inside the national parks.
Brian41
Member
I saw Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse a couple years ago with some hunting buddies and enjoyed it very much. When we pulled into Mt. Rushmore I offered to pay for the truck full of us not knowing the price. I paid it but wasn't so willing to open my mouth and make such offers for Crazy Horse.
I also stopped at Wall Drug myself on the way and had a good time even if I bought nothing.
Once was enough for all three of them but would do it again if say my wife was with me so she could see them.
I also stopped at Wall Drug myself on the way and had a good time even if I bought nothing.
Once was enough for all three of them but would do it again if say my wife was with me so she could see them.
I love Mt Rushmore and have seen Crazy Horse once. Check out the caves, Custer St park, the Hot Springs, Devils Tower and the Needles while you are there. The best thing about Wall Drug is the restrooms are relatively clean.
Marshwheeling
Member
For my money, Custer Park is the best part of the Black Hills, and the Wildlife Loop is the best part of that. You can have close encounters with bison, Big Horn sheep, wild burros, and at a distance, antelope. The loop road is one of the most entertaining motorcycle roads you can find anywhere. The scenery is heart-breakingly beautiful.
You can extend the experience by taking Red Valley Road out of the southeast corner of the park near the buffalo corrals. It leads down through the back side of Wind Cave park, which has its own herd of buffalo, and lots more antelope.
You can extend the experience by taking Red Valley Road out of the southeast corner of the park near the buffalo corrals. It leads down through the back side of Wind Cave park, which has its own herd of buffalo, and lots more antelope.
ACP230
Member
I have been to Rushmore twice, once at 12 and once when my youngest son was around that age. I'd like to go back. Did not make Crazy Horse.
Had a fine time in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in ND too.
A real tourist trap is Wall Drug in Wall, SD. I was also there at 12.
When my wife and I took the kids to Wall Drug after going to Rushmore
I was amazed at how much bigger it had gotten. Plan to go back there
also.
Had a fine time in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in ND too.
A real tourist trap is Wall Drug in Wall, SD. I was also there at 12.
When my wife and I took the kids to Wall Drug after going to Rushmore
I was amazed at how much bigger it had gotten. Plan to go back there
also.
acco40
Member
Bring a couple of bags of carrots for the Begging Burros at Custer State Park! I love the Blackhills area of South Dakota!
Hey, quit knocking Wall Drug! They know what they are, and are proud of it. When I lived in South Dakota 1980-85, we used to stop at Wall Drug for breakfast sometimes when headed east for antelope or pheasant. Nice folks. I'd like to have the money they've made off of jackalopes alone.
Loved Mt Rushmore; Crazy Horse, let me know when it's done.
If you go and do Custer State Park, be sure and take some binoculars, lot's of bird life to see in addition to the other animals.
Or heck, you could come this way and go to Stone Mountain. Heck of a laser light show at night, and Elvis sings Dixie while the horses start to move - or at least he used to, may not be correct enough anymore.
Loved Mt Rushmore; Crazy Horse, let me know when it's done.
If you go and do Custer State Park, be sure and take some binoculars, lot's of bird life to see in addition to the other animals.
Or heck, you could come this way and go to Stone Mountain. Heck of a laser light show at night, and Elvis sings Dixie while the horses start to move - or at least he used to, may not be correct enough anymore.
UncaGrunny
US Veteran
Mount Rushmore was never actually finished, either; it was originally supposed to continue down the mountain to depict the Presidents down to the waist.
Funding pulled in 1941 for some other project...
Funding pulled in 1941 for some other project...
Comrad
Member
And the Hall of Records behind the heads.
