2017-01-14 04:37:24
BOLD & BAWDY SINCE 1876 Deadwood is home to the best activities the Black Hills have to offer. You’ve meandered through the byways taking in the scenery. You’ve enjoyed some great museums, downtown and family attractions. You’ve taken to the nearby trails by bicycle, ATV or UTV, or hiking boots. Now how about some pure, unadulterated fun and games? As in gaming casinos, that is. Downtown Deadwood It’s time to make it a day (or a week) in Deadwood. This historic mining camp, built on a rowdy history of gold, gambling and gunpowder, has taken that notoriety and established itself into South Dakota’s entertainment mecca. This is your chance to get a little bit wild, make a couple of risky bets (or keep them conservative) and become part of the excitement that is Deadwood today. It’s the same prospect of riches that lured prospectors and gamblers to Deadwood more than a century ago that continues to draw throngs of visitors today. Add the town’s colorful history, coupled with such characters as Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and Poker Alice, and you begin to get an idea of what Deadwood can be! From its earliest days, people of all stripes and persuasions flocked into the gulch hoping to make their fortune. And for the record, it was the dead trees of the gulch from which Deadwood earned its name. The tantalizing allure of striking it rich still remains. Deadwood’s casinos, with popular slot machines and games of live blackjack, poker, keno, and roulette, provide hours of entertainment for what can be a fairly modest cost. Deadwood’s bets range from pennies to $1,000, and they are mixed in with a wide variety of restaurants, saloons, retail shops and history throughout town. There are also plenty of musical performances ranging from impersonators to tribute bands, national headline performers to some of the region’s most popular live bands. You’ll also find scores of low-cost or free attractions throughout the town of Deadwood, many of them relating to the town’s wild and unruly past. Some of the West’s most flamboyant characters now “rest in peace” at Mt. Moriah Cemetery, high above Main Street. Along with Wild Bill and Calamity Jane, the graves of Madam Dora DuFran, Potato Creek Johnny, Preacher Smith, Seth Bullock and Colorado Charlie Utter are located in this historic cemetery. A stop at the interpretive sites give you an idea of how the town actually looked when these larger-than-life personalities strode the downtown boardwalks. Those who want to learn more should plan a visit to the Adams Museum, with artifacts on display from Deadwood’s notorious past, a folk art collection, Lakota bead and quill work, and much more. The Adams House is a fascinating tour of a perfectly preserved mayor’s home as it stood in 1936. Or stroll through the Days of ‘76 Museum, which highlights the town’s annual award-winning rodeo celebration, along with unique western exhibits from the Don Clowser Collection. For a city-wide tour, board one of the buses which specialize in town tours; most conveniently load on Historic Main Street. Rambunctious driver-guides will tell you the whole Deadwood saga as you wind through side streets and make a low-gear climb to Mount Moriah Cemetery. You can also learn more about Deadwood at the brand new Visitor Center, opening in 2017. DEADWOOD’S GLORY ROAD Luckier than most with its proximoty to the Homestake Mine—the nation’s most productive gold mine for over 100 years—Deadwood managed to avoid the pitfalls and snares along the glory road for decades. But by the late 1980s, the ride that began as a wild and rowdy gold-fueled rampage was grinding to a halt. Lady Luck was about to fold up her hand. As the community leaders surveyed the vacant downtown, the cracked pavements and the dwindling trickle of traffic, the decision was made to deal Deadwood a new hand. Town promoters succeeded in getting a constitutional amendment to allow limited stakes gambling on the ballot, and in November 1989, voters overwhelmingly approved the measure. That big vote of confidence was based on South Dakota’s enthusiasm for protecting and preserving Deadwood’s heritage. Events like the Days of ’76 Parade and Rodeo, held every July, had kept history alive through good times and bad. Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and other legendary characters were permanent residents, with their gravestones in Mount Moriah Cemetery, high above Deadwood, an eternal reminder of the town’s remarkable place in American history. Proponents of limited stakes gambling promised to dedicate revenue to restoring and preserving this national historic treasure, as well as help fund other worthwhile preservation efforts around the region and state. With the return of gaming, Deadwood was back on a golden road – ready to make history again. Over the years, revenues from the town’s 80 gaming halls have turned Deadwood into a national template on how to restore and rejuvenate towns “with a past.” Today, the community is one of only a handful in America designated a National Historic Landmark. History is the backdrop, visible at every corner, from the Victorian homes perched on the steep slopes surrounding the downtown area to the magnificent exteriors and glittering interiors of the grand brick structures along historic Main Street. And then there are the brick-paved streets, period lighting and old-fashioned trolleys to further enhance the Old West atmosphere. A citywide, self-guided walking tour allows visitors to discover for themselves the nooks and crannies of yesteryear – the buildings, landmarks and Wild West personalities behind Deadwood’s legendary past. SPECIAL EVENTS Another sure-fire way to experience the full flavor of Deadwood is by visiting during one of its many festive celebrations held year-round. Wild Bill Days are held in June as a tribute to the man whose stay here helped build the town’s fame and fortune. Then in July, the Days of ‘76 showcase real-life cowboys, national entertainers, Old West chow, and of course, rodeos. In August, pull out your poodle skirts and fuzzy dice for Kool Deadwood Nites, a premier Deadwood event bringing thousands of car buffs to town to take part in four days of 50s and 60s music and events. Or stop by for the Deadwood Jam in September, a lively two-daylong music festival. In late October, watch Deadwood transform into “Deadweird” for an unforgettable Halloween celebration and costume party like you’ve never experienced before. Make plans to warm up in the cooler months with events like the Mardi Gras parade, St. Patrick’s Day celebration, and New Years Eve festivities.
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