2019-12-20 05:16:17
A MONUMENTAL PLAYGROUND With Mount Rushmore National Memorial in its backyard, and lots of choices for shopping, restaurants, and attractions to keep visitors busy for days, Keystone is a vacation crossroads for the region. A unique way to arrive in Keystone is onboard the 1880 Train. The locomotive takes passengers for hourlong rides along its scenic and historic route between Hill City and Keystone. The train runs at least twice daily from early May to mid-October. It’s easy to spend a few extra hours in Keystone by booking an extended layover. Along Old Hill City Road you will also discover the beautiful showroom and studio at Black Hills Glass Blowers. Here you can choose from a large selection of incredible blown glass pieces to take home with you and commemorate your time in Keystone. ETCHED IN HISTORY Build time into your day to visit all three museums in town, each claiming fascinating pieces of the area’s history. The Rushmore Borglum Story focuses on the lifetime work of Gutzon Borglum and his son Lincoln, both sculptors of Mount Rushmore. The National Presidential Wax Museum displays every U.S. president in various scenes from their time in office. The intriguing history of Keystone itself is told at the Keystone Historical Museum. A favorite section features memorabilia from Carrie Ingalls, of Little House on the Prairie fame, who spent her adult life in Keystone. Enjoy both history and the outdoors by taking the free self-guided Historic Walking Tour of Keystone. Maps are available at the downtown Visitor Information Center. You won’t be able to resist stopping at Dahl’s Chainsaw Art, right on Main Street Keystone. An attraction in itself, watch as skillful artists turn “trees” into works of art that are available for purchase and can be shipped home as the ultimate souvenir. DINING If you’re hungry, there are plenty of places to dine. The Powder House Restaurant features a wide variety of options and is famous for its prime rib. Ruby House Restaurant is fashioned after an Old West bordello and serves great food without the card tables and gamblers. Or, take the Scenic Chairlift up to the Mountaintop Grille at Rushmore Tramway Adventures. Here, you can enjoy a burger or brat while taking in the stunning view of Mount Rushmore and the fantastic flower gardens nestled around a waterfall. MONUMENTAL ADVENTURES Keystone is the perfect destination for travelers looking for fun and adventure. Visitors of all ages find excitement around every corner of the town. Everyone will enjoy the wacky course at Holy Terror Mini-Golf — a fun activity for all ages. Then relax with a wine tasting, a gourmet coffee or a snack at Grapes & Grinds. If you are looking for “high” excitement, Rushmore Tramway Adventures is home to a plethora of exciting activities including a Scenic Chairlift, the Alpine Slide, a Summer Tubing Hill and an Aerial Adventure Park where you climb, crawl, and wind through the pine trees. The Pinnacle Zip Tour consists of five zip lines that span over a mile. This tour delivers both an adrenaline rush and one-of-a-kind view of the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore while guests are suspended 400 feet above the ground and moving at speeds up to 30 miles per hour. Both Black Hills Helicopters and Rushmore Helicopters provide exceptional views of Keystone and Mount Rushmore during their exhilarating aerial tours. If you are seeking refuge from the summer heat, head underground to Rushmore Cave at Rush Mountain Adventure Park, where it’s always a refreshing 58 degrees. This cave also features some of the area’s largest stalactite and stalagmite formations and has been offering guided tours for over 90 years. While there, find your inner daredevil at the Wingwalker Challenge Course, have fun on the interactive Gunslinger 7D ride, soar like an eagle on a seated zipline or take a thrilling ride on the new gravity-driven mountain coaster. Engage in Keystone’s rich mining history and take a step back in time at Big Thunder Gold Mine. On this fun and engaging tour that is handicap accessible, knowledgeable guides will entertain you with stories about the mine. If you want to experience the full impact of mining or panning for yourself, reserve a full or half-day claim tour. Once you’ve completed your tour, plan to have lunch at the Big Thunder Bar & Grille. Enjoy a quick bite on the deck or relax in the dining area inside. The restaurant serves expertly prepared wild game, featuring everything from elk to rattlesnake. Take to the Skies and come face to face with one of the greatest monuments to human ingenuity and the formative moments in America’s history on an exhilerating helicopter ride with Black Hills Helicopters or Rushmore Helicopters. Tours span from 10 to 80 minutes and can take you all over the Hills to see spectacular sights like Sylvan Lake, Needles Highway, Crazy Horse Memorial® and more. Whatever you choose to do in Keystone, it’s sure to be monumental! Underground Exploration Go deeper than the surface at Rushmore Cave mine and recapture the adventure of this bygone era with gold panning. As the doorstep to Mount Rushmore, Keystone has deep roots in U.S. history, The National Presidential Wax Museum is an interactive tour with a dedication to the rememberance of formative moments in America’s history. Here, you can walk among America’s leaders and learn about the struggles and triumphs each one encountered.
©South-Dakota. View All Articles.
KEYSTONE
https://digital.milespartnership.com/article/KEYSTONE/3561882/642122/article.html