HOT SPRINGS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 80 » AWARD-WINNING GOLF Squeeze in a round at the Southern Hills Golf Course , an award-winning course in one of the most beautiful settings in the Hills -an ideal location for weddings too. Back in town, the Union Depot Visitor’s Center on North River Street, combined with the paved Freedom Trail provide the starting point and main artery of a recent-ly completed trail system, including a stroll along the lush banks of the Fall River. You’ll go past a waterfall, by the Kidney Springs gazebo and within view of cen-tury-old downtown sandstone buildings. You’ll see the four-story 1893 schoolhouse, now home to the Pioneer Museum in Hot Springs, and the lovely grounds of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, which houses the Battle Mountain Museum. A short drive from town, be sure to absorb the beauty of Chautauqua Park. This outdoor sanctuary is a prized location for outdoor weddings, family gatherings and community festivals. A visit to Hot Springs promises to be the culmination BLACK HILLS & BADLANDS REGION everything: the waterslides, fun tubes, Tarzan rings, water basketball, spa tub, steam room, and saunas. MAMMOTH SITE Hot Springs is home to the world-famous Mammoth Site , the largest in situ (bones left as found) mammoth dig site contained inside a building. This American Alliance of Museums (AAM) accredited site is the final resting place for large Columbian and Woolly mammoths (61 of them!) that became trapped after sliding into a spring-fed sinkhole approximately 26,000 years ago. HORSE HISTORY At Windcross Conservancy Spanish Mustang Preserve , experience the front lines of a critical battle to save the first horse of America, the Spanish Mustang. Tours are available to take you out among the mares and foals. Also visit the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary where a herd of more than 500 horses runs free on 11,000 acres. HEIGHTS & DEPTHS A short drive south of Hot Springs will lead you to Angostura Reservoir and Recreation Area , offering crystal clear waters, 36 miles of shoreline, and some of the finest sandy beaches in the state. Along the western side of the reservoir is Sheps Canyon Recreation Area , providing great access to the boat ramp and excellent shore fishing opportunities. There’s a different wilderness experience at nearby Wind Cave National Park , one of the world’s longest caves with over 140 miles of mapped passageways filled with extensive areas of “boxwork” formations. Above ground, the park is home to abundant wildlife such as bison, elk, deer, antelope, prairie dogs and coyotes. of naturally healing waters, relaxing spa services, and invigorating outdoor recreational opportunities. • 84
South Dakota Vacation Guide SD Vacation Guide 2017: Page 84
