WALL DRUG, THE BADLANDS AND CORN PALACE

July 20

WALL DRUG, THE BADLANDS and CORN PALACE 

As we leave this morning and we look back at  Mt. Rushmore area, this is the view in our rear view mirror.

We drive the hour to Wall and the much anticipated Wall Drug Store.  Such an interesting story as the family chose to open a drug store near the I 90 and were disappointed when no one was stopping.  By lining the road with signs in a Burma Shave type of approach, they offered free ice water to bring in the travelers off the hwy.  It worked and from there they continued to build to what today has become their very huge Mall Like establishment now containing two restaurants, drug store, a clothing,  chapel, sporting goods store, a rock store, toys, etc etc etc.  They are still selling 5c coffee and serve 9000 glasses of free ice water a day.

THE BADLANDS! so worth the side trip.  There is a loop that can be done in one hour but that would mean not stopping at the turn outs, or at the the observation points and the multiple opportunities to marvel at what the Lakota Indians call Land Bad because of it’s extreme temperatures, lack of water and rugged terrain. Much later... We called it amazing:

  

Our next “ball of string” side trip was in Mitchell to see the Corn Palace.  Not knowing exactly what it would be we would see, we have to admit it wasn’t much! A venue used for local concerts, high school basket ball games and the prom..it was a place to buy popcorn (carmel corn) and take a few quick pictures.  Our favorite part of the town, as small and uneventful as it was, is that we hit a detour and needed to make a turn on 413th Avenue.  We thought the fact that this town had a 413th Avenue in itself was funny.  It was either someone’s hopes for great things or a great sense of humor. 

Finally after a time change (again) we arrived in Sioux Falls and grabbed dinner at Cracker Barrel.  We just had too…

Here we completely unpacked the car…organization was a must, we’ve been growing along the way (us and the car) and look like the Beverly Hillbillies (hence the Cracker Barrel dinner). Whose idea was this to pack so much in a Prius? Good news, we’ve driven 2000 plus miles and only spent $76 on gas.

Next…Des Moines…family and celebrating!