Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Deadwood, South Dakota
Our Tourist Attractions Expert Says:
Deadwood, South Dakota is a great destination for a true "wild west" adventure. The restored casino town is named for the dead trees found in its deep V-shaped valleys. There are 80 active gambling halls and casinos in the town, all with a frontier-type feeling with 1880s-style architecture.
The casinos in the area, many of which are open 24-hours, are a main attraction, but there are many other options for entertainment. For those who enjoy all things classic, make sure to visit Boondock's 1950s theme park and original 1950's diner. The park has vintage cars, rides, gifts, movie memorabilia and a Studebaker museum. And what would any wild west park be without offering its visitors the opportunity to have costumed photos taken? If you love cars, motorcycles and movies you have to visit Nelson's Garage Car and Motorcycle Museum. It's free and located downtown in the Celebrity Hotel. You will see James Bond's Aston Martin, Magnum P.I.'s Ferrari, Herbie, Smokey and the Bandit Trans AM and more. The fun continues at Gulches of Fun Resort, the area's largest fun park and arcade with mini-golf, bumper boats, go-carts and rides for kids. There is a casino nearby, so parents often leave their kids to play while they enjoy more mature entertainment.
In addition to entertainment, Deadwood is a national historic landmark. Authentic replicas of turn-of-the-century street lamps light the way through streets with carefully restored architecture. If you are a die-hard Wild West fan you will love reliving the trial and hanging of Wild West's bad-boy assassin, Jack Mcall. All of main street is the stage for this drama, complete with gun fire and galloping horses. The highly charged trial is re-enacted nightly in the Masonic Temple, next to the Silverado Casino.
To get a feel for the history of Deadwood, visit some of the museums in the area. The Days of '76 Museum features Native American and Old West artifacts. It presents a history of Deadwood from 1923 onward, and features a collection of over 50 authentic horse-drawn carriages, rodeo photographs, artifacts and costumes. The museum is open to the public six months a year. The Deadwood's Adam Museum was built by pioneer businessman W.E. Adams in 1930 as a memorial to his family and to honor the early pioneers that settled the Black Hills. The museum is housed in an elegant Victorian mansion built in 1892, and bears witness to the story of two 19th century families, revealing a cultured lifestyle not commonly associated with the American West. Tours are available. Visit Tatanka, and hear the story of the Bison in North America. You will see a larger than life bronze sculpture featuring 14 bison pursued by three Native American Horseback Riders. There's also a hands-on interpretive center, a Native American gift shop and a snack bar.
There are several options for narrated tours around Deadwood, including an hour long, narrated open-air bus tour. You can also learn about gold rush history, take a mining tour and visit graves of some of the city's most notorious members. Boot Hill in the Mount Moriah Cemetery is where infamous Deadwood residents like Wild Bill Hickock, Calamity Jane and other legendary characters are buried. The cemetery also offers magnificent views, above Deadwood to the top of Mount Roosevelt. A rock tower erected there in honor of Teddy Roosevelt is another free and interesting thing to see, and is only a short drive up Deadwood Hill. The Centennial Valley panorama from the monument is also very impressive.
More than the final resting place of famous outlaws, Mount Moriah is the beginning of several steep trails leading to Deadwood's Brown Rocks and White Rocks. In addition to these paths, best tempted only by experienced hikers, there are numerous other trails for hiking, mountain biking, climbing and horse back riding. Black Hills National Forest is a great place to start, with its buffalo herds, gorgeous lakes, great rock climbing, scenic hikes and a myriad of other experiences. Several man-made lakes, including Sheridan Lake, are good for fishing and swimming. Spearfish Canyon to the north has many places to rock climb.
The autumn hunting season is enhanced by gorgeous fall colors. You may get a glimpse of a variety of native wildlife including deer, buffalo, elk, woodchucks, squirrels, raccoons, coyotes, wild turkey, muskrat, or beaver, and if you're extremely lucky, you can see one of the American Bald Eagles that call the Hills home. Winter brings opportunities for skiing, sledding and snowmobiling. There are hundreds of miles of groomed snowmobile trails in the upper Black Hills, and many guest ranches and resorts rent snowmobiles. There's free parking for snowmobiles and trailers at the Sherman Street parking lot.
Most of the restaurants, cafes and bistro's in Deadwood are located on Maine and Sherman streets, and serve Mexican, steak, seafood and American-style fare. For accommodations, you can choose from hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts, condos, cabins, lodges, resorts and campgrounds. The Bullock Hotel, with early 20th-century decor complemented by modern amenities, is a great choice. The hotel offers 24-hour gambling, a full-service bar and a quaint restaurant called Bully's. For a special treat, upgrade to one of the jacuzzi suites.
Deadwood is in Western South Dakota, 30 miles northwest of Rapid City, where the nearest airport is located. There is frequent shuttle service available between the airport and town. Trolleys run at regular intervals between all hotels, motels and other key stops throughout Deadwood, making it a very easy city to navigate.