Creating a Maze of Activity

Wall, South Dakota is home to the “geographical center of nowhere”. During our Epic Road Trip, we marked this stop as a good break after our visit to Badlands National Park. It was still early enough that the town hadn’t fully opened. That was okay with us, as we had visited Wall Drug with our kids on a previous trip. The memories of that stop had faded, so we were surprised to be reminded of the size of this unique attraction. No longer focusing on merely being a drug store, this place has expanded to include just about anything a traveler would want.

Corner the Market

This oversized tourist attraction has its claim to fame tied to ice water. You can imagine those early travelers becoming road weary on their drive across the plains. Dorothy’s idea was to offer “free ice water” to fatigued tourists. Of course, you have to get the word out for an idea to work. They did this by incorporating signs placed all along the routes that lead to Wall. Before long, the billboards would be found for hundreds of miles in all directions. They have also incorporated the use of free bumper stickers, which act as traveling billboards. By the time we made our first visit to Wall Drug, they were claiming that 200,000 cups of water were being dispensed annually.

Take It Outside

As times have changed, the owners have had to adapt to retain their corner of the market. Knowing that many of their visitors have children in tow, they have worked to increase the options that are family-friendly. The addition of the “Backyard” area are geared toward experiences for kids of all ages. Guests will find an arcade, fossil shop, kid’s store, and they can even pan for gold or gemstones. We discovered there are also plenty of opportunities for some interesting selfies.

Quick Break from the Road

Our Epic Road Trip was well into the second day and we were finding plenty of unusual stops to explore. Wall Drug has plenty to offer travelers looking for a break from the road. While we didn’t need the services of the on-site restaurants, we did enjoy perusing the shops. We even found some souvenirs from other stops that we had overlooked. That alone made this stop a win for us. Even if you aren’t looking for anything to add to your purchases, it’s still a fun place to take in. You can also grab a free cup of ice water to quench your thirst.

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Dignity Personified

Our goal was to make it to the Missouri River. It was a little surreal to think we had driven so far to wind back up at the same waterway that runs through our hometown. Just before making it to the shores of the “Big Muddy”, we spotted one last rest stop. This one was quite a bit different from the ones we have previously visited. It is home to Dignity of Earth and Sky. This 50-foot statue is adorned with 128 diamond-shaped panels that represent the surrounding landscape that is all around. It was erected in honor of the Native Tribes who called this region home. As we stood at the pavilion, we could see the river running in the distance and knew we were close to the end of our day.

First Things First

After a solid rest, we made an early start for Day 2. We were facing another 500+ miles day, so we left our hotel before daybreak. We started by locating some coffee, a requirement for successful exploring, in our opinion. Our first attraction was a couple of hours down the road. The slow-rolling hills belied the natural beauty that was just beyond the horizon. We arrived at Badlands National Park just as the sun was rising. Before we could relish in a South Dakota sunrise, clouds rolled in and filled the sky. This added a layer of gray to the brown and tan landscape.

Alien Landscape

Being from Kansas, we are well educated on the idea that the Great Plains were home to oceans in past eras. Layer upon layer of sediment built up the height of the land. fast-forward millenniums and the waters had receded leaving behind the open plains. Now the action of erosion took over and began carving the valleys through the land. It is easy to believe this place is part of some alien landscape. Looking out over the various hills and peaks leaves a feeling of awe.

The Original “Wall”

The Loop Road (Highway 240) is the main pathway for motor vehicles to pass through the park. There are about a dozen major pull-offs along the way and each offers a unique vantage point. At various stops, we found signage that gave some insight into this natural attraction. The one above speaks on the Wall, which is the heart of Badlands National Park. Seeing the 1920s vehicles navigating the frontier reminded us of the adventures enjoyed by those who came before us.

Healthy Hikes

To truly experience the badlands, we suggest getting out of your car and into the park. There are a number of trails that offer up-close looks at the alien landscape. The park department has built some raised deck walks that are accessible to a wide range of visitors. There are other trails that require more vigorous exertion. Whatever your skill level, you’ll find ways to get closer to nature.

Surprising Sightings

Making an early morning visit opened up the window for wildlife viewing. Even though our visit was in late August, a cool wind was blowing in from the northwest. That didn’t prevent some of the local residents from getting out for a morning meal. Our hope was to spot a few different species since there is an impressive number that calls the Badlands home. With traffic on our tail, we missed a chance to capture images of some Bighorn Sheep. In the end, it was this one lonely deer who made it in front of our camera lens.

Loving the Badlands

Our last visit to this area had been way back in the early 1990s. At that time, we were making memories with our kids in tow, so this couple’s trip was a bit different. Time has had its effects on us, just as it has on the alien landscape of Badlands National Park. We feel that we’ve held up pretty well, but then so has this landscape. We hope you have a chance to visit this national treasure and see the natural beauty for yourself. It was the perfect way to start our day.

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Cornering the Market

Way back in the late 1800s, many cities across the Great Plains were looking for ways to promote their fertile lands. The invention of the crop palace soon allowed the towns and cities to showcase the local crops. Usually, these would consist of grains and corn. The goal was to attract more farmers to their community. These structures would often be multi-purpose arenas that served as community centers. The Mitchell Corn Palace was constructed in 1892. The original wooden building was replaced in 1905 and again in 1919. The current structure represents the “World’s Only Corn Palace” left in existence.

Corn You Believe It?

Each year the Corn Palace hosts a festival to celebrate their annual redecoration. As luck would have it, our trip landed us in Mitchell on the weekend of their 100-year celebration. Even with a swollen crowd, we were able to find parking nearby the heart of the action. The Mainstreet that runs in front of the palace was filled with carnival rides and vendors. We passed by the rides, but explored the various items being offered up by the vendors. You never know when you’ll spot the perfect souvenir to remind yourself of this historic stop.

Stalking the Mitchell Corn Palace

You can see by our photos that the Mitchell Corn Palace is decked out with amazing murals. The surprising feature is that all of these creations are made with corn, grains, and native grasses. Each year they start from scratch and design new murals based on the designated theme. We learned that there are 12 different colors and shades of corn. We never realized there were that many options. The ears are split in half and nailed in place to create these amazing scenes.

Extensive History

Walking around the corner of the building, we discovered a large patio area. This side of the structure has more murals to view, as well as offering some history about the palace. They even had a stage set up for local musicians to entertain the crowds. Late August, in South Dakota, offers the perfect weather for outdoor adventures. We would have loved to spend some time soaking up the tunes and sunshine, but our Epic Road trip still had a schedule.

Popping Inside the Corn Palace

There was no way that we were going to skip a chance to see the inside of the Mitchell Corn Palace. Stepping through the front doors, we found ourselves in a large foyer. Here they have more historical information about the structure and the annual event. They also showcase some of the other artistic pieces that have been created with corn. We noticed a large staircase, and curiosity got the best of us. It led us to the entrance to a large arena, where staff members were preparing for some evening entertainment. We also discovered more murals, as well as photos from past years. What a fun tradition.

We’re All Ears

The Mitchell Corn Palace was certainly a one-of-a-kind stop. With three attractions under our belt, in the first day, we were on our way to building an amazing multi-state itinerary. There have been many road trips that encompass multiple states, but this one was going to rival our travels along Route 66. Mixing together natural and man-made attractions was giving us a great cross-section of America. As we wrapped up the late afternoon of our first day, we made our way back out onto the open road. Our lodging was still an hour down the highway and we didn’t want to miss the last hours of daylight, just in case there was some unmarked attractions along the way.

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Remnants from a Glacier

We were staring down a 4500-mile journey that would be completed in 11 days. This only allowed us enough time for one stop in most destinations. Our research told us that if you can only see one thing, in Sioux falls, it has to be Falls Park. With 128-acres to explore, we wouldn’t even have enough time to explore all of it. Time to focus. We rolled into town and headed straight for the riverfront park. Our first view told us that we were in for an amazing experience. It’s no secret that we love waterfalls, and Falls Park has quite the collection.

Ice Age Creation

This Ice Age Creation most likely began as a fairly straight and wide channel that carried water south toward the Gulf. The glaciers would carve into the underlying rock. Melting would carry the sediment downstream and expose more rock. This process would repeat itself for hundreds of years. While erosion continues to alter the Big Sioux River, these days it is not as severe. With about 7400 gallons of water per second passing through the area, the forces can be heard as well as seen.

Dining with a View

Our original schedule had us eating an early lunch during our stop in Sioux City, Iowa. As often happens during our travels, we found ourselves ahead of the timeline. Since our second stop was only an hour away, we decided to wait to eat. This ended up being a wise decision, as we discovered that the Falls Overlook Cafe was open for business. Traveling during the pandemic, we had found a mixed bag of restrictions across the country. In Sioux Falls, they were requiring masks and limiting visitors to outside dining. Facing beautiful weather and amazing views, we were more than happy to comply.

Queen Bee Mill

The first humans to discover this geological wonder would have been indigenous native tribes. It is estimated that they arrived in this area about 11,000 years ago. Artifacts suggest that most were hunter/gatherers, but cultivation was also occurring. Arrowheads point to origins from the southwest, and we had previously learned that the flint mined at Alibates Quarry was traded among tribes all across the middle part of the continent. Remnants of the huge burial mounds were discovered high above the banks of the Big Sioux River. Sometime in the late 1600s, nomadic buffalo hunters from the Lakota and Dakota tribes found their way to this scenic spot. These days, there are nine tribal lands in the state of South Dakota.

Ruins from Days Gone By

When Europeans heard about the wonders of this region, it was a foregone conclusion that they would arrive. It is probable that some had come before, but the earliest mention that I could find was by Lewis and Clark. In August 1804, they describe a visit to the falls of the “Soues River”. In the 1850s, Fort Dakota was erected nearby. The power of the waters beckoned speculators to designate the area prime for a settlement. The Queen Bee Mill was built and began operation in the early 1880s. The falls proved a worthy adversary and the business closed in a couple of years. A fire in 1956, left the ruins that can still be viewed today.

Picturesque Exploration

This Ice Age creation has become the number one attraction for Sioux Falls. The park allows for plenty of amazing views. We crossed the bridge over the falls numerous times during our visit. Seeing others climbing among the rocks, we were drawn into a closer look. Walking along the edge gave us a perspective different from afar. We wandered among the native plants and found some viewpoints overlooked by others. There was even time enough for a climb up the 50-foot tower that is home to the visitor center. From there, we could witness how the Big Sioux River winds its way through the craggy rocks below.

Break from the Road

Stop number two, along our Epic Road Trip, was another marvelous find. Knowing that we would need various breaks along our 4500-mile journey, it was exciting to see the places we had been dreaming about for weeks. All of the planning may be tedious, but when a plan comes together it is worth all of the effort. As we sat along the banks of the falls, we were reminded how fortunate we are to live in a country filled with so many wonders. The road was beckoning to us, but we wanted to soak in a few more minutes of the grandeur of Sioux Falls.

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