Area businesses, attractions, tour operators, parks, and community partners gathered for the annual Parks and Attractions Meeting on Tuesday, May 5, during Travel Rally Day and National Travel and Tourism Week. The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to share timely updates, seasonal changes, and other need-to-know information that tourism professionals could take back to their own businesses and pass along to guests and visitors. With roughly 40 businesses in attendance, the session helped strengthen regional communication and support a more connected, visitor-ready Black Hills & Badlands experience heading into the summer season.

Meeting Notes

Travel South Dakota

  • 15M visitors statewide in 2025
  • Now offering 11 travel passports, including Agritourism and America 250
    • More info: travelsouthdakota.com/passports
  • Forever605 campaign live on sdvisit.com
  • Mount Rushmore fireworks: 108,000 requests, 4,800 tickets distributed
  • Rally Rush application deadline: June 3 (sdvisit.com)

Rapid City (Mayor Jason Salamun)

  • Positioning the Black Hills as a premier destination for America’s 250th
  • New year-round sports complex in development
  • Continued focus on year-round tourism
  • America’s Birthday Bash (July 1–4):
    • United States Air Force Academy Band
    • “Story of America” drone show (July 2)
    • Evening parade (July 2)
    • Brandon Jones Concert (July 3)
    • Big Screen Mt. Rushmore Fireworks Viewing Party (July 3)
    • Chancey Williams concert (July 4)
    • Rapid City Fireworks Show (July 4)
  • Airport terminal expansion underway

Visit Rapid City

  • New trolley tours: 2-hour loop departing from Rushmore Inn & Suites ($25/person)
  • New guided walking tour (with Black Hills Adventure Tours):
    • Starts at Visitor Center
    • Daily at 1:30 PM & 4:30 PM ($10/person)
  • Bundle option: trolley + walking tour ($30/person)
  • Updated presidential audio across trolley tours
  • Joe Biden statue unveiling planned for May 2027
  • Main Street Square: NEW Splash Lab featuring STEM activities for kids

Affordable Adventure Tours

  • Anticipating a busy summer season
  • Strong early bookings due to new booking systems
  • Buffalo Roundup fully booked; waitlist available

Custer State Park & Resorts

  • Park Updates:
    • Road construction on Highway 16A continues through summer (park remains open; expect delays)
    • Open House Weekend: May 15–16
    • Updated app includes real-time info, audio tours, and events
    • Weekly Monday night speaker series (Memorial Day–Labor Day)
    • Night sky/astronomy program in August
    • Buffalo Roundup & Arts Festival: Sept 25–26
  • Resort Updates:
    • Lodges opened May 1
    • Trail rides begin May 15
    • Chuckwagon cookout opens May 9
    • Mother’s Day Weekend: Wildlife Loop caravan (with bingo), crafts, trivia at Sylvan Lake Lodge
    • $100 gift card donated for Buffalo Chip Flip

The Mammoth Site

  • Summer classes begin June 1
  • Week-long dig camps available for ages 7+

Sturgis Buffalo Chip

  • Big Engine Bar opens June 8 (VIP card member perks available)
  • Jeep Freedom Event: July 2–5
  • Yellowstone Off-Road Races: July 18–19
  • 5th annual July festival (July 16–18)
  • Annual Raising of the Flags (Aug 1): 800 American flags displayed throughout the rally
  • 45th Rally Anniversary: “Best Party Anywhere”
  • Additional band announcements coming soon
  • 36th annual Freedom Celebration

City of Box Elder

  • Anticipating gradual population growth with B-21 arrival
  • Increase in new businesses and community improvements
  • Stop light at Elk Vale and Mall Drive coming soon

Custer Area Chamber of Commerce

  • ~1,000 visitors already this season
  • May begins Summer Music Program
  • Farmers Market: June–October
  • Off-Road Rally: June 12–14
  • July 4 celebration: parade, kids activities, fireworks , Wall Art Mural reveal
  • Gold Discovery Days expanded: includes kids zone, arts/crafts, balloon rally, car show, parade, quilt show
  • Studebaker Car Show
  • Autumn Volksmarch
  • Run Crazy Horse Marathon
  • Annual Christmas Parade: Dec 5

Deadwood Area Chamber of Commerce

  • Farmers Market begins June 12 (Fridays; not held during Rally)
  • Upcoming events:
    • Save Our Tails Parade: May 22
    • Back When They Bucked: May 24
  • Wild Bill Days: family-friendly with vendor fair and Father’s Day hike
  • Kool Deadwood Nights: Aug 18–23 (largest annual event)
  • Celebrating Deadwood’s 150th anniversary throughout 2026
  • More info: deadwood.com + Plan Deadwood app

Hill City Area Chamber of Commerce

  • Celebrating 150 years throughout 2026
  • May 23–24: Lumberjack Show (free; 3 shows daily + additional entertainment)
  • Activities include axe throwing, parade, dunk tank, kids activities
  • July: Star-Spangled Parade + Pie & Ice Cream Social at Visitor Center
  • September: Hill City Quilt Show
  • First week of November: Girlfriends Weekend/Fashion Show
  • Light Up Hill City:
    • Kickoff “Christmas in July” event
    • Lights on Nov 21 through New Year’s Eve

Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce

  • Visitor Center opens May 15 (train depot)
  • Salute to Valor: May 22–Memorial Day (kickoff Wine/Walk/Play event + staircase climb finale)
  • Summer concert series: May–August
  • Fall River Flight Fest (expanded offerings beyond hot air balloons)
  • America 250 celebration (July 3): picnic, duck race, fireworks, street dance

Town of Keystone

  • Visitor Center opens May 15
  • America 250 decorating contest (community voting for homes/businesses)
  • Mt. Rushmore Half Marathon: Sept 12

Lead Chamber of Commerce

  • 150th celebration in 2026
  • Gold Camp Jubilee (July 2–5):
    • July 2: Homestake Opera House
    • July 3: Rock the Hills concert, car show, family activities
    • July 4: full day of events + fireworks over the Open Cut
    • July 5: historic Deadwood/Lead baseball game (vintage rules)
  • “Fall in Love with Lead” event in September

Visit Spearfish

  • America 250 parade: July 3 at 2 PM
  • Downtown Friday Nights: begins June 12 (weekly through August, excluding Rally)
  • Black Hills Camaro Rally
  • Canyon Acoustic Series

Wall Badlands Chamber of Commerce

  • Celebrating Wall’s 150th anniversary
  • Energize Conference: May 6–7
  • 605 Day celebration in June (family-friendly activities + America 250 scavenger hunt kickoff)
  • America 250 photo-op installation planned
  • July 3 community events; Watermelon Easting Contest, Cornhole Tournament, Family Movie night, Fireworks at the Wall Gulf Course.
  • Planning July celebration: “250 Years of Freedom, 150 Years of Community”
  • Hosting Miss Rodeo USA Queen Contest

Badlands National Park & Conservancy

  • New Ben Reifel Visitor Center fully funded; construction begins 2027
  • Potential designation as an International Dark Sky Park
  • Visitor Centers:
    • Main: open daily (8 AM–4 PM)
    • White River: opens May 17 (9 AM–4 PM)
  • Cedar Pass Lodge under new operator with renovations + expanded food options
  • Ranger-led programs begin May 17
  • Astronomy Festival: July 17–19 (book lodging early)

Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

  • Summer schedule begins May 17 (open daily)
  • Delta-01 Missile Facility tours begin May 22

Black Hills National Forest

  • Pactola Visitor Center opens May 22 (daily)
  • Trails open May 15
  • OHV permits available
  • Fee increase for Motorized Trail Permits postponed until 2027
  • Moonwalk hikes scheduled June–September (various locations)
  • Pactola Campground Loop B closed ~Aug 1

George S. Mickelson Trail

  • Summer Trek in June
  • America 250 promotion: earn points/prizes through participation
  • Trail pass required ($20 annual / $5 daily)
  • Non-motorized use (Class 1 e-bikes allowed)
  • Trolly on the Trail events, June 2, July 7 and September 1.

Jewel Cave National Monument

  • Expanding to 7 days/week starting May 24
  • Peak visitation expected mid-June
  • Junior Caver Day: July 25

National Grasslands Visitor Center

  • Represents all U.S. national grasslands
  • July 11: 30th anniversary of black-footed ferret recovery (events + activities)
  • New fossil exhibit installed June 2025
  • Open Monday–Friday
  •  

Wind Cave National Park

  • Elevators are open
  • Reservations strongly encouraged (recreation.gov)
  • Open July 4

1880 Train

  • Opening Mother’s Day weekend (special gift for mothers)
  • Sunday Shootout Trains begin June 7 (through June & July)
  • Bookings trending higher than previous years
  • New ownership effective May 8

Big Thunder Gold Mine

  • Claim tour relocated for improved accessibility
  • Pet-friendly attraction
  • Rushmore Heritage Days: Aug 21–22

Black Hills Playhouse / Theatre 605

  • Celebrating 80 seasons
  • Summer lineup includes:
    • The Complete History of America (Abridged) – June 7
    • 1776 – July 4 (matinee)
    • Come From Away – July 19
    • Additional productions through August

Dinosaurs of Hell Creek Museum

  • 1-year anniversary: May 23
  • Summer dig tours (May–September)
  • America 250 programming + additional seasonal events

Fly Badlands

  • Open daily (weather permitting)
  • 10% off with code “MOMSDAY”
  • Online booking + walk-ins available

Museum at Black Hills Institute

  • New national history museum planned (opening June 4, 2027), previously the Prairie Berry Winery.
  • Trivia fundraiser: June 5, 2026
  • On-site lodging available
  • Current downtown location will transition to a showcase space

National Presidential Wax Museum & Holy Terror Mini Golf

  • Self-guided audio tours + new scavenger hunt for kids
  • Mini golf opens May 12

Outlaw Square

  • Turf open
  • Calamity’s Climb rock wall opens week of May 11
  • First Summer Kickstart Concert: May 22
  • Summer Vendor & Pop-Up Market
  • July 4 parade + live music (5–7 PM)
  • July 20, Brul’e

Petrified Forest

  • Located 15 minutes north of Rapid city, and 15 minutes south of Sturgis
  • Opened publicly in 1929 the Petrified Forest of the Black Hills is one of the largest out-cropping of fossilized petrified wood in the area
  • Open: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sunday 11-1 walking tour only / 2-5pm full park open
  • Host Wedding/Events
  • Rock Shop

Reptile Gardens

  • 89th season
  • Full summer programming begins May 22
  • Orville’s 121st birthday: June 30
  • New agriculture animal shelter expected completion March 2027

Black Hills Adventure Tours

  • Celebrating 21 years
  • 7–15 passenger vans available
  • Private/custom tours (hiking, biking, kayaking)
  • Partnering with Visit Rapid City on new walking tour

Black Hills Tour Company

  • Biking tours (Badlands NP, Mickelson Trail)
  • Mt. Rushmore lighting ceremony tours
  • Sunset + night sky experiences

Signature Black Hills Tours

  • Private guided tours (2–6 guests)
  • Four tour options available
  • $100 off VIP card promotion