Tourism industry professionals, state agencies, and other local, travel partners met for the Black Hills & Badlands Tourism Association’s annual Parks & Attractions Meeting. The focus of the meeting was to share updates for the 2025 tourism season and special events. The meeting allows travel professionals to work together to provide detailed information to visitors and enhancing the visitor experience to the region.  

Lit Swap Registration

 

Attractions 

  • 1880 Train 

    • Shootouts run from June 8 – July 27; 5 p.m. Sunday departures from the Hill City depot; advanced reservations are recommended 

    • New microphone system and mobile-friendly ticketing software 

  • Big Thunder Gold Mine 

    • New additions and upgrades include expanded dig site, sluice experience, mining tours, express panning 

    • Coffee shop and a restaurant with wild game & American cuisine 

    • Will continue to partner with "Haunting of Keystone", a major seasonal event 

  • Black Hills Balloons 

    • Sunrise flights, 1-hour duration, 20-24 capacity, champagne toast/snacks 

    • Book early; anticipate busy year; consider a backup day as flights are weather dependent  

    • Hot Air Ballon Events: Pageant Hill Balloon Launch, July 19-20, 6:30 a.m. launch; 90th Stratobowl Launch; Night Glow, TBD 

  • Black Hills Helicopters 

    • Flights near Mount Rushmore; post-flight lounge with wine/cheese 

    • Aircraft featured on Microsoft simulator HeliPad SD18 

    • Expanding to airplanes (flight instruction); Elk survey contract 

  • Museum of Geology 

    • One-time Admission: $10 adults, $5 children, discounts for military/seniors/benefits cards 

    • Expanded dinosaur materials, new exhibits, hands-on learning 

    • Memorial Day: Open 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Saturday 

    • Only use purple rack cards; blue/yellow out-of-date 

  • Outlaw Square 

    • Monday movie nights; Tuesday family programs; Wednesday free concert series 

    • Native American performances during Days of ’76 Rodeo 

    • Special events: Wild Bill Days, Deadwood Blues Fest, Days of '76, Kool Deadwood Nights, 35th Annual Deadwood Jam 

  • Petrified Forest 

    • Piedmont location; film, museum, dinosaur bones, petrified wood 

    • Trail with treasure map, piano, rock shop, outdoor wedding chapel 

    • Black Hills Blue Grass Festival—last weekend of June 

  • Reptile Gardens 

    • Major renovations: new tortoise yard, lifts for ADA; birthday party room reopened 

    • Expanded animal exhibits & virtual reality experience added 

    • Currently open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; May 23 will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Featured shows: snake, bird, alligator, parrots 

  • Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center 

    • Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Memorial Day weekend 

    • Tours from May 19 

    • Botanical Garden tours begin in June 

    • Neutrino Day July 12, Celebration of Science 

  • The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs 

    • Exhibit hall upgrades 

    • Summer dig camps (7/11, age 12+), junior paleo classes, family programs June 1–Aug. 15 

Lit Swap

 

Communities 

  • City of Box Elder 

    • Summer Community Nights: June/July; Salute to Ellsworth will be Sept 13 (formerly Patriot Day) 

    • Sponsorship/vendor opportunities for community events - contact Sean (390-9342) 

  • Custer Area Chamber 

    • Over 1,000 visitors so far; open Monday-Saturday after Memorial Day 

    • Sell Trail/Custer State Park passes 

    • Saturday Farmer’s Market, June-October 

    • Key events: June 13-15 Off-road Rally; July 4 Parade/Events; July 18-20 Gold Discovery Days; Aug. 15-16 Crazy Days; Aug. 29-31 Labor Day arts/crafts; Oct. 25 Monster Mash; Dec. 6 Christmas Parade/Shop Local 

  • Deadwood Chamber 

    • Promoting museums: Days of ’76, Adams Museum/House, Brothel Deadwood 

    • “Deadwood Alive” performances; bus tours: provide information on Deadwood in a Nutshell 

    • 23 casinos; year-round events: Hops and Hogs, Outlaw, motorcycle show, Wild Bill Days, etc. 

    • VisitWidget to promote events and Welcome Center  

  • Hill City  

    • Open Monday-Saturday starting Memorial Day weekend 

    • 1880 Train opened May 10 

    • Featured Events: Father’s Day Buffalo Love Arts Festival; July 4 Parade, live music 

    • “With the Wind” winery and Prairie Dog Taproom opening with food/live music 

  • Hot Springs 

    • Wine Walk May 23; Salute to Valor Festival with military honors/events 

    • Rockin’ Riverside Summer Concert Series (Centennial Park); live music at various locations over the summer 

    • 10th Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival 

  • Keystone 

    • Town now overseeing tourism (not Chamber); new director, website, and digital presence  

  • Lead 

    • BH Renaissance Festival at Rec Springs Resort 

    • Hidden Treasure Heritage Festival (celebrates women in mining) 

    • July 3-4 Gold Camp Jubilee (parade, pickleball, music, car show) 

    • Neutrino Days July 12 

    • Homestake Opera House: plays/music 

    • Aug 28: Quirky “Hats Off to Lead” Golf Tournament 

    • Other events: Fall Car Show, Beer Fest, Music, Art Vendors/Classes 

  • Sturgis 

    • June 7: Sturgis Battle of the Bands/Arts Festival (>80 vendors) 

    • Music on Main: June 11–Sept 3; Bike Race Series 

    • AllSturgisEvents.com—free event listings 

  • Visit Spearfish 

    • D.C. Booth open 9 a.m. -6 p.m. daily; waterpark opens Memorial Day (weather pending) 

    • Band shelter opens June 11 (Canyon Acoustic Series Wednesdays); DTFN: June 13–Aug 22 

    • July 17-19 Corvette Rally; July 18-20 Arts in the Park 

    • No construction in Spearfish Canyon this year 

 

Guided Tours & Rentals 

  • Affordable Adventure Tours 

    • 35th year; 20-passenger bus, 8-passenger vans 

    • Based in Black Hills 

  • Black Hills Tour Company 

    • Off-the-beaten-path tours, National Parks/Monuments, sunrise/sunset tours w/food 

    • Customizable tours; e-bikes on Mickelson Trail 

  • Black Hills Adventure Tours 

    • Now offering stand-alone Mount Rushmore tours; narrated, shuttle from camps/hotels  

    • Offering an Ellsworth tour for active servicemen and women since 2019; Due to partner outreach, will expand the tour 

  • Black Hills RV Rental 

    • Offering RV rentals for groups/individuals; providing a camping experience without ownership 

 

Parks, Forests & Trails 

  • Badlands National Park and Conservancy 

    • Ben Reifel & White River Visitor Centers: normal operations 

    • Evening & astronomy programs; July 18-20 Dark Skies Event 

    • Food services, paleontology lab, bison herd 

    • Fundraising for new visitor center; Dark Sky Initiative 

  • Black Hills National Forest 

    • Highway 385 access challenges—Pactola Pines/Sheridan Lake Marinas 

    • Campgrounds: May 16-22 first come, May 23 reservations (rec.gov), close Sept. 8; Southern Hills stay open for buffalo roundup 

    • Projects for Sheridan Lake, remodeling campgrounds, community involvement 

  • George S. Mickelson Trail 

    • E-bikes Class 1 permitted 

    • Fee increase: $20 annual, $5 daily 

    • Deadwood Trolley on the Trail: first Wednesdays June, July, Sept 

    • Summer Trek June 19-22; Fall Trek Sept. 18-21 

    • Trail etiquette/dog on leash signage, new Custer/Hill City signage 

    • 70–75,000 uses expected, influx of tours 

  • Jewel Cave National Monument 

    • Cave tours expand May 25: 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., 15-25 per group 

    • Reserve early (rec.gov), post tours 30-60 days out; first-come, first-serve on morning tours 

    • Free grounds/trails/exhibits/movies 

    • 125th Anniversary: events July 26, Sept. 13 (Run), Sept 20 (Historic Concert) 

  • Mount Rushmore National Memorial & Society 

    • Visitor Center movie premier May 23 (Carved in Stone) 

    • Evening Lighting Ceremony May 23; audio tours rented at Info Center 

    • June 13 Naturalization Ceremony 

    • Gift shop open at 830 Main St. in Rapid City 

  • Wind Cave National Park 

    • Elevator updates 

    • Cave tours—reserve ahead 

    • New store exhibit: Story of the Park 

    • Interpretation/campfire programs 

Lit Swap - Forest Service

 

Special Events, Facilities & Education 

  • Crazy Horse Memorial 

    • Hours will be 8 a.m.–8 p.m. starting May 7 

    • New 250-ft tower frame (May 15-17) 

    • Cultural performances begin this summer; June 7 is the Summer Volksmarch; Sept. 27 is Tatanka Day; Sept. 28 is Fall Volksmarch; 3 cans food donation for Volksmarch + $4 insurance 

    • Crane Day: new crane to aid sculpture progress; current work on horse’s mane/right shoulder 

  • Custer State Park and Resorts 

    • Passes Update: nonresident/resident (based on license plate) 

    • New Sylvan Lake trail, shoreline trail under reconstruction (closed June–Fall) 

    • Hwy 16 construction impacts; open house May 10 

    • Star Party early September (w/ SDSM&T) 

    • Buffalo Roundup 60th annual; SDPB audio tours, new additions 

    • State Game Lodge (restoration)—Mickelson Chapel moved 

    • Seeking old photos (pre-2009) of lodge/restaurant, Blue Bell  

    • Express ride: short 30-min horseback ride along creek; improved boat launchers 

    • Clubhouse Hotel open in Rapid City 

  • GF&P – South Dakota Shooting Sports Complex 

    • 400 acres, multiple shooting disciplines (shotgun, rifle, pistol, archery) 

    • Education for first-timers, women, youth, law enforcement 

    • Hunting/shooting education building (offices, classrooms, kitchen, indoor air gun/archery shooting, banquets) 

    • No membership and free entry, aside specialty areas may have fees/membership 

    • Construction began 2023, opening Oct 2025; full-time staff 

    • Events: manufacturer days, contests, 3D archery in Custer, outdoor ed campus 

    • State/local/private funding ($6M+ construction), maintenance via grants 

    • Sponsors: Contact or email John for more info. Tours by request 

    • Watch the March construction update here.

  • Sturgis Buffalo Chip 

    • Major events: Big Engine Bar Opens (June 12), Yellowstone Racing (July 18-19), Get On ADV Fest (July 17-20), Flag Racing Ceremony (July 28) 

    • July 28–Aug. 10: nightly concerts and custom motorcycle shows

    • Freedom rides, 35th annual Freedom Celebration 

    • Post-Rally: Sturgis Bronco Rally (five days); 2026 will add Jeep Freedom Fest; 2026 will be the 45th Anniversary for the Sturgis Buffalo Chip 

 

Tourism & Visitor Services 

  • Travel South Dakota 

    • Free Customer Service Seminars 

    • Partnering with GoPro/Jeep for three-day event and Rally Rush 

    • New website; focus on “605 Forever Campaign” 

    • Positive travel outlook; travel intent remains strong 

  • Visit Rapid City 

    • Visitor Services Manager: Lori; CTA Program—four-hour training 

    • Downtown Visitor Center: 9 a.m.–7 p.m. daily; Trump statue present at Visitor Center for the summer 

    • Trolley rides start May 12 (two hours, stops at Chapel in the Hills, Skyline; runs seven days/week)