This time of year is one of the best to see wildlife in the Black Hills. The weather is cooler, the traffic is less and the animals are often much more active. My favorite animals to see in the area are the mountain goats – they often remind me of bearded old men, but I digress.

Recently I was driving on highway 244, the back way up to Mount Rushmore, and came upon one of the resident goats just hanging out enjoying the day.

As I drove on I started wondering about how the mountain goats came to be in the area – whether they are natives to the Black Hills or just transplants from other areas. The truth seems to lie somewhere in between.

I called down to Custer State Park today and was told an interesting story about the mountain goats. Back in the mid 1920’s a small zoo was created in the park -  near where the Shorty Ellerton picnic area sits today.

Some caves were blasted into the granite and cages were built. The area became home to several Rocky Mountain goats, 5 adult bears (one with a cub), a moose from Yellowstone, coyotes, wolves, porcupines and all types of waterfowl. The zoo was maintained as a tourist attraction in the park until 1970. At that time the zoo was closed and the park began to focus more on the natural wildlife plan for the area.

Details are a bit fuzzy, but somewhere along the way, during the early days of the zoo, 6 of the mountain goats pulled a Houdini and escaped from their cages, along with one of the resident bears. The bear was quickly contained, but the goats headed for the hills – literally. They were never recovered and became the foundation for the goats that exist today in Custer State Park.

Over the years, other mountain goats have been brought in to South Dakota from herds in Colorado. Today, the animals can most often be seen around Mount Rushmore, Harney Peak or elsewhere in the Needles/Cathedral Spires area.

As Paul Harvey used to say, “Now you know the rest of the story.”

The Lodge at Deadwood opened with a bang — or should I say a bash — on Saturday night. The new resort hosted the Deadwood 20th Anniversary of Gaming and Preservation on Saturday night. It was an intimate little sit-down dinner for 700 people.

But everything went off without a hitch. The facilities were deluxe. The food was good. The mood was downright euphoric.

The event was to celebrate the 20 years since gaming became legal in Deadwood, a major turning point for Deadwood.  Gaming touched off an incredible spate of investment, both in historic buildings and in city infrastructure, and created for Deadwood a whole new industry.

In 1989, Deadwood was a dying town with few prospects. Retail was being taken over by the Rushmore Mall in Rapid City. Mining was playing out. And summer tourism alone wasn’t enough to sustain the kind of historic preservation and reconstruction that Deadwood needed.

Legalized casino gambling was a novel idea. At the time, it hadn’t been done outside of Nevada and Atlantic City. The Deadwood You Bet Committee began advancing the idea of legal gaming to fund historic preservation as early as 1986. Despite long political odds, they pulled it off.

The Lodge at Deadwood is a good example of what that industry has helped create. The 140-room hotel, with a convention center large enough to seat 1,700 people, a modern casino and an upscale restaurant, will bring in new kinds of visitors to the Black Hills. You’ll likely see more conventions and conference, ski trippers and upscale travelers.

And the Lodge at Deadwood is indeed upscale. We took a tour of the water park, the Presidential Suite and other rooms in the hotel. It’s pretty nice. I’m attaching a collection of photos to give you a bit of an idea.

[View with PicLens]

It’s that time of year in the Black Hills when blaze orange caps and vests are a common sight – deer hunting season. The deer season in the Black Hills began on November 1 and runs through the end of the month.

Hunters wanting to participate in the Black Hills deer season have to submit an application by a July deadline and are then chosen using a lottery system by South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks. Hunters clamor to be chosen for the Black Hills deer season since the more than 2.3 million acres of forest are home to some of the state’s most sought after animals.

In 2008, there were more than 9,000 deer tags granted for the Black Hills season. With the potential for several thousand hunters in the area this November, there comes a shared responsibility between them and other outdoor enthusiasts.

More often than not, hunters will be deeper into the forest than hikers, mountain bikers and the like. However, it is important for all of us, whether hunting or not, to be aware of our surroundings this fall.

State policy requires hunters to wear some article of bright orange clothing. It’s a good idea for those participating in other activities to follow suit. No matter the activity, bright colors will make you more visible in the forest this fall.

One of my favorite ways to think of the Black Hills is as a giant, outdoor playground. It provides recreation activities for so many different people with such a variety of interests. With a little education and some caution, Black Hills visitors and residents alike should all be able to enjoy a safe and active fall season in the great outdoors.

When visiting the Black Hills, there are certain things that tend to be on everyone’s “must do” list. For most, that includes: visit Mount Rushmore, take your picture with a giant tortoise at Reptile Gardens and see the buffalo in Custer State Park.

Another popular spot in the park, near Custer, is called the needle’s eye. It’s a crazy rock formation that is the product of millions of years of erosion, or an alien art project – whichever you’re more inclined to believe. One look and you’ll know how it got its name.

The needle’s eye is located just southeast of Sylvan Lake, along Highway 87. It’s well worth the stop next time you’re in the area. The eye itself is plenty interesting, but give yourself more than just a few minutes for this stop; there’s much more to see.

Directly across the road from the needle’s eye formation is an area perfect for some rock scrambling. Just start climbing up and in towards the right and you’ll find some really interesting areas. If you explore high enough and far enough, you’ll be rewarded with some incredible views of the southern Black Hills.

One of my favorite views in all of the region is tucked away up here. This area across from the needle’s eye is not a long hike, doesn’t require any special equipment and often goes overlooked by many visitors. So, park your car, explore the area and I bet you’ll be amazed by what you find.

Artist Jerry Green of Bear Rock Wood Work in Custer does some amazing things with wood lathe.

He started out as an automotive machinist, but got into woodworking in 1980. He began making furniture, contrasting different woods and creating pieces that features simple designs and straight lines.

But after a visit to a Santa Fe gallery, Green focused on the lathe as his primary creative tool. Many of his pieces combine the precise geometry of lathe work with the organic shapes untrimmed edges of natural wood. Other pieces are inlaid with gemstones, metals or contrasting woods to highlight the beauty of the wood itself.

Green will present a special show of his work at the Dakota Nature & Art Gallery in Hill City on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. He will present dozens of vases, lidded vessels, pots, small platters and other pieces at the show. The gallery is located at 216 Main St. in Hill City.

Here in the Black Hills we’ve only had a hint of winter weather, but for many of us, it’s been enough to get us excited about the winter sports season. I know that for me, the first flakes of snow got me excited to get out to the ski hills and ride the fresh powder.

Although we have a few weeks before the local ski resorts open, this Saturday is a great time to pick up some new gear. The annual Black Hills Ski Swap is this Saturday, November 7, at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City.

The event is a fundraiser hosted by the non-profit Ski for Light organization. Ski for Light is a regional group that facilitates outdoor and recreation activities for participants who are visually or physically impaired.

The ski swap is a huge consignment sale for both new and gently used gear. Outdoor enthusiasts from throughout the Black Hills will bring ski and snowboard gear on Friday evening and early Saturday morning. Then, on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. the event is open to the public, garage-sale style.

Last year was my first year attending the ski swap; I was amazed at how much top-of-the-line gear was up for sale. There were skis and snowboards, helmets and gloves, poles and goggles. You name it – chances are it was for sale somewhere amongst the tables full of items.

There are some ridiculously good deals to be had at the event. Last year I snagged a pair of killer skis and bindings that had only been used for a season or two and were in immaculate shape. The price I paid was well below retail and I knew that I was contributing to a good cause in the process. Win-win situation for all.

So, gather up your snow gear and head to Rapid City this weekend for the ski swap. Great gear, great people, great cause. I’ll see you there.

It was a wild morning in Deadwood! Wild Bill Hickok and friends appeared on Main Street with guns-a-blazin’ to kick off the Deadwood 20th celebration. This week marks the 20th anniversary of legalized gambling in the Old-West town and is full of special events.

This morning’s kick-off celebration was a re-enactment of the original launch of gambling that took place exactly twenty years ago, November 1989. Back in the early 1980’s the town of Deadwood was on the verge of disaster as its buildings were in ruins, jobs were scarce and its water system needed serious attention.

Residents in the community knew that some kind of an economic revival was needed, but weren’t sure what that would be. The idea of legal gaming had been tossed around by area business leaders, but faced serious opposition from others. A group of supporters called the “Deadwood You Bet” committee had formed and was leading the charge to legalize gaming.

Then, in December 1987, a monster of a fire started in one of the town’s cherished historic buildings. Deadwood’s water supply system was grossly inadequate to save the building, ultimately leaving it nothing more than a pile of rubble. The realization set in that the town and all of its history would continue to die a slow death if no change was made.

The stark reality of the situation was enough to prompt the Deadwood You Bet committee to step up its efforts. Long story, short – through their hard work and the efforts of thousands of other supporters, gaming was eventually approved by a public vote. On November 1, 1989, the first slot-machine handles were pulled and the first cards dealt.

Gambling continues to bring in millions of dollars in revenue each year and has provided historic preservation funds to restore countless buildings in Deadwood and across South Dakota.  This week is full of speakers and special events as a celebration of its twenty years of undeniable success.

There’s always something new to discover here in the Black Hills. Even though I live and work here, I’m always learning about something new and surprising in the area. Yesterday, I heard about something right here in Deadwood that I never would have expected – a huge model train display.

I had a tough time imagining what it would look like, among all of the gambling halls and Old-West history in Deadwood, so I had to go check it out for myself. Hidden discreetly under Deadwood’s Main Street, just below the Lucky Nugget Gambling Hall, is the home of the Northern Hills Railway Society.

The society is a group of local railway enthusiasts and historians who have created the most impressive model train set-up I’ve ever seen. This thing is amazing! It takes up an entire room, has more than 50 locomotive engines and 400+ other train cars.

The display is surprisingly detailed and realistic as it houses replicas of actual railroad lines that have crossed South Dakota and the Black Hills region. Among the rail lines shown are the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern (DM&E).

Lining the walls around the display are photos of old railway cars and descriptions of historic South Dakota rail lines. It is sort of like a museum of regional rail history, that just happens to have this enormous model train set as a feature.

It’s a free attraction and definitely suitable for the whole family. It is open to view during all hours – just head in the front doors of the Lucky Nugget and ask about the model trains. The staff will direct you downstairs to the Northern Hills Railway Society’s display.

The society members meet on Wednesday and Saturday mornings to work on the display and often run the rail cars during that time. If you go, be sure to take a few quarters because if none of the members are there, you can still drop a couple of coins in the slot and watch the trains run for several minutes.

It’s a very cool attraction and I hope you all get the chance to see it next time you’re in Deadwood.

For years residents and visitors have been entertained by feeding the ducks and geese at Canyon Lake Park in Rapid City. I’ve fed the birds too and it’s always a fun activity for those who do. But, it sounds like the fun might soon end.

South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks recently told Rapid City administrators that they will need to begin enforcing a ban on feeding the waterfowl at Canyon Lake Park. The lake has become overpopulated with ducks and geese and the city has been looking for a solution.

The city has suggested eliminating a certain number of the birds, but GF&P won’t approve a kill permit unless the city also bans feeding the birds. Officials with GF&P have said that they’re not willing to allow the city to kill birds, while at the same time allowing people to feed them and continue to attract them to the park.

The idea of a feeding ban at Canyon Lake came about because of concerns that the birds were beginning to present both health and safety hazards to park visitors. I’ve personally seen some of the large geese get fairly agressive with humans, but can’t quite decide what I think of the possible options here.

Back in December 2007 when a count was made, there were more than 1,400 Canada geese and almost 1,200 mallard ducks at Canyon Lake Park. It does sounds like a lot of birds for an area of that size.

Many Black Hills residents who are in the habit of feeding the birds are understandably upset that they might be fined for feeding them in the future. Rapid City officials have discussed possible fines from $25 all the way up to $500. Now, a $500 fine for feeding some ducks some old hot dog buns sounds a bit steep to me, but I personally doubt it will get to that point.

What do you think – should Rapid City ban feeding the waterfowl in the city or is there a better solution? Let the suggestions begin.

Today in the Black Hills we’re bracing for a major winter storm, but it was just a few short weeks ago that the fall colors were in their full glory. We got a great reminder of the colors this morning from the folks out at Spearfish Canyon Lodge.

They sent us the photo shown above, which was taken by hiker Craig Mickelson this fall. There are several different routes you can take to get a view similar to this from the rim of Spearfish Canyon.

One of the shortest, but probably more technical routes to the rim is from an area known as 11th Hour Gulch. Just north of the lodge a few miles are two enormous boulders touching each other in Spearfish Creek. They are each about the size of a small house and are called the “kissing rocks.”

Directly across the road from the kissing rocks is a well-worn hiking trail that leads into 11th Hour Gulch, and eventually up to the rim of the canyon. There is some serious scrambling required up and over rocks, trees and even man-made ladders, but the view from the top is well worth the effort.

A much less technical, but longer path to the canyon rim is is the ‘76 trail up to a lookout area called Buzzard’s Roost. The ‘76 trailhead is just across from the Spearfish Canyon Lodge parking lot. It is 3/4 of a mile to the lookout area and ascends 1,000 feet from the canyon floor up to the top. The ‘76 trail is quite steep in places, but can be completed by most hikers.

With the exception of a few private property areas, most of the canyon is public forest service land, so you can literally park your car and start hiking. Between all of the crystal clear streams and the constantly eroding limestone cliffs, Spearfish Canyon is an absolute mecca for hikers. Get out and explore it – there are beautiful views just waiting to be found.