FAMIL-E-FUN CAMPGROUND, MITCHELL, SD – Camp 19

After our brief stay in Wall, SD we headed more to the east to another destination we had enjoyed so much in 2006.  Our destination was Mitchell,SD.  

Our chosen campground this trip was Famil-E-Fun Campground. 

We enjoyed our stay there.  The couple running the park were friendly and helpful.  The facilities were all clean and well maintained.

There was free wi-fi in the laundry room that extended to the benches outside of the laundry room.  The park manager guided us to our spot where we were able to pull thru with ease.  Complete hook-ups with 50 amp service were the order of the day.  Once discounts and taxes were included our rate was $27.50 per night for the four nights we were there.

It was a little more than the national and state parks, but then it had more to offer.  We felt the rate was reasonable for the accommodations.

The sites are set up where they are double front to back sites, but during the off season they park only one rig per site, which makes it a pull thru.

Once again we were greeted with a beautiful sunset.  It seemed like everyone in the campground was out snapping photos of it.

There were three sites we wanted to visit in the area.  The Laura Ingalls Wilder Homestead, the Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village, and of course the Corn Palace.

We had previously visited the last two in 2006, but enjoyed them so much we decided to visit them again.  Of course they will each get their own write up to help keep this post from being too long.

All three were an easy drive from Famil-E-Fun Campground.  The expressway get on is not far from the campground, but traffic noises were not a problem.  It worked out to be the perfect four night stay spot for us while we were there.

If we should venture to Mitchell again we both agree that this would probably be the place we would stay. 

CORN PALACE, MITCHELL, SD

In 2006 when we were planning our trip north a friend of our son’s, Heather, said we absolutely had to go see the Corn Palace, and so we did.  We were fascinated by the art work on the building both then and now.

The art work is unique for two reasons:

11.     It changes from year to year with a different theme.

22.     It is all done with corn, grasses and grains that are individually placed on the murals.

So naturally we had to go back to see what the 2016 theme was and how they had interpreted it.  “Rock of Ages” was the theme.  When you view the photos I think you will be able to recognize all the artists they saluted.

The very first salute was an unexpected one when we went to park in a parking lot nearby.  We have never seen such a parking spot in all our travels, but felt honored for Gary to be able to park there in a choice parking spot due to his Viet Nam service.

The inside of the Corn Palace also has corn, grass and grain murals, as well as a lot of historical information with photos of all the murals from days gone by.  Even the pillars in the lobby are tiled to look like corn.

The Corn Palace is not just a showplace for the unique artwork it possesses, it is an arena where live performances and basketball take place.  I am not a sports fan so I can’t tell you the exact name of the team that was playing that night, but I did like their spirit equipment.  I’m thinking it is probably the Vikings, but then what do I know.

I do know they had several big name stars scheduled to do live performances throughout the remaining part of the year.

A little research on my part shows that the 2017 theme for the Corn Palace is not changing from 2016.  They will replace the grasses used, but not the full murals.  This was decided in May of 2016.

So if you wanted to see Willie and Elvis last year you still have the opportunity to.

SLEEPY HOLLOW, WALL, SD-Campground 18

After our two week stay in Custer, SD at the Echo Valley Campground we started our journey back toward Oklahoma for our various appointments.  We had allowed plenty of time to stop and see some sites along the way.

Our first stop was in the Badlands of South Dakota, staying at the Sleepy Hollow Campground in Wall, SD.  It is located just a few blocks from the famous Wall Drug, so an easy walking distance.  That is very handy to say the least because, as with any tourist town, parking is a bear when you are driving a large vehicle. 

The campground is what we classify as the “parking lot” type.  Every site is a pull thru at an angle, just as if you were in a parking lot.  There are a few trees and bits of grass, but the campers are fairly close to each other.

There Is a small grocery in the campground office, with the bare minimal of goods in it, but then you are within walking distance of town so that is not a big concern. Larger groceries are but a short drive away if you need more than a few items.

Our first night there we were treated to an absolutely beautiful sunset.

Our main reason for visiting Wall was of course Wall Drug and the Badlands.  If you don’t know the history of Wall Drug,  here is a brief description.  A couple had a failing business in this tiny town in the middle of nowhere until one day the wife suggested they give free ice water to the travelers as they passed.  What started out as a simple gesture slowly morphed into a booming business.  You can read all about it here.

We had been to Wall Drug as one of our stops in 2006 on what was our all-time favorite vacation, so naturally we wanted to go back.  Some things had changed, but others had remained the same.

The drug store itself had grown in size adding more small shops inside it.  The food had definitely gotten worse.  How in the world can you make a bad hot dog?  The even bigger question is how can you make such a lard sandwich and then justify charging those prices.  Let’s just leave it at that and take my suggestion and eat anywhere but at Wall Drug.  You will thank me later for the suggestion.

Other than the hot dog being absolutely burnt, greasy and cold all at once we did enjoy ourselves there.  We goofed around in the “backyard” with the displays.

Toured the different shops watching the animatronic displays, but purchased nothing.

Posed with the various statues for photos and waited around for the dinosaur to “wake up”.  It was a simple day, but we did enjoy ourselves.

Wall Drug, like so many sites we go to is one of those things everyone should see at least once in their tour of the USA, but once is really enough.

Speaking of  dinosaurs, apparently one of them from Wall Drug escaped.  We spot this fellow on the edge of town.  Supposedly he is life size.  If so....well that is 6'2' Gary at the base of it.

While we were camped at Sleepy Hollow we also visited the Badlands.  Natural beauty at its finest.  That I will put in a separate post.