25 July 2018 Hot Springs South Dakota

This morning we drove down to the small town of Hot Springs (about an hour south of Custer). There we had a not so quick unremarkable lunch at the Vault Bar and Grill. It was the only non-fast food restaurant in town open on a Wednesday afternoon. When we walked in, we were warned it would take our food 45 minutes to come out. Not being in a hurry, we sat down and ordered anyway. It only took 35 minutes and our appetizer came out after our meals. The town is actually pretty interesting. Main street runs along side a small river and there is a spring fed water fall across from the bakery. Many of the buildings are made out of local sand stone and are quite ornate. 

After lunch we went to the Mammoth Site ($12 per person) and took the tour of an archeological dig of what had once been an Artesian Watering hole during the last ice age (11,000 to 12,000 years ago). The site was discovered in 1974 by a construction crew. It is theorized that this mound had once been a watering hole that was caused when limestone under the site was dissolved by acidic water and the upper layers collapsed causing a deep watering hole. The water table filled the slump with 98F water, which allowed grasses to grow around the edge of the slump. This attracted the Mammoths (Colonial and Wooly) and other animals. When the Mammoths climbed down to get the grasses and water, they would slide in because the sides were very slippery. Once in, they could not get out and would die and sink to the bottom where they would be covered by clay mud and preserved. They have identified at least 66 sets of Mammoth bones in addition to flat faced bear, ancient Lammas, camels, wolves, prairie dogs, fish, and other various rodents. It is estimated it will take another 120 years to complete the excavation.

We then went to the Prairie Museum ($5 per person) up on top the hill overlooking the town. It was formally the schoolhouse and was used from 1896 until 1964. It too is made out of local quarried sandstone. The rooms were filled with antiques that had been donated by locals and had that old musty smell. These are always fun to walk through because you will see things that make you go “What was that used for?” and others that remind you of things you saw in your grandparent and great grandparents homes. The old wooden floors and stairs creaked and were uneven from the wear and tear of tens of thousands of kids over the decades.

On the drive back, Leslie noticed a small shack at the side of the road with a sign advertising it as a B&B. We had to turn around and get a picture, which she has since shared with her former boss and her friend and former assistant manger Mona. Anyone looking for a fixer upper B&B?