Teddys Cabin

At the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, you can walk inside of a cabin once lived in by Teddy Roosevelt!

I show it on the youtube video I posted, but I wanted to put up just a few photos too!

 

Theodore Roosevelt National Park ND 09 2020

Yeah, I mentioned previously that North Dakota is the last state many roadtrippers visit.  Well, there are some VERY cool spots to visit in North Dakota....  I think, in many ways, North Dakota is OK with keeping its secrets, and keeping the tourists away.  

We were able to visit the south unit of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  We drove from Rapid City, South Dakota and back in one, very long day.

Its probably 9-10 hours of drive time the way we did it, but it was one amazing day on the road.

Once we were in North Dakota, going on many scenic rural roads, we saw almost no traffic.  

The scenery to the park was great too.  And, we drove the Enchanted High part of the way to the park (see my other post/video).

We passed through a couple of GREAT North Dakota Towns on the way (Dickinson and Medora) that I am already itching to visit again.

AND the Roosevelt National Park can easily justify several more visits.  There is a lot to see.

As we drove back into South Dakota, we stopped by a great little diner/gift shop by Crow Buttes, where a marker stands about a very strange Indian conflict.  This site was worth a visit on its own.

The entire trip was a bit haunting too, as we left when it was still very dark.  Black mountain shapes moved ghostly in the background, as grey deer stood looking at as by the road.

Check out my youtube video for highlights!

Rough Riders Hotel Medora ND

In Medora, JUST outside of the Teddy Roosevelt National Park is the Rough Riders Hotel!

We didn't stay there, but we stopped by briefly and asked a very kind young lady at the front desk about places to eat and things to do in the area!

She was great, and this hotel looks great!  I am itching to get back just so we can stay there!

 

Medora ND Post Office

I took a few photos of the friendly little post office in Medora North Dakota!

 

Enchanted Highway ND 09 2020

 North Dakota......  I have 

mentioned it before...  and so have other roadtrippers...  it is the state that most visit last.  That's not a nock against it.....  but, its location especially makes it kind of hard to get to as you are plotting a trip.  AND, the state under it, South Dakota, is poppin' with must see attractions.

BUT there are some things to see in North Dakota!  One thing that has been on my list for a long time is the Enchanted Highway!

Artist Gary Greff started the project with locals, to design massive sculptures to attract tourists.

This is very unique and a lot of fun!  Check out my youtube video!

Dunn Brother Coffee Dickinson ND

On a trip to Nashville a couple of years back, I found a Dunn Brothers Coffee and really liked it.  Sadly, it looks like they have pulled out of the area.

Dunn Brothers is still around though, but I don't think there are any near me at this point.  So, I was thrilled to be able to stop by one on our recent road trip through North Dakota!

We stopped by the Dunn Brothers Coffee in Dickinson North Dakota after finishing our drive through the Enchanted Highway, and before we made it to Medora.

The store was nice and cozy.  The staff was friendly, and we had some great drinks!

 

Devils Tower WY 09 09 2020

 Devils Tower in Wyoming 

is just unreal.  It just doesn't look like it belongs in nature.  How did that massive rock/mountain get there?

Well, I have read explanations and all, and I still don't totally get it.

It is considered a spiritual site by many Native Americans.  It is considered an alien hotspot by many people too.

It is America's First National Monument and that makes it interesting on a lot of levels.

We stopped by in 2012 and 2020.  Both times we hiked around the Tower and just had a really pleasant time.

Right now, they are doing some upgrades in and near the 

 

parking area, and to the visitor center.  The visitor center hasn't been upgraded since 1935!

There is a lively prairie dog town as you drive in.  We stopped to enjoy the playfulness of the little guys.

There is a great post office right before you pay your entry fee (get your postcards hand canceled with a Devils Tower post office postmark!).  There is also the VERY cool Devils Tower Trading Post gift shop before you go in to the park.

Check out the video I posted to youtube about our most recent trip to Devils Tower!

Badlands SD 09 06 2020

 The Badlands in South 

Dakota look like another planet.  I have said a few times, that shows like Star Trek could have filmed out here.

If you are driving in to western South Dakota from the east, like we did, the Badlands is one of the first major stops you make.  Its kinda the first major tourist location that you have to stop to see.

You can't take a bad photo at the Badlands either.  The entire place is so photogenic.

We stopped here for a few hours on our recent trip.

With it being pandemic season and all..... this was a great place to go to, because you can enjoy a lot of it from your car.  Also, the trails are spaced out here and there too...  if you get out of your vehicle, there will still be a lot of space between you and other visitors.

We did stop by the first visitor center and the park service was doing a good job of limiting how many people could go in at a time and all.

Check out this video I posted to youtube about our visit!

Rapid City SD 09 2020

 While we were

in Rapid City, we did a lot of walking and driving downtown.  This is a town that has really grown on us, and we look forward to getting back there again soon.

It IS a city of Presidents.  It is near Mount Rushmore, and the town has placed a statue of each president on their corners.

There is a restaurant there (Firehouse Brewery) that we love.  There are a lot of good coffee shops and book stores too.  I could go on and on.

Check out the video I posted to youtube recently!

Custer State Park SD 09 07 2020

 

Believe the hype when it comes to Custer State Park in South Dakota.  This is one of the main attractions in the state, and I can see why.  You will see a ton of animals when you drive through!  It is in a class all to itself.

We have gone through on each of our three visits to the state.  In fact, on this visit, we went on a couple of different days and we were glad we did.  

You know I love history too....  and a couple of Presidents have used the game lodge here for extended periods.  In fact, anyone can rent their rooms!

I don't want to brag, but I was able to get a lot of cool animals on video!  We also went in to the lodge and explored some.  I love that place.

Check out the video that I posted to youtube!

Mt Rushmore SD 09 10 2020

AND, for the second year in a row, and for the third time in less than a decade, we visited South Dakota AND Mt. Rushmore!

Check out the video above that I posted on youtube for more info on our visit to the legendary landmark.

This is a favorite spot of ours, and I am so glad that we made it back again!  We actually ended up joining the Mt Rushmore Society on this visit.  For $35 you get a discount at their gift shops (and, at certain other gift shop/book stores associated with the National Parks).  I like what they are doing and I am proud to now be a member.

Using that discount, I picked up the last 2 Borglum bookends I needed to complete my set.  I have talked about the book ends at length on my blog and in the videos...  and they are very special to me.  My mom actually asked to pay for them as an early Christmas present!  We also bought a very cool mini blocks Rushmore kit that you can put together yourself.  I thought this would be fun for my family.  My wife ended up putting the whole thing together and she is wanting some of the other kits now.

Anyway, check out my most recent video on Mt Rushmore.

The LAST ISSUE of the Kentucky Explorer!!!

I wanted to mention that the last issue of the Kentucky Explorer just went out.  I have subscribed for years, and I hope I am not being too dramatic when I say that getting the last issue made me very sad.

Not too long ago, they published an email I sent them about my visit, with my dad, to the Kentucky Bend.  My dad, who also loved the Kentucky Explorer, was very happy to see the pictures I took of him at the Bend published in the great magazine!  I was glad my dad got to see that before he passed away.

This has been such a great, scrappy magazine.  It is newsprint, but they have always packed a TON into each issue.  At $2.50 an issue cover price, it has always been a bargain.

I hope something else comes along to replace it.  I have no doubt that the publisher never got rich from it- they were making it out of love for Kentucky history and Kentuckians.

They mentioned in this last issue that Kentucky Monthly will be honoring remaining subscriptions for Kentucky Explorer subscribers.

 

South Dakota Billboards 09 06 2020

 I filmed some of the billboards in South Dakota....... There are a LOT of them along I90 as you drive towards Rapid City!  The Billboards are fun to read at times.  Lots of Wall Drug and Firehouse Brewery (a favorite spot of ours in Rapid City).

Jolly Green Giant Statue Blue Earth MN 09 05 2020

 On our way to

South Dakota, we stopped in Blue Earth Minnesota to see the GIANT Jolly Green Giant Statue!  This would be our first visit to Minnesota!  Blue Earth is a very nice little town too!  They have small "Sprout" statues here and there!

We stopped at a very nice little restaurant too, the Blue Earth Hometown Cafe!

Our visit was short, but we were thrilled to finally check Minnesota off of the list.  Of coarse, a short trip like this makes ya just want to get back again soon!

Deadwood SD 09 09 2020

Check out the video I posted covering our visit to Deadwood, South Dakota!

We actually went there back in 2012.  We weren't able to go when we visited South Dakota in 2019, but we made time to stop by this year!

I had a couple of main reasons for wanting to stop by.  For one, they have JUST started doing a BROTHEL TOUR!  Go ahead and make your jokes (they aren't shy about jokes on the tour), but it is a VERY fascinating look at life in the brothels.  AND, their brothel history really ended in 1980!  I know, you are probably thinking, "THAT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO" and you are right.  The town sort of looked the other way to prostitution up until 1980.

The tour covers all of that.  As I mention in the video, our tour guide was open, to the point (while still cracking the occasional

dirty joke) BUT she also talked very openly about the life of a one of the well know local brothel workers who is still alive today.  She talk about the hardships of the ladies life, and of the abuses she faced before getting in to that business.  The tour was honestly funny at time, and sad when she talked about this lady.....  but the whole thing was informative.  I recommend the tour.

Oh, and I have mentioned on this blog that the book, "Raiding Deadwood's Bad Lands" does a great job on the story too (that book covers prostitution, gambling, and other bits of Deadwood's history).

Also, my cousin Jerry has got me into collecting poker chips!  I used this visit as an excuse to go into each casino I passed, and to purchase a $1 chip from each (Jerry has warned me that if you start collecting the pricier chips, the hobby can get expensive QUICK!).  I mentioned in the video too that, most of the cashiers weren't enthusiastic about selling ONE $1 chip, BUT, after I looked at the chips they gave me, almost all gave me a nice, uncirculated one in great shape.

We only had a few hours in town though....  I has hoping to visit one of the museums this time, but we will have to save that for another day.  This is a unique, fun town full of great, crazy history!

Bourbon Drive In in Paris Kentucky- Part 2

I mentioned The Bourbon Drive In in Paris Kentucky a few days ago.  Check out my post, and the Youtube video I posted on it.  It is such a great place to go!

We saw the Texas Chainsaw Massacre with Nightmare on Elm Street on our first visit.  We had a great time.  So, when we saw a showing of the original Friday the 13thwas scheduled, we knew we had to go for that too!

So we hit the road and got there about an hour before showtime again.  

It's $8 a person, which, for 2 movies at a drive in is very reasonable in my books.  I wanted to mention that this time, we bought a large drink, a chili cheese dog and some ice cream which came to a little over $7....  again, these guys aren't gouging their patrons.  Everything tasted good too!

I have been a huge Friday the 13th fan for forever.  I told the story, in my youtube video, of my friend/neighbor Aaron calling me, when we were kids, and inviting me to a birthday party where they would be showing movies on a VCR.

This was back in the day when RENTING a VCR and movies was a big deal.  It was very exciting, and as a kid, you had to go to any party involving a VCR.  Well, my mom asked what videos Aaron's family was renting.  I asked, and he told me, "Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Friday the 13th."  I told my mom "Star Wars and Indiana Jones."  I KNEW that if I told her they were getting Friday the 13th, she would never let me go.

 

Well, I went to Aaron's and the craziness of seeing Friday the 13th for the first time REALLY sticks in my head.  There weren't a dozen sequels out at the time.  I remember watching with my young elementary school friends wondering who the killer was....  and I remember us all screaming in terror when at the end...  well, you know, the boat and all.

So, Catching this great classic at the Bourbon Drive In was a real treat!

They played it first, then there was an intermission, and they started "Cabin in the Woods" next.  This was my first time seeing this one!  Why didn't anyone tell me how great it was?

So we had ANOTHER great night at the Drive In in Paris!  The sweet ladies running the place thanked people for coming by, and they were just nice, sincere and appreciative.  We really like this place AND the spirit of what they are doing, a lot!

 

"Raiding Deadwood's Bad Lands: Its Illegal History of Prostitution and Gambling" by Michael Trump

 We took the "Deadwood Brothel Tour" while we were in Deadwood, South Dakota.  Check out my video on that!

While we were there, our tour guide recommended "Raiding Deadwood's Bad Lands:  Its Illegal History of Prostitution and Gambling" by Michael Trump.  I am so glad that I took her advice and bought it!

Michael Trump has written a very clear and easy to understand history of gambling and prostitution in Deadwood.  Both have been legal (or kinda legal) going up through 1980.

If you have been to the town of Deadwood, you KNOW gambling is a big part of the town now.  VERY BIG.  Its a small town, population wise, but there are MANY casinos.

Deadwood has a solid reputation of being a lawless town.....  going back to its beginnings.  I am sure you know of the legendary names who passed through (or, who were killed) in town.  If you aren't familiar with the reputation, look it up, or go to Deadwood and take one of the many tours about its lawless reputation.

OR, you can read Michael Trump's book.  The volume is more academic than most (he gives sources...  and doesn't rely on iffy legends).

Plus, he gets into the prostitution situation in town, that was mostly ignored by locals and law enforcement until 1980.  There were raids, he explains, but the shut downs didn't last long.

He talks about the madams, the girls, and how they practiced their trade for so long.  You might find it interesting to learn about just how charitable the houses were in the community, helping out various groups.

Gambling is covered too, as the current wave of legalized gambling (starting in the late 80s) has really helped out with historic preservation.

Raiding Deadwood's Bad Lands really shows the towns entire history and this would be the perfect book to read before you go there!

Deadwood: The Best Writings on the Most Notorious Town in the West by TD Griffith

So, we planned this little trip BACK to South Dakota, EXACTLY one year after going there.  More on that later, but I wanted to read some more books on the the state and some of its towns before this repeat adventure.

AND, I had kinda exhausted some books on outlaws, travel, ghosts, etc before out trip last year.

I really enjoyed the books that author T.D. Griffith put out though, AND I was lucky enough to find one I had not read....  and it was on Deadwood!

"Deadwood:  The Best Writings on the Most Notorious Town in the West" is actually a collection of articles, and pages from other books on Deadwood and its characters.  Griffith does a short intro to each piece to let you know why that particular mention was chosen for his book.

The articles are from all over the place too.....  and I really appreciated some writings by a reporter who visited the town right as it was getting established.  Griffith also includes a contribution from a lady who grew up, as a child, around that same time too.

Pop culture links (country music and the popular TV show about the town) are covered too, as are all of the colorful characters the town saw.

"The Petersen House: The Oldroyd Museum and the House Where Lincoln Died" by Alan E. Hunter

When my pal Alan Hunter mentioned that he would be writing a book on the Petersen House in Washington D.C., I knew it was going to be something special.

I have mentioned Alan here several times before.  He does a GREAT weekly column for the Weekly View (out of Indianapolis IN) that you need to check out.

He also does the yearly ghost walk in Irvington Indiana.  If you have never done that, what is wrong with you?!?!!?  

If you have any interest in true crime and ghosts at all, you need to make sure you do this!  Alan knows his stuff, and he can link just about every scary person you can name to this town.  He actually doesn't disclose this often (though he does mention it in one of his books) but he crossed paths with one of Indianapolis' most infamous.  OH, and there is a GREAT President Lincoln connection that he ends the tour with...  but enough of that for now!

Alan has authored some of the best "Haunted" books I know of too.

BUT, I wanted to mention his latest work here- "The Petersen House:  The Oldroyd Museum and the House Where Lincoln Died".  If you are interested in Lincoln at all, you are going to want to track this one down.  In fact, its not that hard to find Alan E. Hunter on line and you can do what I did- order a nice signed copy directly from him!  Go ahead, you need this one for your collection!

Alan is obsessed with getting all of the interesting bits of information down.  Sure, we all know the story....  Ford's Theatre, Booth, the conspirators, etc.......  but the house where Lincoln was taken to after the shooting and dies is sometimes a forgotten character in the story.  Well, Alan has found lots of pictures, postcards, tickets, and other ephemera- and he has put those pieces together in this volume to tell the story of this home.

I don't want to give too much away, but Hunter gives some great nuggets of info to the reader starting with his description of the cover illustration.  He had me thinking about a somewhat obscure painter before I even started the book!

He tells you all about the building, its career as THE museum on Lincoln for some time and its evolving life from the time of Lincoln's visit until today.

Like I said, Alan Hunter loves those interesting bits of information that make you stop and think.  He lets you know about what became of the bed and pillow from that dark night.  He tells you to take notice of this person or that person, almost anonymously standing by the home in an old postcard and he tells you about their significance.  

Oh, if you are familiar with the entire story of the Lincoln assassination, you surely know the name Rathbone.  Well, I had no idea that the Rathbone name would factor in to the history of the Petersen home decades later.

I honestly could go on and on.  I am so glad to see a new book on Lincoln with new information.  Hunter's book on the Petersen House gets my highest recommendation.

 

Bourbon Drive In Paris KY October 2020

 Hey!  Have you been to the Bourbon Drive In in Paris?  We went by the other night to see the originals "Nightmare on Elm Street" and Texas Chainsaw Massacre"!  This place it great!

Buddy Holly Crash Site Iowa 09 05 2020

 After visiting the wonderful

Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake Iowa, we made our way to the "crash site" where Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper lost their lives.

The kind folks at the Surf Ballroom will give you instructions, and a very simple map to get to the location.  It is just a few miles away.

You DO have to do some travelling on some very gravelly roads though.  We were told that some bikers make the trip to the Surf Ballroom, but they don't go to the crash site because of all of the gravel.

I understand that.  You ARE on some roads that you have to drive very slow on.

There is a very sweet LARGE metal Buddy Holly glasses frame someone has put up, showing you the starting point for the trail you will have to walk through to get to the actual site.  

They told us at the Surf Ballroom that its about the length of 2 football fields to get there.  We walked it in under 10 minutes.

Once you get to the site, there is another nice metal marker, and of course people have left mementos there.

Surf Ballroom Clear Lake Iowa 9 5 2020

 We FINALLY made it to the

legendary Surf Ballroom, the site of the last performance of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper.

Check out the video above, which I posted to youtube.

We visited the Surf Ballroom on our way to South Dakota.  We allowed a couple of hours to visit the venue and the crash site, but we ended up spending a LOT more time in Clear Lake Iowa.  This place is special.

Check out my other links for a video at the crash site.  Also, check out my review on the book, "The Day the Music Died" by Larry Lehmer.  Lehmer's book is a good starting point if you are unfamiliar with the very tragic plane crash.

I think this is one of those things that is just in our collective conscience though.  I grew up in the 80s and knew about this event.  Don McLean's song about that night really keeps

that emotion alive.  You could listen to that song and have no knowledge of what happened...  and you could still feel the extreme sadness it sparks.

AND, reading Lehmers book gives you that same emotion.  The stars were on a miserable tour.  It was a very cold January/February in a very cold area.  The heat on the bus was faulty.  The tour busses would break down.  Many were sick with colds.

Even these rock stars had not really had time to enjoy the wealth of their

celebrity (they were young and the REAL money they had earned had not really filtered down to them yet).

I could go on and on.  BUT, they spent their last night alive performing at this venue.

The Surf Ballroom is the spot for that moment in time.

The venue is so perfect too, and they have preserved it to look like it is 1959.  It really reminded me of a set that might have been used on "Happy Days."

There are still concerts here, with an impressive list of performers.  There are bragging rights to playing here for sure.

AND, even though the Surf is a monument to that sad moment...... it is a bright and lively place.

The guy in the gift shop said he volunteered, and he was just happy to be a part of it.  They have a museum type area.... with relics from that night, but also with signed photos and instruments of performers who have played there more recently.  The Surf Ballroom continues on as a very lively spot for rock-n-roll pilgrims.  Make sure you catch it on an upcoming road trip!