2020 SUMMER COASTMAGAZINE
Sweet Home Alabama Experience natural wonder at Orange Beach
Treasures in South Dakota's Black Hills
SUMMER FUN Beachwood Resort Blaine, Washington Ham Lake Resort Ham Lake, Minnesota Indian Lake Resort Huntsville, Ohio
Roaming the Texas Hill Country
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CONTENTS
TRAVEL 13 Sweet Home Alabama
GOOD SAM AND CAMPING WORLD CHAIRMAN AND CEO Marcus Lemonis MarcusVIP@goodsamfamily.com COAST TO COAST PRESIDENT Bruce Hoster CCRPresident@coastresorts.com
Experience natural wonder at Orange Beach BY PAULA LOEHR
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19 Treasures in
MEMBER SERVICES 64 Inverness Drive E. Englewood, Colorado 80112 800-368-5721 info@coastresorts.com COAST TO COAST WEBSITE CoastResorts.com COAST TO COAST FACEBOOK Facebook.com/CoastResorts EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Dee Whited ART DIRECTOR Nicole Wilson
South Dakota's Black Hills STORY BY EMILY FAGAN & PHOTOS BY EMILY AND MARK FAGAN
26 Roaming the Hill Country You kind of forget you’re in Texas BY RICHARD VARR
DEPARTMENTS 4 From the President 6 Member Matters 7 Resort Updates 33 RV Review
RESORT PROFILES 9 Beachwood Resort Blaine, Washington 10 Ham Lake Resort Ham Lake, Minnesota 11 Indian Lake Resort Huntsville, Ohio
Volume 39, Number 3. Coast to Coast (ISSN 1093-3581) is published quarterly for $14 per year as part of annual membership fees, by Coast to Coast Resorts, 64 Inverness Drive E., Englewood, Colorado 80112. Coast to Coast Resorts assumes no responsi- bility for unsolicited manuscripts or artwork. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any method without prior written consent of the publisher. ©2020 Camp Coast to Coast, LLC. Coast wing logo is a reg- istered trademark of Camp Coast to Coast, LLC. The GOOD SAM ICON, and Dream. Plan. Go. are registered trademarks of Good Sam Enterprises, LLC and used with permission. Unauthorized use of Coast’s or Good Sam’s trademarks is expressly prohibited. All rights reserved. PRINTED IN THE USA. COVER PHOTO BY PAULA LOEHR CTC58708 - 0520
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FROM THE PRESIDENT PUTTING MEMBERS FIRST
For more details on Ham Lake Resort, see the resort profile on page 9 of this issue or visit the Coast online directory at www.CoastResorts.com. We are also pleased to welcome three new RV resorts in Texas as the newest additions to our Coast Good Neighbor Park (GNP) network. Bentsen Palm Village RV Resort and Bluebonnet RV Resort, both in Mission, Texas, and Fig Tree RV Resort in Harlingen, Texas, are the newest affiliates in our GNP network. See page 6 for more information on these three new GNPs, or visit our online directory. Travel this year has been challenging with the ever- changing state and local orders to limit the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Coast has been keeping you informed by providing a list of temporary resort closures that we have updated on a regular basis. To access this list simply log in at www.CoastResorts.com and click on the link in the special Covid-19 message at the top of the page. Be aware that, even if a resort or GNP is open, many amenities may remain closed at our affiliates to help prevent the spread of the virus. The best advice is to always call ahead to the resort or GNP where you have a reservation to confirm the latest situation.
Coast to Coast is excited to announce a new Coast Deluxe resort in Minnesota. Ham Lake Resort, the newest resort in the Midwest Outdoor Resorts system, is conveniently located just 30 minutes due north of Minneapolis/St. Paul. The Ham Lake area is a quiet, secluded vacation spot perfect for a quick weekend getaway or an extended relaxing stay. This Deluxe resort also offers plenty of terrific amenities to keep you busy throughout your stay. Ham Lake Resort is located right on the lake, and canoe rentals are available for a spin around the pond. There is also a sandy swimming beach, which makes for plenty of lake time fun for you and the entire family. Other resort amenities include a community fire pit, dog run, fishing dock, covered pavilion, petting zoo, and more. So why the name you might ask? According to Wikipedia, records indicate that in 1856 settlers established a town located just southwest of a lake shaped like a ham. The settlers platted and sold lots for a community they named Glen Carey, a Scottish name meaning "beautiful valley". However, in 1857, all the houses were destroyed by a prairie fire. The next settlement in the area was by Scandinavians in 1866. Reportedly the Scandinavian settlers found it difficult to pronounce the Scottish name of Glen Carey. Since no official name had been chosen by the people, the commissioners named it Ham Lake, after the lake which had acquired that name due to its shape.
MARCUS LEMONIS Chairman and CEO Camping World & Good Sam marcusvip@goodsamfamily.com
BRUCE HOSTER President Coast to Coast Resorts CCRPresident@CoastResorts.com
FROM THE PRESIDENT
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“ IF YOU’RE NOT HAPPY, I ’M NOT HAPPY. ”
Need anything? I’m here to help. CALL MY OFFICE 866.232.8790 or Email me at MarcusVIP@goodsam.com
Marcus Lemonis Chairman and CEO Camping World and Good Sam
CTC58178 - 0120
WeWelcome these Three New GOOD NEIGHBOR PARKS TO OUR COAST TO COAST NETWORK!
MEMBER MATTERS MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR COAST TO COAST MEMBERSHIP Bentsen Palm Village
The pride of Bluebonnet RV Resort is their outstanding customer service. It’s also one of the friendliest and most well-equipped resorts in the Rio Grande Valley. Bluebonnet has a state-of-the-art indoor heated pool, three recreational halls, live entertainment, and free Wi-Fi. Fig Tree RV Resort Harlingen, Texas
RV Resort Mission, Texas
This is a great resort to use as your base to explore all the Rio Grande Valley has to offer including migrating birds, citrus groves, and South Padre Island. Pull your rig into one of the beautiful sites or rent a park model or mobile home. Bluebonnet RV Resort Mission, Texas
Come and relax in the heated outdoor pool or hot tub. There are walking and biking trails around the park, or meet new friends at the clubhouse where the activities director keeps a busy schedule. And don’t forget your four-legged family member is welcome.
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RESORT UPDATES ADDITIONS AND CHANGES TO THE 2020 DIRECTORY The 2020 Coast to Coast Resort Directory is packed with everything you need to navigate the network of Coast to Coast Resorts and Coast Good Neighbor Parks. To keep members up-to-date, each issue of Coast magazine includes any updates that have occurred since the last issue. COAST PREMIER COAST PREMIER UPDATES GEORGIA North Shore Landing, Greensboro (page 134): new reservation phone: 855-332-9541 NEW YORK Bass Lake Resort, Parish (page 157): new reservation phone: 855-332-9541 NORTH CAROLINA Sycamore Lodge, Jackson Springs (page 158): new reservation phone: 855-332-9541 OHIO Rocky Fork Ranch, Kimbolton (page 11): new reservation phone: 855-332-9541 Wally World Riverside Resort, Loudonville (page 162): new reservation phone: 855-332-9541
PENNSYLVANIA Gettysburg Battlefield Resort, Gettysburg (page 169): new reservation phone: 855-332-9541 COAST DELUXE NEW COAST DELUXE RESORT MINNESOTA Ham Lake Resort - 2400 Constance Blvd NE, Ham Lake, MN, 55304. Phone (800) 231-0425, Email help@midwestoutdoorresorts.com, Website midwestoutdoorresorts.com. Directions: From the Twin Cities: I-35 N to Blaine to MN-65/Central Ave Ex. R onto MN-65/Central Ave. R on Constance Blvd. Resort on R. Latitude: 45.26055; Longitude: -93.21197. Check in 11 a.m., check out 4 p.m. Max RV length 40 feet, max 30 amps. Notations: Members staying at Ham Lake whose home park charges mandatory fees will be charged those same mandatory fees. Pets must be leashed, cleaned up after, and must be with you or in RV. If pets left in RV, a cell phone # must be left with front desk. Season: May 22-October 15. COAST DELUXE RESORT UPDATE IOWA Lakeshore RV Resort & Campground, Oelwein (page137): New reservation phone (319) 800-9968
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COAST DELUXE RESORT TERMINATION NEVADA Walker River Resort, Smith (page 153) COAST CLASSIC COAST CLASSIC RESORT UPDATE OKLAHOMA Terra Star Resort, Checotah (page 164): New reservation phone (918) 689-7094 GOOD NEIGHBOR PARKS NEW GOOD NEIGHBOR PARKS TEXAS
26.25057, Longitude -98.36747. Check in 3 p.m., check out 11 a.m. Max RV length 50 feet, max 50 amps. Notations: 2020 Coast rate $35. Rate includes: 2 adults per site, 1 RV, 1 vehicle, electric, water, and sewer. Additional charges: Add'l person $3, 8.25% tax. Special Coast discount rate available Apr 1 - Oct 1. Season April 1-October 1. Fig Tree RV Resort, 15257 N Expy 83, Harlingen, TX, 78552. Phone (956) 423-6699, Email info@ figtreervresort.com, website figtreervresort.com. Directions: From Jct of W US-83 Expy & Altas Palmas Ex, W 0.3 mi on N Frntg Rd to resort on R. GPS: Plug in Fig Tree Blvd (No st number needed). Latitude 26.18678, Longitude -97.77838. Check in 8 p.m., check out 1 p.m. Max RV length 42 feet, max 50 amps. Notations: 2020 Coast rate $32. Rate includes 2 adults per site, water, electric, Wi-Fi. Age restrictions lifted during off season May to Sep. Season January 1-December 31. GOOD NEIGHBOR PARKS UPDATE FLORIDA Luna Sands Resort, Orange City (page 204): new reservation phone: 855-332-9541 GEORGIA Golden Isles Vacation Park, Brunswick (page 204): Name change to Southern Retreat RV Park, new website www.SouthernRetreatRVPark.com NORTH CAROLINA Oasis of North Carolina, Marston (page 209): City change to Aberdeen GOOD NEIGHBOR PARKS TERMINATION NORTH CAROLINA Zooland Family Campground, Asheboro (page 209)
Bentsen Palm Village RV Resort, 2500 S Bentsen Palm Dr, Mission, TX, 78572. Phone (956) 585-5568, Email jon@mlrhodes.com, Website bentsenpalm.com. Directions: From Jct of US-83 Expy & Conway, go S 4 mi on Conway, to Military, go W 3 mi on Military to Bentsen Palm Dr, go S 0.25 mi on Bentsen Palm Dr to resort on L. Latitude 26.18841, Longitude -98.37857. Check in 3 p.m., check out 10 a.m. Max RV length 50 feet, max 50 amps. Notations: 2020 special Coast 15% discounted nightly rate. Rate includes 2 adults per site, electric, water, sewer and free cable TV. Additional charges: Tax 8.25%. Max 2 pets of any kind. Special discount rate for Coast members available Apr 1-Oct 1. Season: April 1-October 1. Bluebonnet RV Resort, 3366 N Bentsen Palm Dr, Mission, TX, 78574. Phone (956) 585-7630, Email bluebonnet@rvresorts.com, website rvresorts.com/ blue-bonnet.html. Directions: From Eastbound: Jct of US 83 Expy / I-2 & Bentsen Palm Dr, go 1.2 mi N to resort on R. From Westbound: Jct of US 83 Expy & Lahoma Ex, Go 1 block W on N Frontage Rd, then 1.2 mi N on Bentsen Palm Dr to resort on R. Latitude
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RESORT TYPE Coast Classic LOCATION Blaine, Washington SEASON Year-round WEBSITE www.soundpacificrv.com/ beachwood-resort
We’re sure you’ll enjoy your stay at Beachwood Resort in Blaine, Washington. That’s because we know you’ll adore the 80-plus beautifully manicured and wooded acres onsite as well as the proximity to Birch Bay on Puget Sound. From the bay, in the distance you can catch a glimpse of the beautiful San Juan Islands. The saltwater bay offers nonstop summer beach fun, as well as peaceful winter solitude. But you may not want to leave the property when there’s so much to see and do when staying at this resort. The heart of the resort is the centrally-located clubhouse and swimming pool area. But it’s not just one pool or one clubhouse. Visitors have their choice of three heated pools, three spas, and a sauna. Two clubhouses offer both adult and youth activities including a weight and exercise room. The wooded campsites invite members to sit in the shade and daydream, relax in a comfortable chair and read a Beachwood Resort Year-round oceanside fun
favorite book, or take a mid-morning or mid-afternoon siesta—or all three! For those who need a boost getting involved, there are planned activities year-round which include potlucks, dances, sports, breakfasts and much more. A playground, basketball court, tennis courts, golf driving cage and horseshoe pits are perfect for group, family or solo enjoyment. Trails throughout the campground and an off-their-leash area for pets are also available. If you travel without your rig, choose from more than 30 rental cabins. Beachwood is within walking distance of the shops and attractions of the scenic community of Birch Bay. There is seasonal crabbing, fishing and clamming right in the bay. Campers go into town to visit the beach, to get ice cream and other treats, to enjoy the local restaurants, to visit Birch Bay Waterslides and so much more.
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RESORT TYPE Coast Deluxe LOCATION Ham Lake, Minnesota SEASON May 22 – October 15 WEBSITE www.midwestoutdoorresorts. com/ham-lake
Ham Lake Resort A peaceful lakeside retreat just north of the Twin Cities.
hiking trails and a recreation area including a playground and horseshoes. Meet new friends around the community firepit. Take your furry friend to the dog run. Other amenities include a sandy beach and a pavilion. This resort has something you’ve probably never encountered at a resort—a petting zoo. If you’re traveling without your rig, rent one of the resort’s cabins. While on the website, check out the page that includes upcoming theme weekends. You certainly won’t be bored while at the resort. Get involved at Rowdy’s Round Up, It’s a Jungle Out There, or dress up and have fun at Super Hero weekend. You don’t need to leave the resort, but if you do, nearby attractions include Majestic Oaks Golf Course. Enjoy visiting and shopping at the Mall of America, check out Como Zoo and Conservatory, or stroll through the nearby Minnesota Sculpture Garden.
The newest resort in the Midwest Outdoor Resorts system, Ham Lake Resort, is a refreshing addition to the Coast network in Minnesota. Located just 30 minutes from the Twin Cities, Ham Lake is perfect for a quick weekend getaway or an extended relaxing vacation. To keep you comfortable while you relax, the majority of the 100+ campsites at the resort have 50-amp hookups. Download the resort map and the first things you’ll notice are the water features. A couple of ponds flank the east side of the campground and Ham Lake is on the west side of the resort. A boat dock and a fishing pier provides access to Ham Lake, which is 154 acres in area. According to the Department of Natural Resources, largemouth bass brings most anglers to Ham Lake. Bluegills are abundant in small to average size. So, when planning your visit, bring along your fishing gear and your boat. Stuck without a boat? Rent one of the resort’s canoes and tour the waterway. The resort map also indicates numerous walking and
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RESORT TYPE Coast Deluxe LOCATION Huntsville, Ohio SEASON Year-round WEBSITE www.ventureoutresorts.com/ indian-lake-resort
Indian Lake is the second largest inland lake in Ohio and a destination for leisure and recreation activities such as boating, fishing, and a lake-front trail for biking and walking. Although the lake is a great attraction, the beauty and hospitality of nearby Indian Lake Resort makes this a true destination campground. Indian Lake Resort in Huntsville, Ohio, is the second resort in the new Venture Out Resorts portfolio. This delightful resort sits on 29 acres, offering spacious RV sites with water, sewer, and 50-amp electric. A beautiful creek and catch and release pond add a couple more water features. If you need more water, enjoy the indoor swimming pool and hot tub. The resort features an enormous 12,000 square-foot building that contains the indoor pool; a large gaming room with arcade, pool table, air hockey, and ping pong; and a snack bar complete with pizza oven, commercial Indian Lake Resort Come for the lake, stay for the resort!
refrigerators, and ice cream cooler. A retail store and a large dining area with large flat screen TVs round out the amenities. Additionally, the resort has a newly built 7,200 square- foot clubhouse perfect for all of the planned activities hosted at the resort. You won’t possibly be bored—unless you want to be. Meet new friends on the playground, playing corn hole, basketball, and volleyball. Another way to stay busy is to join in on one of the many themed activities. If you must leave the resort, local attractions include the Ohio Caverns tour, Mad River Mountain skiing and tubing, and Marmon Family Farms horse rentals. Spend time nearby at Indian Lake, which is a destination for boating and fishing enthusiasts. The lake has numerous islands, a large wildlife area, many inlets and bays, and boasts more than 30 miles of shoreline.
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Sweet Home ALABAMA Experience natural wonder at Orange Beach
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High S. Branyon Backcountry Trail contains many elevated boardwalks suitable for hikers and cyclists.
answered knowledgeably (largely based on personal experiences), and made us feel like they were genuinely glad we were there. Sweet home Alabama hospitality at its finest! In addition to housing a gracious staff, Orange Beach’s Welcome Center is brightly lit, meticulously organized and squeaky clean. Just inside the double doors, a lively painting in the shape of a giant oyster shell depicts local shore and sea life. A great blue heron wades and a sea turtle swims. On the wall to the left, whimsical green turtle sculptures are lined up in single file, reminding guests to protect vulnerable nesting sea turtles on nearby beaches. In plexiglass display cases, realistic 3-D models of sea turtle hatchlings clamber out of cracked eggs left behind in a sandy nest—in route to their first risky dip in the Gulf of Mexico. Best of all, helpful published materials about area attractions are bountiful. A stop at the Welcome Center certainly sparks a visitor’s interest in exploring Orange Beach’s appealing range of
SWEET HOME ALABAMA By Paula Loehr
Howmany times have youhummedor sung alongwith the classic country tune Sweet Home Alabama ? In Alabama’s southeastern corner, the sweet ‘n’ juicy city of Orange Beach offers visitors a terrific home away from home. Orange Beach also provides nature-loving travelers with a full spectrum of engaging outdoor wonders—from picture-perfect sandy seashores to winding, wooded backcountry trails. Orange Beach's bright white Welcome Center on Perdido Beach Boulevard is topped off with a teal blue roof that is easy-peasy for the passersby to see. The building’s high visibility is a good thing, because no one should miss meeting the Welcome Center’s friendly crew. When we arrived at the center on a breezy Saturday morning, a smiling energetic woman met us at the door and presented a “goodie bag” brimming with brochures, local maps and promotional offers. She and her cheery co-worker listened intently to our touristy questions,
natural assets. Hit the Beach
First and foremost, Orange Beach’s seascapes are visual masterpieces. Wide expanses of pure white sand and remarkable blue-green Gulf waters present eye-popping
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In Orange Beach, palm trees lend a tropical vibe to local scenery.
Public beach access points are easy to find and use in Orange Beach.
contrasts. It’s amazing that most of the sandy deposits on the beaches originated as grains of quartz rock that trickled all the way down to the Gulf coast from the Appalachian Mountains. From a panoramic perspective, the powdery white sand and emerald-colored waters are a beach lover’s dream come true. Fortunately, it’s easy to reach public shorelines in Orange Beach. Gulf State Park maintains three designated beach access points in the city—two smaller stretches at Romar Beach and Cotton Bayou and a more extensive area with dunes, boardwalks, picnic potential, showers and restrooms at Alabama Point East—just east of the Perdido Pass Bridge. All three state park beaches may be accessed from Perdido Beach Boulevard. Parking is free for everyone. Float Your Boat City boat ramps are convenient ways for residents and visitors alike to access local waters with private or rental vessels. Canoeing and kayaking enthusiasts can paddle onto Orange Beach’s Canoe Trail at designated entry sites on local bays, bayous, coves, and creeks. Canoe trail signs are posted on the shore at put-in and take- out points. Orange Beach’s fishing charter fleet boasts more than 100
qualified captains who stand ready to guide you through your own back bay or deep sea fishing experience. You might snag a grouper or tuna for dinner or land a trophy marlin. Dolphin cruises are a more focused option for venturing out on Gulf waters—a chance to watch and photograph cavorting bottlenose dolphins . Take a Hike The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail Complex encompasses a 27-mile network of paved paths and elevated wooden boardwalks that connect Orange Beach with Gulf Shores, Alabama. The scenic system of trails is located within Gulf State Park, which was named in honor of a former park superintendent and is a National Recreational Trail designee. Paths in the network are well-maintained and wide enough for pedestrian hikers and cyclists to share. They are also fully ADA accessible for wheelchair users. Branyon’s backcountry trails crisscross several distinct ecosystems, from flatwoods and maritime forests to freshwater marshes, hardwood swamps and coastal dunes. Hikers and bikers pass by a wide range of foliage while they walk or pedal. Blossoming bushes and vines, dense clumps of reindeer lichen, delicate wildflowers, floating water lilies, low-lying palmetto palms, scrub
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Water lilies floating on shimmering waters are part of the view in the wetlands on the Hugh S. Branyon Trail.
Waterfront Park is a perfect spot for trail walkers, anglers and picnickers.
City boat ramps and piers are convenient ways for residents and visitors to access local waters.
Great sunset views of Wolf Bay may be seen from the pier at Waterfront Park.
oaks and towering pine trees are commonly found. If you walk or ride the Catman Trail, look for directional signs to the Butterfly Garden to view vibrant flowers and the butterflies they attract—seasonally from spring through autumn. If you hike the Rattlesnake Ridge portion of the backcountry trail on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., schedule a break to step inside Orange Beach Indian and Sea Museum. Vintage photographs, rudimentary fishing gear and Indian artifacts reveal details about the lifestyles of Native Americans and anglers who were early inhabitants of the area. Museum admission is free and one of the few available restrooms for backcountry trail users is located nearby. On a quiet day, you might cross paths with animals on the trails. Sun-seeking alligators, white-tailed deer and foraging armadillos are observed frequently. Light- footed bobcats, gopher tortoises, coyotes, otters and wild boars are more elusive. For the Birds The Branyon backcountry trail doubles as a designated portion of the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail. Maritime
forests that surround the trail serve as stopover spots for millions of migrating birds. So cast your eyes on the treetops and waters and keep your binoculars handy to see feathered species such as hummingbirds, wading herons, bald eagles, and soaring osprey. Picnic in the Park Orange Beach Waterfront Park, a wooded recreational haven off Canal Road on Wolf Bay, is popular with local residents as well as tourists. The city park features easy-does-it walking paths, a well-appointed children’s playground and spacious picnic shelters outfitted with grills. Multicolored flowerbeds brighten the grounds and occasional palm trees lend a tropical twist to the landscape. On Waterfront’s 400-foot pier you can go for a power walk while taking in outstanding views of Wolf Bay. How about reading a good book in the covered pavilion or casting a fishing line over the pier railing? A speckled trout, flounder, or redfish could be swimming into your future. Whatever you choose to do, keep looking up to see Orange Beach’s idyllic blue skies. They assume a mesmerizing glow and reflect luminously on Wolf Bay as twilight sets in. To balance your outdoorsy day with a cultural encounter,
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Some of Orange Beach's backcountry boardwalk trails wind through colorful Alabama wetlands.
Much of the Hugh S.Branyon Backcountry Trail is paved and wide, ideal for riding bicycles.
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Waterfront Park's pier is a great place to walk or fish.
Located at Waterfront Park, the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach encompasses a fine art gallery, glass-blowing shop and clay studio.
visit the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach— conveniently situated within Waterfront Park. Doors are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A two-story fine arts gallery showcases the work of local painters, sculptors, photographers and such. Coastal Arts also features a do-it-yourself glass-blowing shop and a clay studio where you can learn hands-on ceramics techniques from a master artist. The next time you find yourself humming Sweet Home Alabama , set a travel plan in motion to explore the amazing natural and artistic delights in Orange Beach.
FOR MORE INFORMATION Orange Beach & Canoe Trail: https://www.gulfshores.com/things-to- do/orange-beach-welcome-center/ Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail: http://backcountrytrail.com/ rosemary-dunes/ Orange Beach Coast Birding Trail: https://alabamabirdingtrails.com/ trails/coastal/gulf-shores-orange-beach/ Orange Beach Waterfront Parks: https://www.orangebeachal.gov/ facilities/waterfront-park
While in town, don't miss visiting shady Waterfront Park on Wolf Bay.
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Treasures in South Dakota's BlackHills
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Custer's 4th of July parade features a wave of kids on bicycles all decked out in patriotic red, white and blue.
swooped over the crowd and climbed back into the sky, the engines blazed a fiery orange and a huge roar rattled our chests. Our ears were still ringing as the parade began with a swarm of kids on bicycles decked out in red, white, and blue riding past. The town's dignitaries followed, marching in step and bearing flags. We had to block our ears once more when the fire engines rolled by, sirens blaring. Even Uncle Sam appeared, walking on stilts and waving his top hat at the crowd. In the evening we climbed up on a hill to watch the town's fireworks display a few streets away over Pageant Hill. These fireworks are well known in the area, and the town was packed to the gills with people picnicking in the park and on the surrounding hillsides. Soon, fireballs rocketed into the sky and split apart in colorful sprays, exploding in thunderous bursts. The finale was breathtaking. The town of Custer is named for Lt. Col. George Custer who led a huge expedition to the area back in 1874. The wagon train of explorers, scientists, engineers, photographers, and news reporters extended for two miles from end to end as they traveled from the area around present-day Bismarck, North Dakota, to South Dakota's Black Hills in search of gold and a location for a military outpost. Along with 1,000 military men,
SOUTH DAKOTA'S BLACK HILLS Story by Emily Fagan Photos by Emily and Mark Fagan
When the 4th of July arrives each season, we love to take our RV to a small town that celebrates in style. One of our favorites is Custer, South Dakota, where they call their Independence Day festivities "An Old Time Country 4th of July." During our visit, a few days before the holiday, we bumped into the mayor, Corbin Herman, while strolling through town. He was excited about the upcoming celebration and encouraged us to get to the parade just before it started because it would kick off with a flyover by a B-1 bomber from nearby Ellsworth Air Force Base. Sure enough, on the morning of the 4th, to the whoops and hollers of hundreds of people waving flags and looking up at the sky, a B-1 bomber appeared in the distance. Before we could blink an eye, the massive jet zoomed down the parade route right above us. As it
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A young foal and its mother in Custer State Park.
A prairie dog munches a snack at Custer State Park.
this massive traveling caravan included 1,900 horses, six mule teams pulling 110 wagons, a band of hunting dogs, and a herd of 300 beef cattle to feed the crowd! They discovered gold in the Black Hills, and shortly after the conclusion of Custer's expedition a small band of prospectors arrived and set up camp. Unfortunately, this encampment was in violation of the recently signed Fort Laramie Treaty between the U.S. Government and the Lakota Indians, and they were quickly evicted by the U.S. Cavalry. Today, a replica of their stockade still stands where the original stockade once stood, close to the appropriately named Stockade Lake. After visiting the stockade during the day, we returned to the lake late one night to photograph the Milky Way crossing the sky high above the trees. The water was as still as glass that night, and the stars of the Milky Way reflected in the mirrored surface of the lake. It was fun to be out and about while the whole town slept, and since there wasn't a soul to be seen anywhere, we set up a camera tripod right in the middle of the main drag to capture a photo of the lights of the town. What a contrast this was to the wild times and huge crowds for the fireworks a few nights before! Custer is one of several towns along the George Mickelson
Trail, a wonderful rails-to-trails train track conversion that is now a wide gravel path that runs for 109 miles on a north-south route through South Dakota. Ideal for walking, jogging or bike riding, we took our mountain bikes on two different excursions ten miles out of town on this trail and back, once heading north from Custer and once heading south. The riding was flat and easy, and plaques along the way told the history of the area. We loved the rugged rock formations and cliffs we saw on these rides. How fortunate the train operators of yesteryear were to traverse this beautiful countryside on a regular basis! Back in town, we stopped for an espresso coffee and muffin at Calamity Jane Coffee Shop and later had a slice of heavenly homemade blueberry pie at the Purple Pie Place. Both of these little eateries were so enjoyable that we returned several times throughout our stay! Custer State Park lies less than 15 miles east of the town of Custer, and it is home to some of the most accessible "wild" animals we have seen anywhere. The Wildlife Loop Road is the best place for close encounters of the animal kind, and we started our drive early one morning to catch the animals while they were out foraging for breakfast. Within just a few minutes we found ourselves sharing the road with an enormous buffalo who was
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A herd of bison approaches from the distance at Custer State Park.
The begging burros in Custer State Park are experts at their trade
The burros are friendly enough to pet at Custer State Park.
sauntering down the middle of the street with a regal air. We crept past him in our truck as he walked, and he glanced over at us, nostrils flaring. What an enormous and intimidating creature! Just a short distance further down the road we came across a small herd of burros. These guys were very cheeky, and they didn't hesitate for a moment to come over and press their noses against the truck window. We lowered the back window and a burro poked his head all the way in to give us the once over. These animals weren't the slightest bit shy, and we found out why when we saw several mares with their foals later in the afternoon. Each pair was surrounded by admiring throngs of children and parents fawning over them. Although visitors aren't supposed to feed the burros, several people had come armed with carrots and lettuce, and the burros happily munched away on the treats. Years ago, the domestic ancestors of this herd of feral burros had provided rides to park visitors. However, when the park decided to discontinue the rides, they simply released the burros to the wild, and a new kind of entertainment was born as the burros began to interact with the visitors on their own. Accustomed to people and unafraid of being petted, these funny animals have rightfully earned the nickname, the "Begging Burros!"
In other portions of the park we found several prairie dog communities. These little critters live in underground mazes, and we loved watching them pop up from their holes to survey the landscape and then disappear back down underground again. As we photographed them engaging in their charming antics, we suddenly heard the resounding hoofbeats of a herd of bison rumbling towards us from the distant hillsides. In just a few minutes the herd, which seemed to number about a hundred bison, made their way across the open meadow to where we were standing. The prairie dogs all disappeared into their dens when the huge beasts approached, and after snapping a bunch of photos we dove into our truck as the herd streamed around us on both sides like flowing water. There are lots of scenic drives in the area, and the Needles Highway is among the most popular. This skinny road winds between pinnacle rock formations (the "needles") and offers fabulous views as it twists and turns through the hills. Two very narrow and low tunnels through the rocks make it tricky to take a big pickup on this drive, even though tour buses manage to "thread the needle" through these tunnels every day. But smaller vehicles and motorcycles can get through the tunnels easily and the scenery is terrific.
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The Milky Way reflects in the still water of Stockade Lake.
Spearfish Waterfall is a highlight on the Spearfish Canyon scenic drive.
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Motorcycles fill the streets at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is a wild and crazy event.
Motorcycle riding is extremely popular throughout the Black Hills, and the first Friday in August each year marks the beginning of the famous annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally that brings together 500,000 or more motorcycle enthusiasts. (This year's edition of the rally will be August 7-16, 2020). A virtual party on wheels, the entire town of Sturgis is transformed into a sea of sparkling chrome, loud engines, black leather vests, and colorful bandanas, all rounded out with plentiful whiskey, beer, and raucous good times. My husband, Mark, got sidetracked by the Bikini Bike Wash while I gaped in wonder at the endless flow of motorcycles filling all the streets. Locals rent out space on their lawns for visitors to tent camp for the week, and the parade of bikes goes up and down the town's streets from dawn until way past dusk each day. Every day of the rally groups of bikes spend a few hours riding the beautiful country roads that wander through the Black Hills. One of the most popular routes goes through Spearfish Canyon south of the town of Spearfish. We drove this road in our truck—surrounded by motorcycles, of course—and enjoyed a brief break at Spearfish Falls where we stopped for a picnic lunch and a stroll on the hiking trail down to the waterfall. A tall cascade of water poured over the side of a cliff and
spread out into a dozen rivulets at its base. Beautiful! Another great drive in the area passes the famous presidential sculptures of Mount Rushmore. Although we didn't go into the park to see them up close, we enjoyed the changing perspective on these famous heads as we drove past. Most images of these fantastic sculptures of presidents Washington, Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Lincoln view their faces from the front, but we got a kick out of seeing these massive stone carvings from distant side views as well. Nearby, work on the gargantuan full-body sculpture of the Lakota Indian Crazy Horse is ongoing and has been for decades. Only the head has been completed so far, but a smaller template of the planned finished product reveals that it will one day be an absolutely magnificent sculpture of Crazy Horse astride his galloping horse pointing at the Black Hills. There is much more to see in the Black Hills, so we saved some gems for our next visit, and there are even more treasures nearby. Jewel Cave National Monument and Wind Cave National Park lie just to the west and southeast of Custer respectively. The town of Wall (home to famous Wall Drug) is a hundred miles to the east and is a natural stop to make on the way to colorful Badlands National Park. Even though Wall Drug is a classic tourist
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Glorious fireworks on the 4th of July at Pageant Hill in Custer.
The George Mickelson Trail travels through beautiful scenery for 109 miles of rails-to-trails biking and hiking.
trap, it is a hoot nonetheless. After doing the "tourist thing" there we found ourselves immersed in one of nature's more exotic realms at Badlands National Park where a herd of bighorn sheep roamed freely. Just over the border in Wyoming we marveled at the unique rock formation of Devil's Tower National Monument, a place that featured prominently decades ago in the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind. With all of these things to do in the area, the Black Hills ought to be packed with visitors, but we've found it to be delightfully quiet and intimate compared to more famous destinations. If you're looking for some family fun a little off the beaten path, plan an expedition to the Black Hills like Lt. Col. George Custer did 146 years ago. FOR MORE INFORMATION Custer SD Tourism: https://visitcuster.com// Black Hills Tourism: https://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/ Custer Black Hills Expedition History: https://blackhillsvisitor.com/ learn/1874-custer-expedition-to-the-black-hills/2/ George Mickelson Trail: https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/george-s-- mickelson-trail/ Custer State Park: https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/custer-state-park/ Sturgis Bike Week: ttps://sturgismotorcyclerally.com/
A bison saunters down the road at Custer State Park.
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ROAMING THE HILL COUNTRY You kind of forget you’re in Texas
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Overlooking Lake Travis at The Oasis.
flat Texas. The Hill Country is where rolling hills stretch out to the horizon, carved by meandering creeks and rivers shaded by leafy Texas Live Oak and Bald Cypress trees. Lakes welcome boaters, and anglers and visitors splash in refreshing swimming holes and gentle streams. In springtime, sprouting Texas bluebonnets add hues of royal blue, maroon and lavender within pastures and along highways. Local vineyards are recognized worldwide for their bountiful wine choices. And visits to the Hill Country gateways of Austin and San Antonio enhance any trip with world-class museums, history and culture. WhileanAustinvisitcouldincludetouringthepinkgranite state capitol or a hike around Lady Bird (Johnson) Lake dotted with kayakers and canoes, I begin my adventure at the Oasis on Lake Travis, a multi-level restaurant and shopping complex. Built on a bluff, the platforms offer incredible lakeside panoramas, especially at sunset. “How’s that for an office view?” says Jesse Foster with the Oasis Texas Brewing Company on the complex’s upper level. “You drive to the Hill Country and you feel like you’re somewhere else. You kind of forget you’re in Texas for a little while.” Lake Travis is one of the Austin area’s string of manmade lakes created through flood control dams along the
Stonehenge II at the Hill Country Arts Foundation, Kerrville.
ROAMING THE HILL COUNTRY By Richard Varr
I know I’m in the Texas Hill Country, but for a few moments I find myself whisked away to the English countryside. That’s because I’m walking amidst a circle of stacked stones that looks like prehistoric Stonehenge atop a grassy field. But after a closer look—and a snap back to reality—I soon realize these stones aren’t stones at all but instead steel and plaster replicas. “We call it our strange art installation,” quips Executive Director Sarah Derousseau of the Hill Country Arts Foundation in Kerrville when explaining that the inspiration for so-called Stonehenge II came after a local landowner visited the English monument. Built on his property more than 30 years ago, the smaller replica was more recently relocated to the Foundation’s grounds. “People like that it’s an unusual thing to have,” adds Derousseau, “and it was done well for what it is.” What also might be considered unusual is to find a region of such hilly countryside in what’s generally perceived as
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Vereins Kirche on Marktplatz, Fredericksburg.
Pioneer Museum original structures, Fredericksburg.
Outside of Walton-Smith log cabin, Fredericksburg.
Inside of Walton-Smith log cabin, Fredericksburg.
Colorado River, starting 85 miles northwest of Austin and ending in the city. Others include Lady Bird Lake, Lake Austin, Lake LBJ, Inks Lake and the massive, 30- mile long Lake Buchannan. Most are popular for boating and fishing, while Lake Travis’ popular beach areas fill up quickly on weekends. A short drive to Dripping Springs is where a 50-foot waterfall spills over limestone outcroppings at river- fed Hamilton Pool Preserve. The grotto-like pool with surrounding hiking paths was formed when the dome over an underground river collapsed thousands of years ago. The pale blue water can be super cold at around 50 degrees, and reservations are needed in the busy summer months. My next stop is Fredericksburg, considered to be the heart of the Hill Country, about 80 miles from Austin on State Highway 290 West. German settlers founded the town in 1846 and their cultural legacy remains today. For example, Main Street or Hauptstrasse cuts through the center of town. German eateries serve up crispy pork schnitzel, bratwurst, and sauerkraut, and shops sell German beer steins and nutcrackers alongside wine tasting rooms, antique shops, and galleries. Marktplatz is centered with the rebuilt octagonal Vereins Kirche, now a local history museum. The 1847 original structure was the town’s first public building.
“Our ancestors really didn’t know what they were coming to, but once they got here they were Americans and had to struggle to survive,” explains Evelyn Weinheimer with the Pioneer Museum. “Fredericksburg became more of an isolated community and I think that has helped us keep our heritage as long as we have.” The Pioneer Museum showcases this German heritage through original mid to late 19th- and early 20th century log cabins, homes, and barns built by settlers. The buildings feature original furnishing, and descendants of families that once lived in these structures narrate explanatory recordings. “I remember my mother used to cook on it,” says one recording when describing an old stove in the Fassel-Roeder house. One of Fredericksburg’s most revered attractions, the National Museum of the Pacific War, tells the story of World War II’s Pacific theater. Fronted by a statue of native son Admiral Chester Nimitz, the museum complex includes the newly renovated Nimitz Gallery as the museum was founded on the site of the family’s old Nimitz Hotel. The gallery details the life of Nimitz who served as Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. “I believe the leadership characteristics of Admiral Nimitz came from being born here and living here, and they’re represented in this world-class museum,”
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National Museum of the Pacific War, Fredericksburg, with Admiral Nimitz sculpture outside and exhibits inside including an original atomic bomb casing.
Texas State Capitol, Austin.
says Gen. Michael Hagee with the Admiral Nimitz Foundation. “I cannot think of any other small town like Fredericksburg that has a museum of this quality.” The main gallery features some monumental artifacts, including a captured Japanese midget submarine, a B-25 Bomber and an original atomic bomb casing. Admiral Nimitz’s birthplace home with original limestone walls is now a wine bar on Main Street. And Fredericksburg’s military and WWII presence is also seen at the airport, where a Douglas C-47 transport plane stands opposite the Hangar Hotel, built to look like an airplane hangar with an aircraft observation deck and actual 1940s décor inside—old luggage, an original phone switchboard and wartime radio. A short drive from Fredericksburg along Highway 290 East passes peach orchards, grassy pastures, and roadside produce stands on the way to a string of wineries. With more than 100 vineyards in the Hill Country, the local industry touts this area as second only to Napa Valley. Tasting rooms, often adjacent to orderly rows of grapevines, offer samples of dry and fruity reds, whites, and rosés. “Visitors are surprised how many wineries are here and about the quality of the wines,” says Becker Vineyards tasting room coordinator Nichole Bendele. “And they’re surprised Texas has competed on an international level.”
Further along 290 East, I visit the birthplace and final resting place of the 36th U.S. president. In fact, the ranch making up one location of the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park includes what was Johnson’s “Texas White House,” a typical ranch home with a pool. It’s at the center of a more than 1,500-acre working ranch that also includes a schoolhouse LBJ once attended, and his reconstructed birthplace home just across from the Johnson Family Cemetery where LBJ and wife Lady Bird are buried. In a hangar on the ranch is one of five Lockheed JetStar aircraft, which he often called “Air Force One-Half” because of its small size. Another building houses his two white 1966 and 1967 Lincoln Continental convertibles he loved to drive on the ranch, as well as the West German-built lagoon-blue “Amphicar.” Johnson often surprised and even scared passengers when plunging the amphibious vehicle into nearby Lake LBJ. The second location of the National Historical Park is the president’s boyhood home, farther east in Johnson City. Other LBJ Hill Country points of interest include the nearby LBJ State Park and Historic Site and the LBJ Museum of San Marcos, highlighting his college years at what’s now Texas State University. The LBJ Presidential Library and Museum, and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center are both in Austin.
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Daytime San Antonio River Walk with tourist boats on the San Antonio River.
Downtown Austin from Lady Bird Lake.
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Gruene Dance Hall.
Hill Country vineyards ready for the growing season, outside Fredericksburg.
Landa Park, New Braunfels, with tourist train.
Luckenbach, outdoor stage and sculpture.
Just a 15-minute drive southeast of Fredericksburg leads to Luckenbach, a Hill Country jewel where country music legends once performed. With its worn creaky-floored outdoor stage, beer saloon, and legendary Dance Hall shaded by 500-year-old oak trees, Luckenbach is where Texas country rocker Jerry Jeff Walker recorded an album and where Willie Nelson held his annual Fourth of July Picnics until 1999 when 13,000 fans simply overwhelmed the small hamlet. Visitors come to relax with a cold beer alongside wooden shacks emblazoned with license plates from all over the U.S. “There’s nothing like it,” says local event planner Kat Boss after a tour of the Dance Hall and old Post Office / General Store selling T-shirts, cowgirl boots and cowboy hats. “You come and you either get it and it embraces you, or you don’t. If you do get it, you’ll really enjoy it because you can feel the past musicians, music and the whole atmosphere.” Founded in 1849 by German settlers, today Luckenbach remains a magnet for musicians and concerts seven days a week and allows self-contained RVs (no water or power hook-ups) for a maximum two- night stay in the upper parking lot at $20 a night. A similar quaint village with strong Texas music roots is Gruene (pronounced green) Historic District within the New Braunfels city limit. A water tower shoots up over the riverside Gristmill Restaurant and Bar with outdoor
tables, and with Shiner Bock and Lone Star longnecks chilling in ice. Next door is the legendary 1878 Gruene Dance Hall, one of Texas’ oldest, with wooden floors and bar walls studded with photos of musicians. “People come from all over the world to visit this place,” notes bartender Brian Connor. “Artists that have come through and played here—George Strait, Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson—all talked about this place once they became popular.” I drive through New Braunfels’ central Main Plaza with the corner 1859 Comal County Courthouse built in Romanesque architectural style, typical of the elaborate designs of many of the state’s county courthouses. In nearby Landa Park, the Comal River flows gently, filled with fish darting amidst grassy water plants and with ducks and birds resting on small islands. But the main draw to the area is river tubing. “It’s on the Texas bucket list of things to do,” says Molly Stillwell with Comal Tubes, a tubing rental business with shuttle service to designated Comal and Guadalupe river areas, some with fast water tube shoots. “We’re always busy in the summertime with thousands of people down there. It’s a great way to cool off and relax.” Tubers also flock to San Marcos, just 19 miles north on I-35 for tubing on the creek-like San Marcos River. And
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