Center of the
N ation BLACK HILLS PIONEER | 2022-2023 DESTINATION MAGAZINE
2 | 2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine
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Contents 05 06 08 10 13 15 16 18
21 22 25 27 29 31 32 34 36 38 40 41 43 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 54
Welcome to Belle Fourche Center of the Nation Monument Documenting Rich Local History at the Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center Downtown Belle Fourche Gateway to the Northern Hills: History of Belle Fourche Penny Pincher Souvenir Coins Lasting Legacies: Rodeo Legends T.R. Chytka Bronze Statues River Walk Rocky Point Recreation Area Hunting & Fishing Butte County Agriculture Belle Fourche Railroad Economic Development Warrior Trail History of the Black Hills Roundup 2022 Community Events Calendar South Dakota’s Rodeo Home Butte-Lawrence County Fair Geocache Belle Bits Arts & Entertainment Demographics & Resource Directory Local Resources Year-Round Activities offered at the Belle Fourche Rec Center Belle Fourche School District 9-1 Lodging Directory Dining Directory City Map Church Directory
Courtesy Photo
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Welcome to
Belle Fourche Volume 13 | March 2022 As the only locally owned & operated daily newspaper, the Black Hills Pioneer staff has always believed in the strength and potential of our neighborly town of Belle Fourche. For 13 years this publication has highlighted the many year-round attributes offered to all those who come to this community. Belle Fourche has deep roots in agriculture and commerce, while still offering a favorable business climate, wrapped in a friendly atmosphere. Whether you’re here for a visit, looking for a place to raise your family, or thinking about starting a new business, Belle Fourche is a welcoming place to be.
146 YEARS Since 1876
315 Seaton Cir., Spearfish, SD 57783 and 608 5th Ave., Belle Fourche, SD 57717 (605) 642-2761 • www.bhpioneer.com
Check us out online or call our office to subscribe. Publisher: Letti Lister | Project Coordinator: Sona O’Connell Advertising: Christine Jewett | Design: Scott Altstiel & Melissa Barnett
Cover photo by Leith Sandness Photography All photos by Black Hills Pioneer staff unless otherwise noted. Welcome to Belle Fourche is a special publication of the Black Hills Pioneer. © 2022 Black Hills Pioneer
Cowboy Town features Rich History
& Hometown Feel
When visitors arrive in Belle Fourche, they are welcomed with open arms and invited to immerse themselves in the cowboy lore and all of the Wild West history area residents have come to embrace. This gateway to the Northern Hills has so much to offer, while still providing a hometown atmosphere and an enriching way of life. Whether it’s taking in a rodeo, perusing a museum, shopping at all of the unique downtown shops, or enjoying a nice meal — there is truly something for everyone. Belle Fourche, which translates from French into “beautiful fork” is nestled between the Redwater and Belle Fourche rivers and surrounded by Hay Creek. One of its claims to fame is the Black Hills Roundup, one of the oldest outdoor
rodeos in the country, celebrating its 103rd anniversary. Known as the greatest show on dirt, the rodeo started 1918 and now, more than a century later, the event still draws thousands of visitors to the community every year surrounding the Fourth of July. The other is the fact that Belle Fourche is truly the geographical center of the nation. A beautiful monument was constructed at the Tri-State Museum and Visitor Center to highlight the fact and provide an experience for visitors. The breadth of history that Belle Fourche is known for, is something to experience. It all began when some of the area’s first settlers found the area to be
profitable in the fur trade, and soon it became a rendezvous point. Then, during the Black Hills gold rush in 1876, treasure seekers quickly realized that the fertile valleys around Belle Fourche provided land for farmers and ranchers to prosper. When the cattle business picked up across the United States, a stage line was constructed between Medora, N.D., and Deadwood in 1884, and a weigh station was built on a ranch owned by Sol Star and Seth Bullock. A few years later, news of a possible freight stop in the area and in 1890 a railroad terminal was built where the Belle Fourche Livestock Auction sits today.
2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine | 5
Center Nation of the
Monument
from the National Geodetic Survey South Dakota sits front and center in verifying the location. the United States, geographically, and “We work hard to make sure all our Belle Fourche holds the distinction as visitors have an enjoyable and memorable being the center of the nation since experience while it is the closest they are here,” Kristi community to the geographic point. “We work hard to make sure all Thielen, the director of the Tri-State The geographical our visitors have an enjoyable Museum and Visitor center of the and memorable experience Center, said. “We landmass of the while they are here.” maintain gardens United States moved and container on Aug. 21, 1959, plantings and have a the day that Hawaii Tri-State Museum and Visitor Center Director newly refurbished became the 50th fountain to make state, and on Aug. the exterior of 21, 2007, the Belle the facility look attractive. Our visitor Fourche Chamber of Commerce and the information is always kept up to date, Center of the Nation Planning Committee and we have a touchscreen with visitor marked the spot by dedicating a new info, as well. And we always have monument next to the Tri-State Museum interesting discovery boxes and activity and Visitor Center. tables for children and families.” Made from South Dakota granite, the The monument was designed by 21-by-40 foot compass rose marks Belle local artist and musician Monte Fourche as the geographic center of the Amende and constructed by local nation, with a 12-inch bronze marker
Kristi Thielen
To drive to the actual Geographic center of The nation (50 States): • From the intersection of Hwy. 85 and 212, drive 13 miles north on Hwy. 85. • Turn left onto Old Hwy. 85 and drive 7.8 miles, until you see a barn on your left hand side. • On the right side of the road you will see a US flag flying freely in the pasture. At this location you will see the survey marker in the ground highlighting the “Center of the Nation”
6 | 2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine
contractors. The monument was unveiled and officially dedicated in the summer of 2009. Amende wrote the following in a brief article about the monument: Located at latitude 44 degrees 58’N, longitude 103 degrees 46’ W, which is approximately 20 miles north of Belle Fourche, the center of the nation is actually in the middle of private property. While visitors can visit the flagpole located there, the landowner does not want to develop the property, so the monument is located in Belle Fourche. The monument features an engraved courtyard, picnic area, and the trailhead for the Belle Fourche River Walk, which also sports an 18-hole disc golf course. An avenue of flags rims the monument, featuring all 50 state flags — arranged in the order the states joined the union — as well as the national flags of the United States and Canada. In 2021, approximately 29,385 people visited the monument and museum,
Locally owned & operated specialty coffee shop offering gourmet coffee, blended drinks & teas and an extensive menu of breakfast, lunch and scratch-made dessert items. O P E N 7 DAYS A W E E K breaking the previous all-time annual visitor record by more than 10,000 people. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the center’s highest annual visitation was 19,254 people in 2019. In 2020, the height of the pandemic, that number dropped to 8,477. “This is 10,000 people higher than the highest figure we’ve had before, indicating that we are, hopefully, bouncing back quickly from 2020,” said Kristi Thielen, Tri-State Museum and Visitor Center director.
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Documenting the Rich
Local History
The Tri-State Museum and Visitor Center is certainly a must see for anyone visiting or relocating to Belle Fourche. Since 1955, the Tri-State Museum and Visitor Center has collected historical materials from the early settlement of the tri-state area, including the corners of South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming. The objective of the museum is to tell the stories of the early pioneers and those who followed them, and to preserve that legacy for future generations. The museum houses a unique collection that attracts thousands of visitors every year seeking to learn more about the history of Belle Fourche and the tri-state region. The non-profit museum opened in 1955 after Mrs. Roy Williams, of Hammond, Mont., donated $1,000 and a western collection started by her late husband. To accommodate this collection, local businesses and interested parties grouped together to create the historical center.
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In 2004, the museum opened in its current location at 415 Fifth Ave., in Belle Fourche. The museum foundation is currently involved in a capital campaign to raise funds for an addition that would include an all-purpose gallery to be used for events including gallery showings, hands-on education for children, office space, and research center. As visitors enter the museum, the first display to greet them is the “Early Cattle Companies.” At one time Belle Fourche was the largest shipping point of range cattle in the world. Many of the cowboys of the area rode with Seth Bullock’s cowboys to the 1905 inauguration of Theodore Roosevelt. The Black Hills Roundup and Rodeo, now in its 103rd year, plays a large part in the history of this area. The Roundup began in 1918 as a benefit for the Red Cross during World War I, bringing $20,000 for the war effort. During the Roundup rodeo, the challenge of riding Tipperary, the legendary bucking horse, set the momentum, and the rodeo became an
annual Fourth of July celebration, which continues to this day, attracting overflow crowds from around the world. In the museum, visitors will find the story of the Great Butte County Bank Robbery featuring the Sundance Kid and the Hole-inthe-Wall Gang. A military section with uniforms and memorabilia from the Civil War through the Vietnam War includes the story of Don Smith, a local hero who was part of the Doolittle Raiders during World War II. Guns, local industry, a pioneer home complete with fashions and furnishings, a mercantile, and the history of the railroad round out the main collections of the Tri-State Museum and Visitor Center. Located next to the museum is the “Buckskin” Johnny Spaulding Cabin. Spaulding was an avid hunter, scout, and guide. The two-story cabin, which originally stood at the lower Redwater River just south of Belle Fourche, was built from hand-hewn logs
Photo courtesy TravelSouthDakota.com
states, really respond to it,” Thielen said. All mini-exhibits, temporary exhibits, First Saturday Brunches, Family Fun Days, summer classes, and Tri-State Performer productions for the year have been planned and information about them is available online at thetristatemuseum.com. The museum has also expanded its Discovery boxes for families to explore — adding boxes on sunflowers and the Native Americans of South Dakota. For children, the campus continues to offer a dress-up trunk, a western activity table, and have added a kids’ table to each of its temporary exhibits. Thielen said that changes have been made to the gift shop in response to requests and interests of both local visitors and tourists. “We have puzzles, games, smart toys, more books for kids, more interesting activities for young people,” she said, adding that with
hauled from the surrounding hills. After building the cabin, Spaulding invited his sister, brother-in-law, and their six children to move to the area. For two years they lived together in his cabin, now equipped with furnishings and artifacts that reveal insights into the modest lifestyles of the era. In 1960, the W.A. Helmer family donated the cabin to the museum, and the Belle Fourche Lions Club provided renovations. In 2006, it was moved to its present location near the banks of the Belle Fourche River and steps away from the Center of the Nation Monument. Museum and Visitor Center Director Kristi Thielen said that visitors often say that the Johnny Spaulding Cabin is the highlight of their stop in Belle Fourche. “It has a charm that’s especially unique and the story of Buckskin Johnny and the girl he left behind is a touching one. Tourists, especially those from outside the western
Tri-State Museum
few to no hobby/toy shops in Belle Fourche, it seemed to fill a need within the community. Kim Reausaw, the gift shop manager, said the crew is aiming to put more emphasis on science and artistic projects and gifts. New offerings include interestingly shaped puzzles, science kits like grow your own crystals, volcanoes, brain teasers, and more. Reausaw said the new items are geared toward both children and adults. A few of the items are available online at the visitor center website, but the majority are available inside the complex. Reausaw said the shop has some clothing items but she’d like to bolster those offerings as well as bags, journals, socks, and more. For more information, visit the Tri-State Museum and Visitor Center at 415 Fifth Ave., in Belle Fourche or call (605) 723-1200.
& Visitor Center Admission is free
Memorial Day – Labor Day: Monday–Saturday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday: 1–4 p.m.
Labor Day–Memorial Day: Tuesday-Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Closed Sunday & Monday
Group tours available. Check out our website for events, exhibits, and more!
www.thetristatemuseum.com 2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine | 9
2022 Downtown Events CON Business Association
Communit y Easter Egg Hunt ������������������������ April 9 Tri-State Museum and Visitor Center
Sweet Corn Festival . . ............................... August 20 CON Business Association
Halloween Parade.................................. October 31 CON Business Association
Light Up the Night & Fireworks ��������� NOVEMBER 25 Cha mber of Commerce
Parade of Lights................................. NOVEMBER 25
Riverside with Hometown Thursdays
Friendly Downtown The growing community of Belle Fourche has a diverse downtown scene. More than 50 businesses line the streets that comprise the downtown area. Whether you’re in the mood to shop for clothing, antiques, do your banking or just grab a bite to eat, the proprietors who do business downtown can assist in your needs. Several community events are scheduled throughout the year, including Riverside with Hometown
Great music, food, vendors and fun!
Event Dates: JUNE 9 | JUNE 16 | JUNE 23 | June 30 JULY 7 | JULY 14 | JULY 21 | JULY 28 August 11 | August 18 | August 25 Thursday Nights from 6 - 9:30pm | Performing Bands TBD Center of the Nation Park Area | 415 5th Ave., Belle Fourche
Downtown Shopping
Western Wear | Clothing & Jewelry | Antiques | Gift Shops Fabrics & Notions | Dining & Coffee Shops | Night Life | And More!
Antiques, Refurbished & Vintage Furniture WOODEN BOWLS, ART, CUSTOM ITEMS, SILVER & COPPER JEWELRY Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Post Cards Y Tokens Vintage Jewelry Y Jars Y Smoking Memorabilia Depression Glass Y Vintage Glassware Toys & Dolls Y Aprons & Linens Vintage Clothing Y Vintage Tins Vintage Furniture Y Man Cave Items Record Albums Y Juke Box Comics Y Arcade Machine Vintage Christmas Y Sports Cards Vintage Y Carnival Glass Kitchen Ware We Buy Estates
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Belle Fourche Thursdays, an 11-week long festival including live music, kids activities, vendors and more. Many of the stores are in historic structures — a tribute to Belle Fourche when it was a fledgling community that was built off the back of the livestock industry. Some of those buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places. But beyond the heart of the city, Belle Fourche hosts stores that offer agricultural
supplies, automotive parts and repairs, laundry services, a 12-lane bowling alley, a nine-hole golf course, dining and more — everything residents and visitors need. No matter what you are shopping for and no matter where you go in Belle Fourche you are guaranteed to find great stores with friendly customer service.
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Gateway to the
Northern Black Hills
The area now known as Belle Fourche was inhabited long before a name or township was ever established. The name Belle Fourche (pronounced Bell Foosh) came when France held the claim on the area, and French explorers found the meeting point between the Redwater River and Hay Creek — Belle Fourche translates to “beautiful fork.” Many beaver trappers found the area to be profitable in the fur trade, making Belle Fourche a rendezvous point during the 1800s for trappers and traders. After the Black Hills gold rush in 1876 brought treasure seekers of all sorts to the area, the fertile valleys around Belle Fourche provided land for farmers and ranchers to prosper, as they had ample customers at the mines in need of food and work animals. The plains throughout the United States, and even those beyond its borders, were filling with cattle, and service areas and towns began to appear to meet the needs of the cattle business. The stage line between Medora, N.D., and Deadwood was established in 1884, and a way station, known as De Mores, which included a stage barn and a saloon, was built on the SB Ranch owned by Sol Star and Seth Bullock. After only a few stage runs, however, the stop proved unprofitable, and the stagecoach no longer took the route that included De Mores. While the saloon remained open, it wasn’t until the railroad came along that Belle Fourche really made a mark on the map. Everyone in the area knew that
the Fremont, Elkhorn, and Missouri Valley Railroads, under pressure from the cattle barons, would soon need a freight stop in the area for herds before shipment to packing plants in the Midwest. Though the town of Minnesela, near Belle Fourche and more developed at the time, was the favored choice of location by the railroad, a spectator purchased Minnesela’s right-ofway and demanded a high price for the land the railroad wanted. Seth Bullock, having acquired land along the Belle Fourche River since his arrival in Deadwood in 1876, appraised the situation and decided to offer the railroad free right-of-way across his land, in addition to offering to build a terminal if the railroad would locate it on his land. His business partner, Sol Star, sent word to the railroad that he would not approve any deal Bullock promised unless the railroad also built into Deadwood. The railroad officials recognized a deal when they saw one and agreed to the terms. Following the agreement, the railroad terminal was built in 1890, where the present Belle Fourche Livestock Auction sits. Seth Bullock supposedly requested the town name after the last rail was hammered into place. The town was born, lots were sold, and the first train-load of cattle departed from Belle Fourche in 1890. Free lots in town were offered to businesses moving from Minnesela, and while there was some bad feeling in the past between the two, many businesses did move to the thriving town.
ch e Ri ve r Be ll e Fo ur r Ce nt er ck at th e m & Vi si to th Bu ll o Se eu d us m an So l Star f tr i-s tate ur te sy o Ph ot o co
The early days of Belle Fourche revolved around the cattle business, and known as a “cow town,” Belle Fourche catered to cowboys and cattlemen. The town’s original main street, nicknamed Saloon Street — now Fifth Avenue quickly filled with businesses which included several saloons, restaurants, clothing and grocery stores, a hotel, and Star and Bullock’s hardware and furniture store. After losing the railroad depot, the community of Minnesela also lost the Butte County seat to Belle Fourche. In 1894, an election was held and, supposedly, hundreds of voters were “imported” to ensure the outcome in Belle Fourche’s favor. Seth Bullock once again intervened on behalf of Belle Fourche, raising $2,000 to build a twostory building for a c o n t i n u e d o n pa g e 1 4
Photo courtesy of Jon Larsen
2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine | 13
C o n t i n u e d F r o m pa g e 1 3
courthouse once the county seat transferred. In elated jubilation once the vote passed, a few overzealous citizens of Belle Fourche rode into Minnesela and stole the county books — though the transfer would not take place
until the first of the new year. Growing from a rendezvous point for trappers to the county seat, Belle Fourche was on its way to establishing itself as an important community in the area. Just five years after the first trainload of cattle left its depot, Belle Fourche shipped 2,500 carloads per month in 1895s peak season, becoming the world’s largest livestock shipping point. Belle Fourche was no longer a simple stage stop; it was, and still is, an agricultural center for the region. When a fire in 1895 destroyed most of the business district, it was almost completely rebuilt within three months. Many structures were moved from Minnesela; unfortunately, without a railroad, Minnesela slowly diminished and is now
considered a ghost town. However, many of the buildings in Belle Fourche’s present downtown business district remain from the rebuilding after the fire in 1895. Belle Fourche made headlines again in 1897, when a member of the Hole-in-the-Wall gang — the Sundance Kid — attempted to rob the Butte County Bank. Belle Fourche is also home to one of the oldest outdoor rodeos — the Black Hills Roundup, which started in 1918. Originally raising funds for the Red Cross during World War I and named the “Tri-State Roundup,” the Black Hills Roundup drew 15,000 spectators to Belle Fourche its first year, even though the population of the town at that time was under 1,500 and there were no roads, and few cars to speak of in the area. The Roundup started on the Fourth of July and raised nearly $20,000 for the war effort. Though the war ended the year after, the popularity of the rodeo made it
Photo courtesy of tri-state museum & Visitor Center
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an annual event that continues each July. Belle Fourche continues to serve as a large trade area for wool, cattle, and bentonite industries which have been instrumental in the growth of the town. Serving as the “Gateway to the Northern Black Hills,” Belle Fourche describes the intersection of waterways, the intersection of history, of commerce, and of community — which makes it a mark on the area, and on the state.
Penny Collectors
Rejoice!
Penny Pincher souvenir coins Elongated tokens have been around since the 1892-93 World’s Columbian Exposition held in Chicago, Ill. There were four different designs made to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s landing in America. They have become quite a specialized collectible with some people focusing on anything from travel themed tokens, Christmas tokens, political tokens or even everything produced by one specific roller. No matter what your level of interest, you’re sure to have fun getting your one-of-a-kind penny token from the Center of the Nation! Belle Fourche, among other machine locations, can be found at www.pennycollector.com.
Now you can get a collectible penny token during your visit to the western town of Belle Fourche — and they’re available exclusively at the Tri-State Museum and Visitor Center, located at 415 5th Ave. For collectors of all ages, penny tokens are a fun and inexpensive way to commemorate your trip to Belle Fourche with three unique designs: the Black Hills Roundup Rodeo, the Tri-State Museum, and the Center of the Nation Monument. All you do is put in your penny plus two quarters, crank the rollers and watch as your token is made right before your very eyes! They also have passport books available to keep your tokens organized.
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Legacies Lasting
Bronze sculptures exhibit rodeo legends Some of the best rodeo performers in the annals of Belle Fourche history have been immortalized in bronze by sculptor Tony Chytka, allowing visitors to downtown Belle Fourche a chance to see the town’s “Lasting Legacies” while simultaneously gazing into the region’s Old West past. Sculptor T.R. “Tony” Chytka is a rural South Dakota native, a rancher, and a former champion bull rider whose art reflects his own life experience. A Chytka bronze is an entirely hand-made piece — from the clay model, to the bronze final castings and patina work — Chytka molds and creates the entire package.
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Visitors coming from the south on Highway 85 will receive a welcoming site in Chytka’s tall figure of a cowboy “breakin’ his bronc,” located at the intersection of 5th Avenue and National Street. The sculpture is six-feet tall, composed of bronze, and has come to be known as one of the “Lasting Legacies” that embody the heritage of this Western town. This salutary cowboy embodies the stamina of the original wrangler as he prepares his horse for adventures out on the prairie. The horse, known as Tipperary, is a legend himself. He’s credited with dumping more than 80 riders before
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famous rodeo rider, actor, and stuntman Yakima Canutt tackled the first successful ride on the bronc in 1920. Canutt rode the horse a second time at the Black Hills Roundup in Belle Fourche in 1921. Another figure stands on the corner of State Street and 5th Avenue, where Chytka has sculpted modern-day buffalo trainer and Belle Fourche native Jerry Wayne Olson sitting on his buffalo, Chief. Olson performed for many years as an equine entertainer at rodeos and western events across the nation — but he’s also known for his time with that buffalo, Chief, and has even been known to ride on the back of the giant animal. He is the third generation of a family of rodeo entertainers, with one of the most amazing trick roping and horse shows in the area. Walk several blocks down State Street and see a pair of famous brothers — the Garrett brothers
were top professional rodeo contestants who hail from the Belle Fourche area. The likeness of Marvin Garrett is found on the northwest side of the corner of State Street and 6th Avenue, while Mark Garrett is on the southeast corner of the same intersection. Marvin was a four-time National Finals World Bareback champion and has been inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. Mark was National Finals World Bareback Champion in 1996 and has also been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Numerous other statues can be found along the River Walk and at the Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center, including The Peace Memorial statue and the Overpeck Family Memorial statue. These sculptures of Belle Fourche’s own legends serve as a nod to the “Lasting Legacies” that comprise so much of this town’s storied past.
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18 hole Frisbee Golf Area
Center of the Nation Monument
Museum
City Hall
Rail Park
Arnold Park
Robb Park
HerRmanN Park
Parks BF Rec Center Soccer Fields Rodeo Grounds Base Ball Fields Frisbee Golf Area Center of the Nation Monument Riverwalk/Bike Path
highland Park Belle Fourche & Ice Rink Rec center Memorial Park
Weyler Park
Jones Park & Splash Pad
18 | 2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine
River Walk Leads Visitors on
City Park Tour
Visitors to Belle Fourche can get out, bask in the weather, and enjoy scenery along the River Walk, a five-mile paved path that highlights the outdoor beauty of the city and the forked rivers that Belle Fourche was named after. A project that began more than 20 years ago, the River Walk has been gradually constructed during the past decade. It features a pedestrian/bike path section and an adjoining sidewalk and urban street section that intersect, converge, and wind through the city. Sections of the River Walk wind along the banks of both the Redwater River and Hay Creek, and there are several resting points along the River Walk’s way, including benches, water fountains, and restroom facilities. The River Walk is fully signed with large maps posted along the route that point out the various parks and attractions. There is a picnic area near of the Center of the Nation Avenue of Flags, an 18-hole disc golf course just west of the Tri-State Museum, an ice skating rink at Highland Park, and a
There are TEN parks located throughout the City of Belle Fourche
loop section around Herrmann Park. “We like to think we have some pretty nice parks here,” said Public Works Director Dirk Hoffmann. “We have an excellent parks supervisor. He and his staff do a great job maintaining all of our city parks.” Jones Park receives considerable walking traffic, and the basketball and tennis courts make it a common target for younger crowds in the community; and, the city recently opened a splash pad. At Thomas C. Gay Park on the north end of town, the city retrofitted old tennis courts into pickleball courts. Herrmann Park is best for family gatherings and the like, with its picnic areas, band shelter and open, manicured lawns that sit underneath abundant giant Cottonwood trees. Improvements on portions of the River Walk, including riverbank repairs and revetment, began winter 2022 at the confluence of the Belle Fourche and Red Water rivers just north of State Street. Revetment is a method of refortification to
a riverbank or other natural retaining wall. Portions of the River alk have been closed off for travel after flooding undercut the bank, causing erosion underneath the concrete walking path, and eventually triggering parts of the path to fall into the water. The newly rebuilt riverbank and sidewalk are expected to be ready for travel this year.
Arnold Park, State St. | Eagle Park, Elkhorn St. | Centennial Park, National St. | Rail Park, State St. Robb Park, State St. | Herrmann Park, 8th Ave. | Highland Park & Ice Rink, National St. Jones Park & Splash Pad, 11th Ave. | Thomas C. Gay Park & Pickleball Court, North 8th Ave. Weyler Park, 7th Ave. 2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine | 19
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Rocky Point Recreation Area
at Belle Fourche Reservoir BELLE FOURCHE RESERVOIR Loc ation
8 miles east of Belle Fourche off Hwy 212 GPS Coordinates
Lat: 44.709235 Long: -103.71254 Avail abilit y
Open year round. Primitive camping available. Campsites available up to 90 days prior to arrival. 62 camp sites. 3 ADA accessible. History
The 8,000-acre Belle Fourche Reservoir was created in 1911, when Orman Dam was constructed to store water for agricultural use. At the time of its completion, Orman Dam was the largest earthen dam in the world. In 1989, Orman Dam was designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
Fishing
The Belle Fourche Reservoir has an average depth of 25 feet with areas as deep as 60 feet when full. The reservoir is a high density walleye fishery with several other species, such as channel catfish, yellow perch, black crappie, smallmouth bass, white bass, and tigermuskie. Anglers fishing for walleye often report high catch rates all year long with a good launching spot at Rocky Point Recreation Area and soon at Gadens Point Fishing license required.
ROCKY POINT RECREATION AREA Facilities
57 Electrical Campsites; 3 Camping Cabins; 5 Group Camping Sites; Comfort Station (Showers and Flush Toilets); Dump Station; 3 Boat Ramps; Fish Cleaning Station; Paved Roads; Picnic Shelters; Playground; Archery Range; Horseshoe Pits; Drinking Water; Game Checkout; Beach Area; Volleyball Area
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Park entrance license required year round Daily License: $8 per vehicle Annual: $36 first vehicle, $18 for second $80 transferable license Camping & Fees $22 non-electrical site per night $26 electrical site per night Camping cabins $55 per night 62 camp sites. 3 ADA accessible Contact Information Rocky Point Recreation Area 18513 Fisherman’s Road Belle Fourche, SD 57717 605-641-0023 RockyPoint@state.sd.us Reservations (800) 710-CAMP (2267) or www.CampSD.com Up to 90 days prior to arrival Source: South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks gfp.sd.gov, 605-892-4968
2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine | 21
Belle Fourche: Home to Prime
Hunting and Fishing
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The thousands of acres of ranchland around Belle Fourche are not only home to ranchers’ cattle and sheep, but they are also home to a diverse crop of wildlife and prime hunting area. From whitetails and mule deer to upland game and antelope, hunters have plenty of animals to pursue. Antelope offer hunters opportunities to hunt the fastest mammal in North America. Each year, when the West River deer season opens — traditionally in mid-November — hunters head to the nearby ranches and walk-in areas in hopes of taking one of the
large mulies or whitetails that feed in the alfalfa fields or sagebrush draws. In 2008, the No. 8 ranked mule deer was killed just north of Butte County, and in late 2015, one of the largest deer bagged with a muzzleloader in the state was killed in Harding County. While the majority of hunters chasing deer around Butte County are seeking a large mule deer, the whitetail population is still high and large bucks can be frequently found. While South Dakota’s central and eastern counties are home to massive pheasant populations, a
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hearty population of pheasants call Butte County home. The birds can be found in the same type of areas as they would in prime pheasant habitat — near corn, in cattails, in tree rows, and in alfalfa fields. Sharptail grouse can also be hunted. Large turkey populations also give hunters a chance at providing the bird for a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. At many of the area lakes and stock ponds waterfowl can be abundant. The numbers of birds are not nearly what hunters can find along the Missouri River or in the eastern part of the state, but success can be found especially in creeks that remain open long after the flat water freezes over.
Belle Fourche is home to one of the largest bodies of water in the state — the Belle Fourche Reservoir. Fishermen use the shores, their boats, and the ice to bring home their daily catch of walleye and other fish. When the walleye spawn, the dam becomes alive with fishermen trying to catch the big one. Catfish and bass can also be found in the large body of water that has filled to near capacity in recent years after nearly a decade of drought. Other nearby lakes and ponds, in addition to the Redwater River, are home to prime fishing as well.
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Photo Courtesy of Leith Sandness Photography
2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine | 23
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Agriculture a Mainstay of
Butte County
Agriculture is South Dakota’s number one industry and in Butte County, it’s a way of life. “It’s handed down from generation to generation around here,” said TJ Swan, formerly with the Butte County Cooperative Extension Service. “If you’ve got the land to do it and the gumption to fight the markets, it’s just what you do.” “South Dakota has always been and will continue to be an agricultural state,” said Bill Evan, with the South Dakota Department of Agriculture. He noted that the economic impact of agriculture in South Dakota exceeds $20.9 billion and employs more than 173,000 people, directly and indirectly. According to an agricultural census, there are a total of 659 farms in Butte County, making up a total of approximately 1.2 million acres. Of that, a total amount of 163,375 acres is used for cropland. The largest agriculture operations are mostly cattle production and farming. An average of 60,000 head of cattle are roaming throughout the county in a given year. And, he said, because of the open prairie land, it makes for excellent crop production, which in turn, provides feed for cattle producers. “When the rains are heavy in the spring around here, it can make for a healthy amount of forage for cattle,” Swan said. “Western wheatgrass is one of the best forage for cattle and we certainly have a lot of that around here.” Corn is among the most produced
crop in Butte County; alfalfa and soybean production come in right after. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Butte County ranks number one in sheep production, with at least 42,000 head. Statewide, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports there are approximately 305,000 head of sheep and approximately 3.7 million head nationwide. And when it comes time for ranchers to earn their payday for the year, they ship their livestock to auctions. Both the Belle Fourche Livestock Auction and St. Onge Livestock Auction are major players for selling cattle. The Belle Fourche Livestock Auction was originally built in 1935, with a rich history and a staple for economic development in Butte County. The stockyards exist because one man had a vision of building a town around a railroad. Though the train system is no longer utilized to transport the cattle, the location of the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad was the reason it exists. According to history records, the Belle Fourche area was first settled in 1876 after gold was discovered in the Black Hills. Shortly thereafter, Seth Bullock came to the Black Hills and settled around the Belle Fourche River. Bullock, a frontier marshal and rancher, offered a free right of way and offered to build the terminal to the proposed railroad company looking to build a new rail system through the Black Hills. That location at the Old Middle Creek shipping yards is where the present day Belle Fourche Livestock Auction sits. By 1895, Belle Fourche was shipping 2,500 carloads of cattle east every
month during the busy seasons, making it the world’s largest livestock shipping point at that time. Most of the cattle were shipped to markets in Chicago and Omaha, Neb. To the south is St. Onge Livestock. Since 1981, the facility has been home to the beef, sheep, and goat auction market. Just to the northeast, in Newell, thousands of sheep are sold at the St. Onge Livestock’s sheep yards. Just like cattle, sheep has long been raised on the grassland around Belle Fourche. While the sheep yards serve as the sale point for the live animals, their shorn wool is run through another Belle Fourche company. Center of the Nation Wool, Inc., markets between 4.5-5 million pounds of wool per year. Considering the ideal sheep rearing conditions the region provides, the future looks bright for the wool-marketing corporation. Larry Prager, CEO and general manager since 1993, said that South Dakota was settled and homesteaded with sheep, and the producer-owned wool corporation has been an integral part of that history since the development of the area. The corporation serves a diverse group of 1,500 producers from South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, and Nebraska and runs the gamut from people with a few sheep in their backyard to the large production sheep ranches. “We handle some of the highest quality wool in the United States,” he said. “We have better color, higher yielding, and really a tradition of quality wool in Belle Fourche.”
2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine | 25
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Belle Fourche Owes its Start to the Railroad
In 1890, the railroad had been built west to a point that is now Belle Fourche. On Sept. 16 of that year, the first load of cattle was shipped by railcar to eastern states. Over the next two months nearly 1,300 railcars of cattle were transported to markets. The first rail station in the cowtown was completed in December 1890. The success of the railroad then brought about the platting of Belle Fourche in the spring of 1891 and land parcels were sold starting in June of that year. The railroad made it possible for the region’s agricultural industry to have easy access to a highly efficient means of delivery for its products to market.
In 1892, nearly 4,000 railcars of cattle were being shipped from Belle Fourche. By 1895, that number had soared to 2,500 railcars of cattle per month, making Belle Fourche the largest shipper of cattle in the world. Over the decades the railroad has shipped numerous agricultural commodities from Belle Fourche including wool, grain, flour, and numerous other items for the industry. The rails now reach to Colony, Wyo., where the railcars carry bentonite, a mined substance used in a wide variety of products from kitty litter to cosmetics. In 2016, the addition of a half-mile-long siding track at the industrial rail park
made it easier for businesses to load and unload products including a new switch which will allow for additional track construction in the future. A base of rail business has been established and is growing, thus the rail expansion scheduled for 2021-2022. The $2.4 million expansion will allow for up to 90 rail cars at the siding with more offloading space to better serve the customers. In late 2021, Albany Farms, headquartered out of Los Angeles, Calif., officially signed on to relocate to Belle Fourche where it intends to plant roots in the Center of the Nation, manufacturing its signature ramen noodle line of products. Albany Farms recently purchased a facility, which formerly housed the PermianLide Tank & Manufacturing plant, and the 15 acres surrounding the location in the 79-acres of the Belle Fourche Industrial & Rail Park. The company said it plans to hire approximately 150 employees within a year and be in full production this spring.
2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine | 27
28 | 2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine
Belle Fourche: building community development &economic together Community development, building relationships, and nurturing partnerships with new businesses and those who wish to expand epitomize the driving forces behind what the Belle Fourche Development Corporation (BFDC) is working to accomplish in 2022. The Belle Fourche Industrial & Rail Park was completed in September 2013. The addition of over 2,600 feet of track siding for offloading in 2016 expanded the park’s capabilities. A base of rail business has been established and is growing, thus the rail expansion scheduled for 2021-2022, is underway. The $2.4 million expansion will allow for up to 90 rail cars at the siding with more offloading space the better serve the customers. “Working with our current rail customers and our prospects to further develop rail business and industry for Belle Fourche and the region is a top priority,” said Hollie Stalder, BFDC executive director. “Local and out-of-area customers utilizing the rail siding will see improved access and further development in 2022.” The park’s economic impact is significant given that this is the only rail siding site of its kind in western South Dakota with a site ready industrial park at its side. With on- and offloading opportunities available to key customers, transportation savings can be realized immediately. The development of rail facilities of its kind also relieves some of the burden on highway and interstate system as one rail car can transfer goods equivalent to three to five semi truckloads. “Belle Fourche is a community with strong leadership and alliances to help make the development process seamless,” Stalder said. “BFDC, the city, the county, the school, and business leaders within, help lead the way and tie it all together. An important component of what economic development is focused on, is aligning with companies to build community.” Over the past eight years, more than 80 businesses either relocated to Belle Fourche or completed an expansion of their existing business.
“We are so pleased with the positive growth,” said Stalder. “Here in Belle, we work closely with the school for workforce development,” Stalder said. “With the 2018 expansion and new facility for the Belle Fourche Career and Technical Education Center (CTE), we have been amping up ways we can help the students to partner with employers in the region and take up those opportunities.” The Belle Fourche School District broke ground on the 21,000-square-foot property at the corner of Lawrence Street and 13th Avenue located just north of the Belle Fourche High School in the fall of 2017 and opened in September of 2018. The 100-by-100-foot building serves the local needs for educating high school students in numerous industries including welding, family and consumer science, accounting, hospitality, and agriculture, and includes an area for an expanded science, technology, engineering, and mathematics curriculum. The new building, offers high school students who elect to take CTE courses better opportunities to do so, in a more modern facility. Businesses looking at Belle Fourche for relocation will be able to capitalize on a number of items. “We are the center of the nation, and the crossroads that are part of that,” Stalder said. “Highway 85 experiences over 16,000 vehicles a day through the main corridor of town between Highway 34 on the south end and 212 on the north end — making connections in any direction very accessible. Our close proximity to Interstate 90 adds to the appeal.” Stalder said the development corporation’s emphasis on housing initiatives is producing steady results. BFDC formed a partnership with NeighborWorks Dakota Homes Resources in the fall of 2014. This partnership is focused on assisting those working in Belle Fourche to be able to consider home ownership. In the past
eight years, the partnered organizations helped more than 100 community members either move toward home ownership or to reinvest in their current homes. The Leadership Belle Fourche class, inducted fall 2017, is designed to help develop and empower leaders for community. The fruits of those labors produced five classes to date who are really on fire for the community. A strong percentage of those classes are serving in key leadership roles in our community, from city council to economic development and chamber boards as well as other organizations in the community. Several have joined teams who have identified key areas for community development and are working to accomplish them. Stalder said that during the nine-month class, leaders would enhance leadership skills, broaden community awareness, develop an understanding of servant leadership, and determine ways they might give back to the community of Belle Fourche. “They just have great energy and good drive for the community,” Stalder said. “Community development is pretty broad,” Stalder said. “And it does encompass a lot so the things that we’re working on, we see as being an important part of how Belle Fourche either goes forward or doesn’t. And I think we’re on the right path.”
2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine | 29
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Warrior Trail and the soldiers of the U.S. Army strove to enforce an edict from Washington, D.C., many battles of great historical significance marked this corridor. This stretch of highway has been officially designated as the Warrior Trail.
U.S. Highway 212 from Crow Agency, Mont., to Belle Fourche is the shortest distance between the Little Bighorn Battlefield and Mount Rushmore. Between 1865 and 1877, as American Indian tribes desperately tried to retain their lands and culture, BILLINGS
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history of the
Black Hills Roundup Rodeo
The Black Hills Roundup carries a storied history now more than a century long. 32 | 2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine
Started in 1918 as the “Tri-State Roundup” to raise funds for the Red Cross during World War I, the Black Hills Roundup drew 15,000 spectators to Belle Fourche its first year — an incredible number, as the population of the town was under 1,500, with no roads and few cars to speak of in the area. The Roundup started on the Fourth of July and raised nearly $20,000 for the war effort. Though the war ended the year after, the popularity of the rodeo made it an annual event. The benefit raised money through an auction, and everything from livestock to a pet antelope, to doughnuts were sold. Another fundraiser was the “German Kaiser Bill Coffin Scene,” where a person paid 25 cents to hammer a nail into the coffin and received a war Thrift Stamp for the effort of hammering the Kaiser’s coffin shut. The first Roundup consisted of saddle bronc riding, wagon, horse and relay races, bulldogging, steer and calf roping, cow pony races, and a ladies’ bucking contest. Simple in setup in its humble beginning, the rodeo had no chutes or stands, and the arena was barely fenced in enough to keep the horses from getting out. This made for more risk, as the contestant would have to catch the bronc before a ride. The rules were simple: choose a bronc, “ear” it, climb on, nod, and start. To “ear” a horse, two or three cowboys would catch its head and bite its ear to control it, distracting it long enough to saddle up and hop on. In the ladies’ bucking contest, women were required to “shackle” their horse — tying the stirrups together underneath the horse — as it
was believed to be safer and easier for the women to participate. The feature of the first Roundup was the appearance of Tipperary, the famous Harding County bucking horse. Thirteen years old and over 1,000 pounds, Tipperary drew a huge crowd, and though the crowd saw Sam Brownell of Cheyenne, Wyo., finish his ride, a technical error disqualified him. He switched hands in the middle of his ride, and though the judges did not see it, he admitted his mistake and Tipperary remained a “one man” bronc. Roundups through the 1920s consisted of whatever the organizing group at the time decided to do, as there was no standard for a rodeo. Many events at the early Roundups were organized by the Bit and Spur Saddle Club, which added to the entertainment and fun of the rodeo atmosphere. The Hide Race consisted of a rider racing across the arena pulling a cowhide behind his horse to where his partner waited to jump onto the hide for the ride back across the arena. The rodeo events were canceled in 1929 because of the mud in the arena, and an early newspaper clipping tells of what replaced the events: “a burlesque show was put on for two or three hours …” Outdoor rodeos today are rarely, if ever, stopped due to weather, and there is plenty of evidence of mud on many horses and competitors throughout the Roundup. The 1930s brought the chance for the younger generation to participate in the events of the rodeo. A rancher would agree to bring a dozen calves, and children could earn $1 to ride a calf in the arena. Many youngsters also practiced their trick riding
during the Roundup. Since the 1940s, buffalo have been present throughout Roundup events. In the ‘40s, a buffalo hunt would be staged — actors dressed in Native American garb to chase the buffalo through the arena. In more recent years there have been trick acts, with buffalo performing a variety of feats. Chariot racing became a favorite in the 1950s and ‘60s, where a two-wheeled cart pulled by one horse held a racer, and many contestants readied their horses for this event as they traveled. The horse would pull the family and rodeo supplies to Belle Fourche in true practical training, and later race against one another with much lighter loads. The formation of the PRCA (Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association) standardized seven events for the Roundup: bareback riding, tie-down roping, team roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing and bull riding. Additionally, steer roping will be held. In 2019, the Roundup celebrated its centennial. “Very few PRCA rodeos can say that,” said then-Black Hills Roundup Committee Chairman, Clay Crago. “To carry on the rodeo and the cowboy tradition for 100 years is just phenomenal.” The Roundup has garnered top honors from the PRCA in recent years. It received the Medium Outdoor Rodeo of the Year award in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. Its committee earned induction into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2018. The facility was named WPRA Badlands Circuit Ground of the Year in 2018.
2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine | 33
Community Calendar 2022 Events
March 3............. BF Chamber Annual Meeting
April 26........... Center of the Nation Concert
Alex Meixner 7 pm, Belle Fourche Area Community Center
5:30 pm, Besler’s Cadillac Ranch
4............. Center of the Nation Concert David Shannon 7 pm, Belle Fourche Area Community Center
5..............First Saturday Brunch, Kate Meadows 10 am, Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
12........... Belle Fourche Middle School Play 7 pm, Belle Fourche Rec Center Theatre
14........... Belle Fourche High School Band & Choir Concert 7 pm, Belle Fourche Rec Center
20........... Family Fun Day, “Over the Rainbow” 2 pm, Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
28........... Center of the Nation Concert
Jared Sherlock 7 pm, Belle Fourche Area Community Center
April 2............. First Saturday Brunch, Yvonne Hollenbeck 10 am, Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
2..............Belle Fourche High School Prom 2-8......... 9th Annual Belle Fourche Rec Center Wellness Fair Belle Fourche Rec Center
8–9......... BFHS Spring Musical 7pm Belle Fourche Rec Center Theatre
8-9......... Tri-State Performers Production, “Mrs. Beasley’s Wildlife Adventure” Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
9............. Community Easter Egg Hunt 10 am, Baseball Fields
10........... BFHS Spring Musical 2 pm Belle Fourche Rec Center Theatre
16........... Center of the Nation Sportsman’s Banquet 5 pm, Community Hall
34 | 2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine
May 7-8...........45th Annual Center of the Nation Walleye Tournament Rocky Point Recreation Area Call 605-645-8949 for information
5................ Belle Fourche Middle School 7th & 8th Grade Band Concert 6:30 pm, Belle Fourche Rec Center
7............. First Saturday Brunch, Phyllis Schrag 10 am, Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
9............. Belle Fourche High School Band & Choir Concert 7 pm, Belle Fourche Rec Center
10............Belle Fourche Middle School 6th, 7th, & 8th Grade Choir Concert 6 pm, Belle Fourche Rec Center
15............Family Fun Day, “Counting Sheep” 2 pm, Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
21............Belle Fourche High School Graduation 10 am, Belle Fourche High School
21........... Kite Festival & Duck Races Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
23........... “Round and Round with Bicycles” Mini-Exibit Opens Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
28........... “In the Desert” Temporary Exibit Opens Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
TBD........ Belle Fourche Rec Center Track & Field Meet Belle Fourche Rec Center
June Thursday, June 9, 16, 23, & 30 Riverside with Hometown Thursdays 6-9:30 pm, Center of the Nation Park Area
4............. First Saturday Brunch, Jeanie Kirkpatrick 10 am, Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
11........... River Run on the River Walk Belle Fourche Rec Center
11........... 2nd Annual River Festival Watch for family fun events!
10–12..... Community Theatre Play Belle Fourche Rec Center Theatre
19............Family Fun Day, “Be an Archaeologist!” 2 pm, Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
26............ Chutes for Charity Golf Tournament 9 am Tee Time, Belle Fourche Country Club
30........... Miss BH Roundup Queen Contest 9:30 am, Christian Life Center
30........... BH Roundup Community BBQ with Purchased Rodeo Ticket 5:30 pm, Roundup Grounds
30........... Miss BH Roundup Queen Coronation 6 pm, Roundup Grounds
30........... BH Roundup 13th Annual Ranch Rodeo 7 pm, Roundup Grounds Concert following the rodeo
30........... Cattle Drive 3 pm, State Street
July
October
Thursday, July 7, 14, 21, & 28 Riverside with Hometown Thursdays 6-9:30 pm, Center of the Nation Park Area
6/29 103rd Annual Black Hills – 7/4........ Roundup & PRCA Rodeo Full schedule & concert announcements at blackhillsroundup.com
6/30 NorthStar – 7/4....... Amusement Carnival Downtown Belle Fourche
1–3......... PRCA Rodeo 7 pm, Roundup Grounds,
2–3......... Fireworks Dusk
4............. Fourth of July Parade 10:30 am, Through Belle Fourche
4............. PRCA Rodeo 3 pm, Roundup Grounds
4............. Street Dance 6 pm – 1 am, Downtown
16........... “Fire! Fire!” Mini-Exibit Opens Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
17........... Family Fun Day, “All About Frisbee Golf” 2 pm, Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
August Thursday, August 11, 18, & 25 Riverside with Hometown Thursdays 6-9:30 pm, Center of the Nation Park Area
1-6............ Butte-Lawrence County Fair Nisland Fairgrounds
5–14......... 82nd Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally™ 6............. First Saturday Brunch, William Bosch 10 am, Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
10-11...... CONBA Hosts Replica Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 7 am - 7 pm
20........... Sweet Corn Festival Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
21............Family Fun Day, “Wonderful Rainforests” 2 pm, Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
19–21..... Community Theatre Play Belle Fourche Rec Center Theatre
1............. First Saturday Brunch, Rick Mills 10 am, Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
15........... 6th Annual Pumpkinfest & Tri-State Performers Play 10 am, Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
16........... Family Fun Day, “Haunted Houses” 2 pm, Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
16........... Moonlight Madness & Chili Contest Throughout Belle Fourche
31........... CONBA Halloween Parade Downtown Belle Fourche
31........... 22nd Annual Halloween Spooktacular Belle Fourche Rec Center
TBD........ Belle Fourche High School Band & Choir Concert 7 pm, Belle Fourche Rec Center TBD........ 10th Annual Fearless 5k TBD........ Purple Pride Haunted House TBD
November 1–21....... Belle Fourche Chamber Holiday Passports/Shop Local 5............. First Saturday Brunch, Kristi Thielen 10 am, Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
20........... Family Fun Day, “It’s About Time” 2 pm, Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
25........... Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce Parade of Lights Downtown Belle Fourche 25........... CONBA Light Up the Night & Fireworks Downtown Belle Fourche
25........... Light up the Night Parade State Street TBD.........Belle Fourche High School Fall Play TBD........ Veterans Day Program Belle Fourche Middle School
December 10........... Gingerbread Village Opens Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
16-17...... “Gingerbread Kids” Tri-State Performers Production 16–18.....Polar Express Bus Rides Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce
18............Family Fun Day, “Ornaments Around the World” 2 pm, Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
TBD........ Belle Fourche High School & Middle School Band & Choir Concert TBD........ K-4th Grade Concert
September 3............. First Saturday Brunch, Jodie Baxendale 10 am, Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
10........... “Dangerous Nature” Temporary Exibit Opens Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
17........... 3rd Annual Golf Tournament
TBD........ Festival of Trees First Interstate Bank
January 2023 7..............First Saturday Brunch 10 am, Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
TBD.........10th Annual Resolution Run Belle Fourche Rec Center
Belle Fourche Country Club
18........... Family Fun Day, “Colorful Chalk Art” 2 pm, Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
24........... Annual Autumn Tea, “Dream Vacations” Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
February 2023 4..............First Saturday Brunch 10 am, Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center
TBD.........10th Annual Wellness Fair
Schedule subject to change. Check out www.bellefourchechamber.org for additional events, revisions, and more information. More events dates on pages 10, 37, 43, 44, & 45
2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine | 35
Belle Fourche:
South Dakota’s Rodeo home Belle Fourche has made a name for itself as a rodeo town. Much of that is due to the popularity of the historic Black Hills Roundup, an annual Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo that’s been held here since 1918. The Roundup will observe its 103rd anniversary starting Thursday, June 30 and ending on Monday, July 4.
36 | 2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine
“It’s the biggest thing that happens in Belle Fourche,” Black Hills Roundup Committee Chairman Keith Anderson said. “It draws people not only from surrounding areas, but other countries.” Traditional events dominate this year’s schedule. They include four PRCA Rodeo performances, the parade, and a “Chutes for Charity” golf tournament. Anderson said the Roundup offers a lot of family fun with the carnival, rodeo, fireworks, and other activities. The Black Hills Roundup earned its fourth straight PRCA Medium Outdoor Rodeo of the Year honor in 2021. “It means the world,” Anderson said in describing the award. “It’s pretty cool, pretty humbling to be recognized on this level with so many great rodeos out there.” Anderson said the award demonstrates how fortunate the Roundup is to enjoy great support from volunteers, fans, sponsors, state officials, and city officials. He added it is very exciting and fulfilling for the committee and board to know that they have done a great job and continue to do so. Powder River Rodeo, in 2019, received the Remuda Award that honors the best pens of horses throughout the year. This stock contractor has worked
with the Roundup for about 35 years. Events for this year will include mutton bustin’, ranch rodeo, concerts, steer roping, a downtown carnival, two nights of fireworks, and four PRCA rodeo performances. Black Hills Roundup Committee Chairman Keith Anderson said preparation plans for this year are going well. “We try to make it bigger and better every year,” Anderson said now that the Roundup’s second century is well underway. “If you don’t do that, then it kind of grows stagnant and becomes the same thing every year.” He added people lose interest if that happens. The “Chutes for Charity” rodeo performance will take place on Saturday, July 2. “Military and First Responders Appreciation Day” is set for Monday, July 4. While the rodeo itself is certainly the big draw, there’s enough going on at the Black Hills Roundup to please almost anyone. There are carnival rides, art shows, concerts and much more. The Black Hills Roundup’s fireworks display is among the best in South Dakota, and the Independence Day parade is one of the largest in the state. This year’s fireworks show will take place on two nights, following the PRCA rodeo performances of Saturday, July 2 and Sunday, July 3. A Miss Black Hills Roundup Queen pageant is set for Wednesday, June 29. Coronation will take place Thursday, June 30, prior to the Ranch Rodeo. While the Black Hills Roundup is the biggest rodeo in Belle Fourche, it does not stand alone. Belle Fourche is also home to many other rodeos. The Belle Jackpot Association rodeos take place this year on several days in May through August. Scheduled dates are May 25, June 1 and 8, and July 13 and 27. An inclimate weather rain date is set for Aug. 3. This rodeo features roping, goat
DON’T MISS IT!
tying, barrel racing, and pole bending events for contestants of all ages. Check Facebook.com/Belle Jackpot for more information. The Butte County 4-H Rodeo also calls Belle Fourche home. This rodeo is open to South Dakota 4-H members aged 8 to 18 and
features barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, breakaway roping, tie-down roping, team roping, ribbon roping, calf riding, senior and junior bull riding, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and a pageant called “The Ambassador Contest.” This 4-H rodeo begins with the Ambassador Contest, which then gives way to the main rodeo events. The Butte County 4-H Rodeo is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 1-6 this year. For more information on the Butte County 4-H Rodeo, contact the Butte County Extension Office at (605) 892-3371.
Rodeo Action
in Belle Fourche Hollers – Golliher Breakaway Clinics March 25-27, April 8-10, April 14-16, May 6-8, May 14-15, May 27-28 19516 US Hwy. 85, Belle Fourche For more information and the upcoming fall schedule, go to www.zproductions.biz or Golliher Arena on Facebook
Belle Jackpot Association Rodeo May 25, JUNE 1 & 8, July 13 & 27 Rain Date: Aug. 3
For more information, visit their Facebook page @BelleJackpot
103rd Annual Black Hills Roundup PRCA Rodeo June 30 – July 4 For more information and tickets, contact the Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center at 605-723-2010 or www.blackhillsroundup.com
Annual PRCA event among many on rodeo calendar.
Butte County 4-H Rodeo August 1-6 For more information, contact Butte County Extension at 605-892-3371
Get the Green Slot & 4D Barrel Race August 27 – 28 For more information, contact Lorita Crofford at 605-645-7592 All rodeos are at the Roundup Grounds unless otherwise noted. Schedules are subject to change.
2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine | 37
Butte-Lawrence County Fair
rolling in on 101 Years
The sounds of “mews,” “baas,” and “moos” can be heard each year in Nisland as the annual Butte-Lawrence County Fair commences at the historic fairgrounds. And coming back after the 2020 event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2021 event a success, excitement is mounting as the mid-summer centennial event nears. The fair dates back to the early 1920s. At a meeting held in Nisland on April 5, 1920, a county agriculture fair was proposed. In September 1920, Butte County purchased 40 acres of land on the Belle Fourche River from Albert M. Willard and Roy F. McNeil, to use as the Butte County Fairgrounds. County commissioners appropriated $7,500 for improvements of the fairgrounds in preparation to hold
the fair in 1921. In August of 1921, Earl Wilson was given a contract for constructing buildings, moved onto the fairgrounds, and started pouring concrete foundations. Thus, the Butte County Fair was born. The first official fair was held in Nisland Sept. 27-29, 1921. The 50th Butte County Fair was held in 1977, but the Golden Jubilee was not celebrated until 1978. Lawrence County joined forces with Butte County in 1979. The first annual Butte-Lawrence County Fair was held in 1980. Today, 40 years later, the agricultural fair is still a major draw for thousands of local residents and visitors alike. Youth members of 4-H spend the whole year preparing their agricultural exhibits and livestock. Numerous animals file in including beef, sheep, swine, rabbits, goats, bunnies, and chickens for competitive judging. Several buildings on the grounds house
Open Mon. - Fri. | 9-5pm
4-H exhibits, as well as the livestock. The Nisland Fairgrounds lie along the Belle Fourche River and include the historic grandstand — which is no longer in use — and the groundskeeper’s house. The Pavilion, built in 1921, is the site of Open Class Exhibits including flowers, quilts, canned goods, and photography. There’s something for everyone at the fair. Visitors can watch contestants pit their manpower against a machine in the tractor pull, or they can catch the Youth Rodeo with family-friendly events like barrel racing, goat tail untying, dummy roping, pole bending, and breakaway roping. Live musical guests and the Belle Fourche Cowboy Band provide entertainment throughout the fair, and a community barbecue is held every year. Other events at the fair include the Beef Showmanship, small animal and pet judging, sheep dog trials, livestock sale, and dance. The fair has many ac-
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tivities for the little ones, including some new additions on the schedcontests such as “Catch a Sheep,” ule that would bring some excite“Bum Lamb Dress-Up,” “Dress ment, including the potential of a a Rabbit,” and the “Bucket Calf Ferris wheel, parade, and Show,” and many other activities even fireworks. like the talent show, baby contest, May said the group wants to get and fashion review. the community involved in the anFor those wishing to camp nual event even more than before. “Let’s bring the community overnight at the fairgrounds, board members request people call together.” Although the pandemic has and secure a camping permit prior created some challenging times, to the event. There are parking May turned that into growth. spaces with electricity and tent “We have been challenged by sites available. COVID-19, yet creative and inMichelle May, the 4-H/ youth-program advisor, said novative in many ways,” she said. “We have been cautious and yet momentum is building. continually committed to working “The momentum I would say altogether towards an amazing most seems to be doubled coming and unforgettable fair experience. back with a wave of excitement This is the place where people and energy,” she said. “The energy will come together for a variety and excitement amongst the fair of worthwhile reasons, including board, 4-H, and the community is entertainment and fun, and leave astounding as we prepare to come imprinted with a memory of legaback to the fair grounds with much gusto and greatness. Renocy, tradition, joy and success.” The 2022 event is slated for vations are being made to some of the livestock buildings, including Aug. 1-6. To obtain a pass or for new signs for each building on the more information, call the fair grounds hand made by our local board office at (605) 257-2370 4H Clubs and youth.” or visit buttesd.org/butteAnd this year, there could be lawrence-county-fair
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Hide & Seek Geocache in and around Belle fourche Geocaches can be found all over the world; Belle Fourche features 30 of them within 10 miles of the city, and 206 within 20 miles. Whether it’s Herrmann Park or along the banks of the Redwater River, geocaches are hidden throughout the area and range from beginner to advanced. The most common way to secure the coordinates for caches in the area is to go to geocaching.com, search the site, and find out where you’d like to go. Securing a membership is easy — once you are logged on, choose a user name, a password, and enter your primary e-mail address. Agree to the terms, double check your validation code and set up your account. Now it’s time to seek and find! To find the caches in and around Belle Fourche, click on “Play” in the navigation bar and scroll down to “Hide & Seek a Cache.” From there, you have the option to enter an address, a zip code, or a state. The
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zip code for Belle Fourche is 57717, which is the easiest way to find what’s available. Once you choose your location, enter the coordinates of the cache into your GPS device and use it to assist you in finding the hidden cache. Caches vary greatly in size and in appearance. Most of the information on the size of each cache is shown on the page when you retrieve the coordinates. Larger caches most often feature trade items, which adds a twist to the activity by creating a sense of a treasure hunt. Anyone is welcome to bring something to add to the cache, and those who find the cache are more than welcome to take a trade item for themselves. Once you’ve located it, sign into the logbook provided and return the geocache to its original location. Don’t forget to take photos and share them with the rest of the geocaching community online.
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Belle Bits
all this and more at the Tri-State Museum & visitor Center “We’re Burnin’ Daylight” The 1972 Western Classic, “The Cowboys,” is a cowboy tale of a 400-mile cattle drive to Belle Fourche, led by John Wayne as “Wil Andersen.” Three of the film’s stars — Al Barker, Norman Howell, and Mike Pyeatt, who played “Fats,” “Weedy,” and “Homer,” respectively — visited Belle Fourche to check out the town of the movie’s plot. The actors said they were impressed with the community, the people, and the hospitality.
President Woodrow Wilson In July 1918, a telegram was sent to President Wilson offering a donation of a prize lamb which brought $5,425 at a Red Cross Auction during the first Black Hills Roundup in Belle Fourche. The president replied, “I appreciate your telegram and admire the work for the Red Cross…thanks for thinking of me, but I have no means to care for such a lamb.”
Women’s Hats A local milliner — or, women’s hat maker — gave the girls at the brothels first choice of hats crafted. Once a hat was chosen, that model was taken off the market so “proper” women of the town would not be seen wearing the same hat as a brothel worker.
Tipperary Rejected by military horse buyers during World War I for bucking off every rider, the colt was won in a poker game by a saloonkeeper, who then bet a local bronc rider $500 that the horse couldn’t be ridden. When the cowboy was indeed bucked off, he sat in the dust singing, “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary.” Tipperary began a career that lasted until 1928, dumping 80 riders before Yakima Canutt made the first qualifying ride in 1920. The following year, Canutt rode the horse for the second and last time, in Belle Fourche. Tipperary was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1979.
Calamity Jane
Spoiling the Fun
In 1903, Calamity Jane returned to the Black Hills, where she was employed by her friend Dora DuFran — one of the leading, most successful madams in the Old West. Jane earned her keep as the Belle Fourche brothel’s laundress and cook until her death on Aug. 2.
Belle Fourche once had a traveling house of prostitution that floated up and down the Belle Fourche River. In 1919, the town “tried to spoil a man’s fun” — they voted out prostitution, and voted in prohibition.
The Great
Capt. Don Smith Lt. Don Smith, Belle Fourche High School Class of ’36, USAA Corps, piloted a plane off the aircraft carrier Hornet as part of the Doolittle Raid in April 1942, and crash landed off the coast of China. He was awarded with the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Military Order of China by Madame Chiang Kaishek, and earned the rank of captain. He was also honored by his hometown of Belle Fourche at the 1942 Black Hills Roundup. Capt. Smith was inducted into the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame in 2012.
Butte County Bank Robbery Keeping the Cowboys in Town when they came to ship livestock
The cowboys wanted gambling, drink, dance, and girls. The merchants of Belle Fourche, like Madame Dora DuFran, saw to it that the cowboys’ wants were met, lest they take their money to Deadwood.
The Great Butte County Bank Robbery in 1897 was committed by the Hole-In-the Wall Gang including Kid Curry, the Sundance Kid, and Tom O’Day. The former Wells Fargo Bank currently sits on the site of the Butte County Bank.
Potato Creek Johnny On March 13, 1907, John C. Perrett, “Potato Creek Johnny,” who found the largest gold nugget in the Black Hills, married Mollie Hamilton at the Butte County Courthouse. They had no children and divorced after nearly 20 years. Mollie died in Belle Fourche in 1944, and is buried in Pine Slope Cemetery.
Photos courtesy of tri-state museum & Visitor Center
2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine | 41
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Arts Abound! belle fourche fosters
Music Art AND
More
Visitors and residents alike will find that the arts abound in the picturesque community of Belle Fourche. Whether it’s spending a July evening in the park listening to area musicians, touring the local art galleries, or attending a community theatre production, there is plenty of arts-related entertainment throughout the year in Belle Fourche. c o n t i n u e d o n pa g e 4 4
Riverside with Hometown
thursdays 11 weeks Thursdays, June 9 – August 25 Riverside with Hometown Thursdays is fun for the whole family with a hometown feel. In 2021, the event was moved from downtown on State Street to the Tri-State Museum and Visitor Center in the complex’s lawn. The weekly event kicks off at 6 p.m. every Thursday beginning June 9. This exciting community gathering includes food, vendors, children’s activities, and much more. Riverside with Hometown Thursdays also offers a new band every week. Many of the live musical acts are comprised of local talent and span multiple genres — anywhere from rock to country music. All musical entertainment is family friendly.
Event Dates:
JUNE 9 | JUNE 16 | JUNE 23 | June 30 July 7 | JULY 14 | JULY 21 | JULY 28 August 11 | August 18 | August 25 Schedule of Bands TBD
2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine | 43
Tri-State Performers Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center theatre troupe
In 2017, the Tri-State Museum and Visitor Center introduced the Tri-State Performers — a theater troupe for area students interested in museum theater. The group is slated to perform several productions each year at the TriState complex off of Highway 85 in Belle Fourche. Museum theater consists of productions that take place within a museum and specifically relates to the museum’s collections or mission, or to the history, science, and culture of the surrounding area. Productions are not reliant upon lavish costumes, props, or set pieces, and are best performed in intimate settings where actors and audiences are close together.
“Museum theater is a concept that sprang up only in the last decade or so,” Kristi Thielen, the museum’s director who will lead the troupe, said. “The name is something of a misnomer as it is performed not just in museums, but in science centers, planetariums, aquariums, zoos, and botanical gardens around the country.” In 2022, the troupe is slated to perform “Mrs. Beasley’s Wildlife Adventure” on April 8-9 and “Gingerbread Kids” on Dec. 16-17. For more information about the Tri-State Performers, call the TriState Museum and Visitor Center at (605) 723-1200, or check out the troupe’s Facebook page.
2022 T r i -S tat e P e r f o r m e r s
Perform ance Schedule:
“Mrs. Beasley’s Wildlife Adventure” April 8 | 7 p.m. & April 9 | 2 p.m. “Gingerbread Kids” December 16 | 7 p.m. & December 17 | 2 p.m.
C o n t i n u e d F r o m pa g e 4 3
Center of the Nation Concert Association In the early 1990s a group of citizens saw an opportunity to expand the culture and bring entertainment to Belle Fourche. Together, they formed the Center of the Nation Concert Association. Audiences for the series come from all across the Tri-State region. The performances, which are appropriate for all ages, are all held at the Belle Fourche Rec Center Theater, which is located at 1111 National St. For more details on the organization and concert schedule, visit www.centerofthenationconcerts.org.
Belle Fourche Community Theatre 2022 Season The overall mission of the community theatre organization is to entertain and inspire the audience and participants alike. A group of hardworking volunteers, all with a diverse range of expertise and creative backgrounds, have been setting the stage for this program since May 2010. After several successful events, the program has developed into a vibrant and productive community organization. The community theatre will have three shows this year: Spring 2022 Night of One Acts will be on April 22-23 at 7pm; Children’s Theater will be in the early summer; and their 2022 Main Stage Show will be late Summer. For information on upcoming shows and events, visit bellefourcheact.com, or the Belle Fourche Community Theater Facebook page.
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44 | 2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine
Belle Fourche Arts Council Summer Concert Series
in the Park
During the summer there are free concerts at the band shell in Herrmann Park. All of the concerts begin at 7 p.m., weather permitting. The performance schedule varies year to year — from rock to classical to bluegrass — and all shows are appropriate for children. Bring a lawn chair, your family, and something to drink because this is the best place to be when the sun starts to set after a hot summer day in Belle Fourche. Sponsored by the Belle Fourche Arts Council, this is just one of several activities held during the summertime. For information and upcoming performances, visit the Belle Fourche Arts Council Facebook page.
The Belle Fourche Cowboy Band The Belle Fourche Cowboy Band is the oldest, most established local band in the area. It was officially organized in 1931, but its rich history stretches all the way back to the turn of the century. Today, the Belle Fourche Cowboy Band can be seen performing at nearly every single community event throughout the year and is a staple in all of the parades in Belle Fourche. One of their most well known performances occurs during the Black Hills Roundup and Rodeo, held every Fourth of July. They are also a common sight at the Butte-Lawrence County Fair held Aug. 1-6, 2022, and remain a presence at other local events. Dressed in bright red shirts and white cowboy hats, the band’s familiar tunes are the backdrop of presentations all over town that families have enjoyed coming to for decades. The band is made up of a variety of different musicians who come from a variety of backgrounds, and added a brass quintet this past year. For more information on the band, all of their upcoming events, their history and their photo album, visit www.bfcowboyband.com.
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2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine | 45
Community Get to know us
Belle Fourche, South Dakota
Belle Fourche (“bell–foosh”) Butte County Count y Se at
|
|
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April 20, 1903 Incorpor ated 57717 Zip Code Mountain Time Zone | 3,022 Feet Elevation
Popul ation
Median Income
5,617 Male
2,713
2,373
2,904
Climate Annual Aver ages
|
72.2%
Education
Belle Fourche School District 9-1 605-723-3355 1 High School (9–12) 1 Middle School (5–8) 2 Elementary Schools (PK–4)
Health Care
Monument Health Belle Fourche Clinic 2200 13th Ave., 605-723-8970 Monument Health Rehabilitation 2200 13th Ave., 605-723-8961 Rolling Hills Healthcare 2200 13th Ave., 605-892-3331 Butte County Health Nurse Christine Byrd 2398 5th Ave., Ste. 102 605-892-2523, Newell: 605-456-2245 Belle Fourche Senior Center/ Silver Linings 828 Kingsbury St., 605-892-6285
Finance
2 banks 2 credit unions
Owner Occupied
Winter Low Te mper ature 13 Sum mer High Te mper ature 87 Precipitation: R ain 18 ”/ yr Snow
resources
Emergency: 911
$131,500
FeMale
Households
$46,463 |
30 ”/ yr
Utilities
South Dakota ONE Call Call before you dig! 811 in state, 800-781-7474 out of state
Electricity Black Hills Energy, 800-890-5554 Butte Electric Cooperative, 800-928-8839 Water & Sanitation Pick up City of Belle Fourche, 605-892-2494 Refuse Solutions, Inc., 605-723-7723 Natural Gas Co. Montana-Dakota Utilities Co., 800-MDU-FAST
Cable/ Communications
Midcontinent Communications, 800-888-1300 Vast Broadband, 888-722-2000 Dish Network – Prime Entertainment Communications, 605-892-4565 LOCAL, Legal Newspaper, Black Hills Pioneer, 608 5th Avenue, Belle Fourche 605-642-2761
46 | 2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine
directory
City of Belle Fourche /ye ar
Median Home Value
Airport
10970 Airport Rd...........605-892-6345
Dispatch
830 6th........................... 605-892-2737
Engineer Dept.
511 6th............................605-892-3006 Fax...................................605-723-0897
Finance
Median Gross Rent
861
Resource
$705
Number of Businesses Source: data.census.gov
511 6th............................605-892-2494 Fax...................................605-892-2784
Landfill
Scale House, 183 N. 8th.......................605-892-3530 Baler Building ���������������605-723-0485
Shop
516 Faulk........................ 605-892-3414 Fax................................... 605-723-0145
Water Office
511 6th............................ 605-892-2674 After Hours.................... 605-892-2737
Government
Library
County 5 Commissioners
Auditor......................... 605-892-4485 Dir. of Equalization..... 605-892-3950 Extension Office..........605-892-3371 Highway Office........... 605-892-4414 Register of Deeds.........605-892-2912 States Attorney............605-892-3337 Treasurer...................... 605-892-4456 Veterans Services Office..............605-723-8387
City Mayor, 8-Member City Council
Belle Fourche Police Dept. 1010 8th Ave., 605-892-4240 10 Officers Fred Lamphere, County Sheriff 605-892-3324 7 Deputies Belle Fourche Volunteer Ambulance 605 6th Ave., 605-892-2254 Belle Fourche Volunteer Fire Dept. 605 National St., 605-892-6237
905 5th Ave....................605-892-4407
Butte County Offices
State Offices
Clerk of Courts................ 605-892-2516 Highway Shop................. 605-892-2610 DOT Office.................... ��605-892-2872
US GOVERNMENT OFFICES
Butte Conservation....... 605-892-3368 Land Management ������ 605-892-7000 FSA Ag Credit Team...... 605-892-3367 S.D. ONE Call................... 800-781-7474 S.D. Licensing................. 800-952-3696 Drivers License Renewals Tuesdays at City Hall........605-892-2424
Department of Natural Resources....... 800-GET-DENR
community facilities Public Library
905 5th Ave., 605-892-4407
Post Office
804 State St., 605-892-2815
Senior Center/ Belle Silver Lining
828 Kingsbury St., 605-892-6285
Tri-State Museum
415 5th Ave., 605-723-1200
Community Hall
512 6th Ave., 605-892-2676
Dick Bowman Memorial Hall Herrmann Park
Landfill
Monday – Friday, 7 am – 4 pm Saturday – 8 am – 4 pm (summer) 9 am – 2 pm (winter)
RV Dump Station
In between Tri-State Museum and City Hall
Cemeteries
Cemetery Office: 605-892-3735 Pine Slope – Hwy. 34 St. Paul’s – Hwy. 34 Riverside – Sourdough Rd., off E. National St.
Belle Fourche Ministerial Association Compassion Cupboard 522 5th Ave., 605-569-1256 Tuesday, 9 am – noon, Thursday, 2 pm – 6 pm
Recreation Facilities 9 City Parks Roundup Rodeo Arena 2 Tennis Courts Softball/Baseball Fields Soccer Complex Public Ice Skating Rink Skate Park Bike Path Disc Golf Herrmann Park Band Shell Amphitheater
Belle Fourche Rec Center
1111 National St., 605-892-2467 Swimming Pool, Wading Pool, 2 Water Slides, Conference Room, Walking Track, Weight Room, Cardio Workout Room, 2 Basketball Courts, Racquetball Courts, Gymnasium, Theatre
To reserve a room at the Belle Fourche Rec Center, the Community Hall, or Dick Bowman Memorial Hall, call 892-2467, Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm
Photo COURTESY OF TravelSouthDakota.com
organizations & public offices AAU Wrestling aauwrestling.net
Belle Fourche Youth Baseball 605-641-4168, bellefourcheyouthbaseball.com
American Legion – Post 32 Mike Reade’, 605-892-5599
Belle Fourche Buckles & Bows Square Dance Club 605-642-7462, blackhillsdosido.org
American Legion Auxiliary Nancy Wallin, 605-641-7043 Artemis House/Victims of Violence Intervention 605-642-7825, Spearfish, SD Badlands Early Head Start 605-723-8837, badlandshs.org Belle Fourche Arts Council Louise Reade’, 605-892-5600 Belle Fourche Cowboy Band Tim Speidel, 605-892-2930 bfcowboyband.com Belle Fourche Girls’ Softball Association bfgirlssoftball@gmail.com Belle Fourche Lion’s Club Rick Walton, 605-645-2636 bellefourchelions.org Belle Fourche Compassion Cupboard Tim Smith, 605-569-1256 or contact any local church pastor Belle Fourche Northern Lights Lions Club Joyce Drabek, 605-892-4082 Belle Fourche Soccer Association bellefourchesoccer.com
Black Hills Area Community Foundation 605-718-0112, bhacf.com Black Hills Youth Football & Cheer League BHYFL.com Butte-Lawrence County 4-H Michelle May, 605-892-3371 Butte County Historical Society 605-892-2507 Butte-Lawrence County Fair Board 605-892-3371 Center of the Nation All Car Rally Sam Silacci, 605-210-2013 Center of the Nation Business Association Stacey Raisanen, 605-892-0900 Center of the Nation Concert Association Mike Reade, 605-892-5599 Tickets: con-concerts.blogspot.com Center of the Nation Sportsman’s Club Rick Walton, 605-645-2636 consportsmansclub@gmail.com
Department of Social Services 605-892-2731 or 877-390-0093 dss.sd.gov Fire & Iron Motorcycle Club, Station 118 Rik Bartels, 605-645-9242 Girl Scouts – Dakota Horizons 800-666-2141, gsdakotahorizons.org Loyal Order of Moose 605-892-3121 399 Stanley Street, Belle Fourche NAJA Shriners 605-342-3402, najashriners.com 4091 Sturgis Rd., Rapid City Mount Rushmore Area Association of Realtors ® Brandy Hartman, 605-722-0181 1230 North Ave. Ste #1, Spearfish mountrushmoremls.com Northern Hills Area United Way 605-343-5872, unitedwayblackhills.org Parents Who Care Kelly Keegan, 605-210-2514 South Dakota High School Rodeo sdhsra.com South Dakota Retailers Association 800-658-5545, sdra.org 320 E. Capitol, Pierre Tri-State Museum Foundation 605-723-1200
2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine | 47
Belle Fourche Rec Center Continues to
Evolve & Grow
Fitness facilities:
Take a walk on the track, a swim in the pool, a jaunt on the elliptical or lift a few weights in our weight room.
Programs offered:
Adult • 500 Mile Club • Volleyball Leagues • Basketball Leagues • Group Fitness & Water Fitness Classes • SilverSneakers® Yoga, Classic, & Circuit • Strength Training Classes • Personal Exercise Programs • Yoga • Zumba® and More! Youth programs • Basketball Broncs after the Bell After school Activities • Swimming Lessons • Little Dribblers • Youth Volleyball Camp • Fast Track to Sports • Youth Strength & Cardio • Kids Fitness: Circuit, BOSU®, Yoga, & More • Teen Nights
Facility Hours Monday–Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
5am–9pm 5am–8pm 8am–6pm 1pm–8pm
Pool hours: Monday-Friday
Adult Swim | 6–10am Open Swim | 2–7:30pm
Saturday
Adult Swim | 8–10am Open Swim | 2–7:30pm
Sunday
Open Swim | 1–7:30pm
Memberships or daily passes available 605-892-2467 | Bellefourcherec.com 48 | 2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine
new weight equipment. And 2022 is set The Belle Fourche Rec Center is to be another big year with continued entering its 30th year serving the added programs and improvement Belle Fourche Area. Though times projects throughout the facility. have changed the mission remains The center is home to a 25-meter the same to encourage healthy living swimming pool, by promoting wading pool, recreational, two waterslides, educational, “We strive to have something racquetball courts, cultural, and social for everyone, whether you’re gymnasium, activities for the 7 or 70 the Rec Center is the walking track, citizens of the place to be!” auditorium, Northern Hills. meeting rooms and Twenty-twentyRec Center Director more. The facility is one was a big year a great place to host for the facility with your events whether record number it’s a birthday party or a corporate event of participants in swim lessons and the Rec Center can accommodate it all! the addition of programs like Men’s Make a trip to the Rec Center today Basketball and Broncs After the Bell. The and check out all we have going on! facility also completed improvements to its HVAC system and purchased brand-
Nate Velander
he ReC Cente r Photo Cour tesy of Belle Fourc
Belle Fourche
School District
9-1
Central Office: 2305 13th Avenue • 605-723-3355 • Monday – Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. • bellefourcheschools.org
Co-Curricular
Activities
Band/Pep Band Baske tball Cheerleading Choir Cross Country Dance Fall Musical FFA Football Golf Knowledge Bowl One-Ac t Pl ay Oral Interp. Soccer Spring Pl ay Track Volleyball Wrestling
Alternative Calendar The academic calendar includes both four and five-day school weeks. The calendar currently averages one five-day school week per month, with more five-day weeks in the first semester.
Elementary Schools North Park K inderg a r t en 29 North 6th Avenue • 605-723-3379 Julie Hatling, Principal Julie.Hatling@k12.sd.us Beginning & Dismissal: 8:10 a .m. – 3:10 p.m.
South Park Gr a des 1– 4 1816 Valley Drive • 605-723-3382 Julie Hatling, Principal Julie.Hatling@k12.sd.us Beginning & Dismissal: 8:0 0 a .m. – 3:20 p.m.
Belle Fourche
Middle School
Gr a des 5 – 8
1302 Ziebach Street • 605-723-3367 Kevin Smidt, Principal Kevin.Smidt@k12.sd.us Beginning & Dismissal: 7:55 a .m. – 3:43 p.m.
Belle Fourche
High School
Gr a des 9–12
1301 12th Avenue • 605-723-3350 Mathew Raba, Principal Mathew.Rabat@k12.sd.us Beginning & Dismissal: 7:50 a .m. – 3:37 p.m.
Belle Fourche
Education Connection A lt ern at i ve School
2315 Dakota Avenue • 605-723-0955 Mathew Raba, Principal Mathew.Rabat@k12.sd.us
Mission statement We, the members of the Belle Fourche community, are committed to building a learning community and ensuring all learners equal opportunity for an excellent education program that results in learners who are responsible and accountable, who value lifelong learning and know how to learn; and who are capable of succeeding in a changing society. 2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine | 49
Belle Fourche
hotels
ACE Motel
acemotelinbelle.com
109 6th Ave.
605-892-2612
americinn lodge & suites
americinn.com
2312 Dakota Ave.
605-892-0900
Crow Creek Guest Ranch
crowcreekguestranch.com
17816 Prairie Winds Ln.
605-892-6961
Econo Lodge
choicehotels.com
1815 5th Ave.
605-892-6663
Sunset Motel & RV Campground sunsetmotelofbelle.com
19022 US Hwy. 85
605-892-2508
Super 8 motel
501 National St.
605-892-3361
Belle Fourche
super8.com
campgrounds
Besler’s Cadillac Ranch
beslerscadillacranch.com
19314 Helmer Rd., St. Onge
605-391-6791
Riverside Campground
facebook.com/riversidebf
418 9th Ave.
605-892-6446
Rocky Point Recreation
gfp.sd.gov
18513 Fisherman’s Rd.
605-641-0023 or 1-800-710-CAMP
Scoot Inn
scootinn.com
3 Miles W US Hwy. 34
605-892-2660
Sunset Motel & RV Campground
sunsetmotelofbelle.com
19022 US Hwy. 85
605-892-2508
Wyatt’s Hideaway Campground
wyattshideaway.com
11144 SD Hwy. 34
605-892-2521
THE
DIFFERENCE
Friendly, clean, reasonably priced, family-run motel & RV Park Why pay more for a cookie cutter chain motel, when you can deal with people who really care about their property and your visit? ∕ Hunting, fishing & western themed rooms ∕ 4 cabins: Each with own bathroom facilities, hot water heater & theme ∕ Free Wifi ∕ Quick drive to downtown ∕ Downhome hospitality ∕ Dog friendly ∕ Military discount
∕ Convenient & roomy parking ∕ Easy to find ∕ Family owned ∕ Golf course across the road ∕ Close to Black Hills attractions ∕ RV camping ∕ AARP discount ∕ On-site laundry facility
605-892-2508 • sunsetmotelofbelle.com Owners: Barb Hoffman & Dan Davis
50 | 2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine
19022 US Hwy 85 South, Belle Fourche, SD 57717 Email: office@sunsetmotelofbelle.com
8th Avenue Bakery
704 8th Ave.
605-723-1624
•
Aladdin CafÉ
3989 State Hwy. 24
307-896-2100
Anke’s Bakery
503 Grant St.
785-760-6358
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Black Hills Diner
1405 5th Ave.
605-723-1639
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Bob’s café
610 5th Ave.
605-892-4298
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Branding iron steakhouse & social club
19079 US Hwy. 85
605-892-2503
CBH Deli & CHAMP’S CHICKEN
18765 US Hwy. 85
605-723-9000
Crossroads
16 North 5th Ave.
DQ GRILL & CHILL Grap’s Burgers and brews
Wine /Beer
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605-892-2270
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208 Pine St.
605-723-7222
•
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518 National St.
605-723-1610
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hardee’s
2504 5th Ave.
605-892-6170
•
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The Leaky Pot Cafe
1102 5th Ave.
605-723-5053
•
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Luigi’s Pizza
11301 Hwy. 212
605-892-9066
New china garden
614 5th Ave.
605-892-3888
PAPA JOHN’S in the Big D Truck Stop
2406 5th Ave.
605-892-2411
Pizza hut
1824 5th Ave.
Rancho Los Agaves Stadium sports grill
•
Full Bar
Dinner
Lunch
dining
Bre akfast
Belle Fourche
•
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605-892-2671
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1807 5th Ave.
605-723-1623
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818 5th Ave.
605-723-9521
•
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SUBWAY
1819 5th Ave.
605-892-4020
•
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Taco johns
1401 Mill St.
605-892-6436
•
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Wild Magnolia Coffe Bar
710 State St.
605-723-0760
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Welcome to Belle Fourche. Welcome to AmericInn.® up to a freehot hothomestyle homestylebreakfast breakfast(gluten-free Wake up toWake a complimentary (gluten-free items available), enjoy our indoor pool & keep hot tub items available), enjoy our indoor pool & hot tub and in and keep in touch with complimentary high-speed internet touch with complimentary high-speed internet access.access. Enjoy stay! Enjoy your stay!
Welcome to the end of the day. Rated #1 in SD on Trip Advisor!
™
© 2007 AmericInn International, LLC
2312 Dakota Avenue, Belle Fourche, SD 57717 605.892.0900 americinn.com 2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine | 51
to Wyoming
to Spearfish
to St. Onge, SD
Jones Park & Splash Pad
Belle Fourche South Dakota
Helmer Rd.
52 | 2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine
to Montana
Memorial Park
Frisbie Golf
Rail Park
Highland Rec Park & Ice Rink Center
Arnold Park
Thomas C. Gay Memorial Park & Pickleball Court
to Buffalo, SD
Robb Park
Wyler Park
to Rocky Point Recreation Area
Eagle Park
DISTANCE TO:
Black Hills Attractions
Spearfish Canyon.........................15 Devils Tower.................................72 Mt. Rushmore...............................83 Crazy Horse................................117 Custer State Park........................112 Black Hills National Forest..........20
Nearby Cities
Spearfish, SD................................14 Deadwood, SD..............................28 Rapid City, SD..............................61 Sioux Falls, SD...........................405 Gillette, WY................................103 Sheridan, WY.............................205 Dickinson, ND...........................194 Bismarck, ND.............................293 Billings, MT................................263 Denver, CO.................................405
2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine | 53
Belle Fourche
churches
Berean Bible Church
1407 5th Ave.
605-569-8380
Black Hills Gospel Assembly
19020 Gospel Ln.
605-892-3558
Christian Life Center
2020 Vista St.
605-892-4767
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
1105 Todd St.
605-892-3700
Connection Church
613 6th Ave.
605-210-2150
Emmanuel Baptist Church
902 Lawrence St.
605-723-6899
First Baptist Church
807 8th Ave.
605-892-4178
First Congregational United Church of Christ
717 Jackson St.
605-892-3402
Jehovah’s Witnesses
23 5th Ave.
605-892-4820
North Point Christian Church
10959 Kellem Ln.
605-717-6770
Northern Hills Church of Christ
5 miles S. Hwy. 85
605-642-7167
St. James Episcopal Church
806 6th Ave.
605-892-2446
St. James Lutheran
1100 Stanley St.
605-723-3923
St. Paul’s Catholic Church
834 6th Ave.
605-723-3226
Summit Open Bible Fellowship
1846 8th Ave.
605-892-4389
United Methodist Church
1804 7th Ave.
605-892-2405
54 | 2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine
At Scott Peterson Motors…
We Want To Earn Your Business!
Scott Peterson Motors is one of the areas largest New and Pre-owned Auto Dealers. Our convenient locations allows us to serve our customers in South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska and North Dakota. We sell and service all Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Ram and Jeep models.
SALE HOURS
Monday-Friday 7:30am-6pm Saturday: 7:30am-5pm Sunday: Closed
Locally Owned & Operated • ScottPetersonMotors.com
SALE HOURS
Driveway Test Drive & Service
North Highway 85 Belle Fourche 605-892-2643 800-843-8325
Monday-Friday 7:30am-6pm Saturday 7:30am-5pm Sunday Closed
1 Ford Place Sturgis 605-347-3662
Just under the interstate off Vanocker Canyon Road
All vehicles delivered to you cleaned and sanitized!
2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine | 55
Come to the center & see Belle Fourche!
Belle Fourche begins at our complex of three big attractions: • The Center of the Nation Monument, a magnificent granite compass rose, surrounded by the Avenue of State Flags. • The 1876 Johnny Spaulding Cabin, a furnished two-story cabin with a history like no other. • The Tri-State Museum with exhibits on pioneers, ranching and rodeo, early law, medicine and business, plus saloons. • Plus, The Center of the Nation Disc Golf Course!
Interactive stuff for kids!
Activity tables and packets, discovery boxes, archaeology dig box, microscope and slides, and gold panning station
While you’re here, pick up all the maps and travel info you need for the road ahead. Winter Hours:
Tuesday – Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm Closed Sunday and Monday
Summer Hours:
Monday – Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm Sunday, 1 pm to 4 pm
415 5th Ave, Belle Fourche, SD 57717 (605) 723-1200
56 | 2022 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine
