Old West town adds buffalo hunt attraction
by Andy Greenman
"The beauty of what we’re trying to do is save a little piece of that Western flair and show people what they came to see." - Herman Jones Founder, Ft. Hays
16 ELEVATE • MAY 2021
I
f at first you don’t succeed, try, try and try again. This is the motto business owner Herman Jones has followed for over 50 years. He is determined to give visitors and locals an unforgettable experience in the Black Hills. The Rapid City native began his career selling tours to Mount Rushmore for Gray Line bus company. Herman excelled at finding new accounts to fill these tours. His connection to the sculpture runs deep, as he knew many of the men that work on Mount Rushmore. After four years of working for Gray Line, Jones was fired for making too much in commission. In 1974, he started a bus company “with a van and a dream.” For two decades he started, bought, abandoned and sold tour bus companies. He and his wife Wanda kept busy as they raised six children. The businesses saw success when America set travel records. They struggled when gas prices rose and families stayed home. All the while, Herman Jones continued to give his customers the best possible experience.
