MINUTEMAN MISSILE - BADLANDS - WALL DRUG

Control Center

Yesterday was a full day with new adventures.  We drove from the campground for an hour along      I-90 and took Exit 116 to the underground Delta-09 launch facility to visit the Minuteman II missile.  This is a self-guided audio tour using your cell phone.  This site is significant to illustrate the history and significance of the Cold War, the arms race and the dedication of USAF personnel.  From the missile site we drove 15 minutes down I-90 to Exit 131 to the underground launch control center.  If you'd like more information about this site, click on this link:  http://www.nps.gov/mimi/index.htm

Unarmed nuclear missile

Looking down into the silo

Hatch to go down into the control room

Exit 131 leads to the Ben Reifel Visitor Center and the Badlands Loop Road. The Badlands National Park was different from all the other National Parks we've visited and we found our jaw dropping more than once at the scenic overlooks.  Our mission was to see the wildlife and we were not disappointed.  We choose to take the unpaved portion of the loop called Sage Creek Rim Road where the herds of bison are known to roam freely.  The buffalo were huge and not at all intimidated by our puny car.  It was exciting!  Did you know?  The park is 244,000 acres and the black-footed ferret, one of the most endangered land mammals in North America, have been reintroduced to this site.

This is the first view you see when entering the park

I think this is a Western Meadowlark

The park offers nice boardwalks to keep us away from the rattlesnakes

"Where the deer and the antelope play" (actually, pronghorn) - remember that song?  Pronghorns are the fastest animal in North America, they can run 60 mph for great distances

The antelope played along the road

The bison, shedding their winter coats, found wooden poles to rub against 

Prairie dog's classic pose

The bison look much larger in real life

These beasts are intimidating when they stare at you

Saw lots of prairie dog babies

At this point, it's getting late and we are both hungry and tired.  But we've heard so much about Wall Drug Store and we were so close, that we had to go.  Famous for free ice water and five cent coffee, it's a very interesting place. They say Wall Drug is like Zsa Zsa Gabor, famous for being famous.  If you want to learn more, click on this link: http://www.walldrug.com/

You'll find just about anything at Wall Drug including this chapel

Watch out for visual overload

Wall of original oil paintings

Singing Cowboys

I wonder what we'd weigh if we ate like this everyday

After filling our bellies, we climbed back into the car for our hour drive home.  What a great day.

Thanks for stopping in.