Where Is Everyone?
Ever been to Sturgis, South Dakota, when there aren’t 500,000-plus rabid motorcyclists crawling down Lazelle Street, downtown Deadwood, or through the Black Hills? I recently had an opportunity to do so for the grand opening of the Deadwood Mountain Grand (deadwoodmountaingrand.com), a resort and casino with a 90-plus-room hotel projected to open towards the end of the year.
The gargantuan resort is loaded with plenty to keep you entertained (concert hall, slot machines up the wazoo, blackjack tables, a fine restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and of course the Slime Bar). And while it was a blast exploring the resort grounds and losing my ass on the blackjack tables (that part not so much fun), and taking in the aural delights of country sensations Big & Rich and Southern siren, Gretchen Wilson, I was excited to ride through the Black Hills at my own pace; to actually see some of the monuments I’ve attempted to see many rallies before to no avail.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good party and I thoroughly enjoy the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. It’s a hoot. Witnessing the spectacles and debauchery that can only be experienced firsthand, I’ve never been disappointed in the slightest. But, if you’ve never ventured to Sturgis outside of the first and second weeks of August, do yourself a favor and give the Black Hills a go when there aren’t hundreds of thousands of mad men, women, and creatures present. You won’t be disappointed.
Bye for now…