DEADWOOD, S.D. (3/11/10) – The Deadwood Jam Committee and the Historic Homestake Opera House are pleased to announce the second annual “Spring Jam at the Opera House,” a benefit concert to be held Saturday, March 20, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Opera House in Lead.  Doors open at 1 p.m. All proceeds from this musical event will go to the Opera House and the Deadwood Jam.

HOT SPRINGS, S.D. (3/10/10) PK Productions LLC in association with Institute of Range and the American Mustang will present the world film premiere of, "Imagine A Place, the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary Sponsor Mustangs," a new documentary film by Christopher Crosby. The half-hour documentary follows the daily life of six Sanctuary-sponsored mustangs.

BELLE FOURCHE, S.D. -- The 23rd Annual Center of the Nation All Car Rally will be pulling into Belle Fourche, South Dakota on Friday, June 18, and Saturday, June 19, 2010.

DEADWOOD (2/2/2010) — While this weekend's Mardi Gras celebration in Deadwood is on the minds of many revelers, the Deadwood Chamber has confirmed its entertainment line-up for Wild Bill Days, June 18-19.

Wild Bill Days kicks off the summer Budweiser Event Series in Deadwood and this year's event will feature country stars John Michael Montgomery and Ryan Shupe &amp The Rubberband. The free concerts are held on Deadwood's Historic Main Street.

PIERRE, S.D. (1/22/10) – Gov. Mike Rounds and the South Dakota Office of Tourism presented awards to top visitor industry leaders Thursday evening at the 2010 Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Pierre.

DEADWOOD, S.D. (1/19/2009) - Besides being honored as the top Cajun chef in Deadwood, the 2010 winner of Deadwood's Mardi Gras Cajun Cookoff on Feb. 6 will be featured on KOTA television during its Friday "Cooking with Eric" program.

KOTA, the Rapid City-based ABC affiliate, reaches western South Dakota and into Montana, Wyoming and Nebraska. The station features "Cooking with Eric" on Friday mornings before Good Morning America.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (1/13/10) – the Journey Museum has received notification from NASA that it will be the recipient of a $492,778 Competitive Programs for Science Museums and Planetariums grant for their proposal entitled “Journey Into Space.”

MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL (1-13-10) -- National Memorial Acting Superintendent John Scott announced  today that the use of fireworks will be suspended for the 2010 Independence  Day Celebration due to the unacceptable risk they pose to the fragile  condition of the Black Hills forests in and around the memorial resulting  from extensive damage from an epidemic of mountain pine beetles. 

SEE VIDEO OF BLACK HILLS SNOW KAYAKING

RAPID CITY, S.D. (1/12/10) -- Skiing and snowmobiling usually get all of the attention from winter sports enthusiasts in the Black Hills. This winter, however, there’s a new kid on the block that’s sure to turn some heads – snow kayaking.

HILL CITY, S.D.  (12/8/09) – Hill City will host the first annual Black Hills Film Festival this spring, May 14-16, 2010. Located just minutes from Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Crazy Horse Memorial, Hill City is a small mountain town known for its arts focus. The theme chosen for this year’s event is “Location! Location! Location!”

RAPID CITY, SD (12/15/09) - The Midwest Travel Writers Association (MTWA) has announced they will conduct their 2010 Fall Conference in Rapid City October 13 – 17. This conference has the potential of bringing 50 productive travel writers and photographers from the Midwest Region to Rapid City and the Black Hills for several days.

DEADWOOD, S.D. (12/3/2009) -- For the sixth consecutive year, Deadwood's Days of '76 Rodeo has taken home the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association's award for the Medium Outdoor Rodeo of the Year. Days of '76 committee members were on hand for the awards ceremony, held Wednesday night at the PRCA National Convention in Las Vegas.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (11-17-09) -- The Black Hills Fat Tire Festival, the annual event that each May draws mountain bikers from across the country, has been named by the South Dakota Office of Tourism as one of five Great Events for 2010. The 2010 Fat Tire Festival, based in Rapid City, is set for May 28-31.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (11/6/09) – The 33rd Annual Black Hills Stock Show Rodeo proves to be the best yet. The PRCA Tour attracts the top cowboys in the United States; however, the Tour numbers have outgrown one weekend so slack is back during the first weekend along with the PRCA Division I Extreme Bull Riding.

The 2010 Black Hills Stock Show Rodeo will be held at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City, S.D., from Jan. 29 to Feb. 6, 2010.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (10/30/09) — In past years, Black Hills, Badlands & Lakes Association has presented a Special Achievement Award annually to a person, organization or project that, in the judgment of the Executive Committee, has done something quite significant for the tourism industry. Past recipients have included “persons, places and things.” The 2009 winner’s achievements go beyond tourism. He is a national leader in the fight to preserve the American mustang, a symbol of our Western heritage.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (10/30/09) — Josh Daiss has been elected Chairman of the Board for Black Hills, Badlands & Lakes Association. He will lead the board and staff of South Dakota’s largest tourism trade association during 2009-2010. He was elected from 30 directors at the Association’s annual meeting October 30.

Daiss is general manager of the Mt. Rushmore KOA in Hill City. He said he is excited and humbled by the opportunity to lead western South Dakota’s largest tourism organization.

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL (10/28/09) – Affiliates of international financial giant Citigroup on Monday awarded a first-time grant of $25,000 to the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation Scholarship Fund.

LEAD, S.D. (10/26/09) -- The classic Black Hills-filmed horror movie, "The Beast From Haunted Cave," will have a speical showing Friday and Saturday at the Homestake Opera House in Lead. Costumes are encouraged, organizers said.

This movie was made in 1959 and was filmed in Deadwood and at Terry Peak. The "Cave" is actually the Broken Boot Gold Mine. "Beast" is a "B" and "low budget" movie, and it's fun to see the footage of Deadwood and Terry Peak from 1959.

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL, S.D. (10/22/09) -- Thank you. Over and over, visitors expressed their gratitude in the guest book outside the tomb of Crazy Horse Memorial sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski.

About 150 people paid their respects during Korczak Remembrance Day on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Visitors included a local fifth-grade class, Black Hills area Native Americans and people from Alaska, California, Canada, Colorado, England, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (10/22/09) — Just as winter sports enthusiasts in the Black Hills anxiously await the first snowfall every year, the Black Hills, Badlands & Lakes Association awaits the delivery of its winter promotional magazine, Romancing The Snow. It’s here, fresh from the printer on Oct. 14!

The free, 64-page publication highlights wintertime vacations and tells about snowmobile trails, snowmobile maps, snowmobile resorts, snowmobile rentals and even snowmobiling etiquette. Big color photos and articles show South Dakota’s cross-country ski trails, downhill skiing and other winter fun opportunities.

DEADWOOD, S.D. (10/16/09) - Forbes Traveler magazine has named Deadwood to its list of "America's Prettiest Towns," in a feature posted Oct. 13 on the magazine's website. Deadwood was chosen for its historic architecture and picturesque setting in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL – Twenty years ago, Gov. George Mickelson and tribal leaders in South Dakota mapped out a challenge in establishing the “Year of Reconciliation.” It’s time, he said in 1990, to turn to the future together and “teach others that we can change attitudes.”

Speakers at Monday’s 20th Native Americans’ Day program at Crazy Horse Memorial sought to enlist students in helping to make those changes.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (10/7/09) — Black Hills, Badlands & Lakes Association will conduct its 70th Annual Meeting and Luncheon on Friday, Oct. 30, at the Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn, beginning at 9 a.m.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (9-30-09) – National Geographic Adventure magazine has included Rapid City and Spearfish to its list of “America's Best Adventure Towns.” The cities, in the Black Hills of South Dakota, are among the 100 adventure towns featured in the magazine’s October edition.

RAPID CITY (9/23/09) -- Rapid City and the Rapid City Convention and Visitors Bureau has been honored as a “Top Supplier” by Conventions.net, one of the world's leading online resources for trade shows, conventions, corporate events and conferences.

SPEARFISH, S.D. (9/22/09) – Just as the Black Hills’ high country aspens are beginning to put on their autumn show, Forbestraveler.com has named the Spearfish Canyon and Peter Norbeck Scenic Byways, both in South Dakota’s Black Hills, to its list of top fall drives in North America.

CUSTER, S.D. (Aug. 26/09) - Fall is one of the best times to visit the Black Hills of South Dakota. The nights are cool, the aspen trees are brilliant and special events are going on throughout the Hills. Collectively known as the Autumn Expedition, the event series runs from Sept. 1 through Oct. 12.

LEAD, S.D. (8/11/09) – The painting by well-known Western artist Mick Harrison captures a moment in Lead’s history. The year is 1914. Men in three-piece suits, women in long dresses and feathered hats are socializing outside the brand new Homestake Opera House, the Jewel of the Black Hills. The title: “An Evening at the Opera.”

Harrison’s painting is the centerpiece of a new fund raiser that opera house officials hope will help restore the Historic Homestake Opera House to its place as the Jewel of the Black Hills.

RAPID CITY (8/10/09) – While Primal Quest Badlands isn’t exactly a spectator event, there will be opportunities for fans of the grueling endurance race to see the teams as they pass through the checkpoints and transition areas, said Kraig Becker, media director for Primal Quest.

Primal Quest Badlands will pit 37 four-person teams against 600 miles of the toughest terrain that the Badlands and the Black Hills have to offer. The round-the-clock race begins Friday, Aug. 14, and could take as long as 10 days.

DEADWOOD (8/7/2009) - More than 350 bikes and over 500 riders took part in the 2009 Legends Ride on the opening day of the Sturgis Rally. On Monday, Aug. 3, riders from around the country converged on Deadwood to start the second annual Legends Ride, which benefits Black Hills charities, including the Black Hills Children’s Home and the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame and Museum. $61,600 was raised for the charities in 2009. Just under $40,000 was raised in the Legend’s Ride in 2008.

“We are thrilled with the charity riders showed this year. The Legends Ride has once again proved itself a worthy event that brings world-class entertainment to riders and needed dollars to charities,” said Rod Woodruff, president of the Legendary Buffalo Chip. “We will be back bigger and better in 2010.”

DEADWOOD – The Historic Adams House will host a garden tour on Saturday, August 15, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.  Join Master Gardner Elizabeth Campbell for an in-depth tour of the Victorian gardens of the historic home located at 22 Van Buren Avenue.  The event is open to the public, wheelchair accessible, $5 for members and $10 for non-members.  Space is limited, for reservations and additional information please call 605-578-3724.  Parking is available in front of the Historic Adams House or in the Sherman Street parking lot next to First Western Bank.

Gardening at the turn of the 19th century had more challenges than today.  During the 1890s, Adams House gardens were located below the home on Sherman Street.  Over the past eight years, the garden areas at the Historic Adams House have evolved bringing to fruition a flood of splendid color.  Creators Rob Simon and Tom Thorson did extensive research into the conditions at the Adams House, pairing it with the climate in Deadwood, the ground conditions and the available landscape.  The work of their labors is evident in the gardens today.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (7/30/09) – The Black Hills Fat Tire Festival, the popular mountain biking event and film festival held each May in Rapid City, has won national recognition.

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) named the Fat Tire Festival the winner of the Commercial Recreation and Tourism Section Award in the Special Event category.

HOT SPRINGS, S.D. (7/30/09) -- American motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson announced it is advancing its all-female Street Team to Hot Springs to promote its 2010 motorcycle line, including the Fat Boy Lo. The riders will arrive around 10 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 2, at the South Dakota State Veterans Home in Hot Springs to showcase the 2010 bikes and give away raffle tickets for chances to win the sleek iron horse.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (7/29/09) -- Look up. Up there on the flanks of M-Hill and Cowboy Hill. That’s the mountain ridge that runs from Omaha Street north to I-90, separating Rapid City and West Rapid. It’s the site of the Black Hills’ newest mountain biking trail network.

The Rapid City Parks & Recreation Department says that by fall there will be 12 miles of new trails added to the 10 miles already there.

DEADWOOD (7/29/09) – Michael Trump’s long-awaited book, "Raiding Deadwood’s Bad Lands: Its Illegal History of Prostitution and Gambling," was released this week. The book, an Adams Museum & House publication, is on sale at the Adams Bros. Bookstore, Adams Treasures Gift Shop and in retail outlets throughout the Black Hills. The book can also be ordered and shipped by calling the Adams Museum at 605-578-1714.

HOT SPRINGS, S.D. (7/28/09) -- History repeats itself at the Mammoth Site -- 34 years after the original 1975 discovery of the intact skull with full ivory and a mandible only slightly displaced, nicknamed "Mighty Manfred" by the crew.

That first skull was found on the last day of funding in 1975. Also, the volunteer crew had to depart to register for college and university classes. The photo of that magnificent skull prompted National Geographic Society and Earthwatch to fund further excavations.

DEADWOOD, S.D. (7/22/09) -- John and Lindsey Takish of Grand Blanc, Mich., winners of a contest sponsored by Frommer’s and the Black Hills visitor industry, are seeing plenty of the Black Hills this week.

John, retired from General Motors, and Lindsey, retired from Macy’s , have never been to the Black Hills before, according to Susan Johnson of Black Hills Central Reservations. “They were thrilled,” she said.

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL – Lorenzo Black Lance, artisan and educator will present “Sicangu Lakota Art” on Thursday, July 9th at 6 p.m. during the free Thursday Night Summer Performance & Lecture Series at Crazy Horse Memorial.

Lorenzo Black Lance was born on the Yankton Sioux Reservation and his Lakota name is A-nuk-a-sun Wam-bli (Golden Eagle).

RAPID CITY, S.D. (6/23/09) -- Participating in programs designed for kids at Black Hills national and state parks can be a great experience for the whole family – grandparents, parents and favorite aunts included.

Junior Ranger programs offered at the area’s national parks and Junior Naturalist programs available at state parks engage children in age-appropriate activities. The goal is to provide fun learning experiences that also impress kids with the significance of the nation’s special places and the importance of protecting them. Another special children’s program is Junior Paleontologist Excavations held at The Mammoth Site at Hot Springs.

DEADWOOD (6/22/2009) – The laugh-getters and bullfighters of yesteryear are gathering for their annual reunion during the 2009 Days of ’76 events in Deadwood, July 21-25. Rodeo clowns from 14 states will gather in Deadwood to be honored for their years in the arena entertaining rodeo audiences and saving bull riders from serious injury.

DEADWOOD (6/22/09) – The Adams Museum & House will host poet, M.J. McMillan on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 12:00 p.m. on the lawn of the Historic Adams House.  M.J. McMillan examines the problems and difficulties involved in reaching the common man with poetry. McMillan is an Independent Scholar from Murdo, S.D.

RAPID CITY (6/8/09) -- ISIS Hospitality has begun renovations of The Hotel Alex Johnson, completing a prototypical guest room and corridor. Plans for the renovation are finalized and the materials to begin executing the project are currently being ordered. The original large storefront windows at street level will be restored this summer, providing a more inviting ambience in the new restaurant, AJ’s Bistro.

The complete renovation of the hotel guest rooms, corridors, lobby, restaurant and Paddy O’Neill’s Pub will be completed by June 1, 2010. The scope of this multi‐million dollar renovation will position the property as the finest hotel in the state while offering moderate, competitive rates.

Pierre, SD – Mount Rushmore National Memorial will again kick off America’s birthday party and Fourth of July celebration with one of the largest fireworks displays in the country. The twelfth annual event will take place on July 3rd with thousands of shells creating a stirring and memorable half hour show.

The annual Independence Day celebration is packed with events and draws people from all over the world to Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills. This year’s events include military aircraft fly-overs, music, dances, historic re-enactments, children’s shows and a ceremony to honor a special group of WWII veterans.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded almost $3 million to support conservation efforts at nation's museums, including nearly $46,000 to the Mammoth Site of Hot Springs.

The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, SD Inc. received a $45,519 grant for the purchase and installation of a humidity control system for the Mammoth Site of Hot Springs' site enclosure.

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL – Jenny Ghost Bear will perform Lakota songs on Thursday, June 18th at 6:00 p.m. during the free Thursday Night Summer Performance & Lecture Series at Crazy Horse Memorial.

Jenny Ghost Bear was born on Standing Rock Reservation and is of Oglala and Hunkpapa Lakota descent.  Her Lakota name is Unpan Hinske Win (Elk Tooth Woman) and she began singing four years ago as she learned Sundance, ceremonial, and purification lodge songs.  Later she began singing powwow and social songs.

The convention, TAP Dance 2009, gives the tour operators and planners the opportunity to discover the wealth of travel opportunities in Rapid City and the Black Hills as they plan vacations for thousands of people across North America and abroad.

Dr. Warren M, Lee, a professor at the University of South Dakota, founded the Black Hills Playhouse in 1946. He'd been leading his students in a series of theatrical performances, which ended up at the current site of the Black Hills Playhouse in Custer State park near Center Lake. The site was previously a Civilian Conservation Corps camp lodge.

In the early 1950's, William B. Heckman took steps to create an old-fashioned railroad that ran on steam power, not diesel. He also wanted to preserve a piece of American history that deserved to be more than a static display in a museum. He and his partners vowed that "there should be in operation at least one working steam railroad, for boys of all ages who share America's fondness for the rapidly vanishing steam locomotive."

An Evening with Randy Travis begins at 8 p.m. The gates open at 5 p.m., and concessions will be provided by Spearfish area food vendors. Tickets prices range from $30 to $50. For ticket information, visit www.blackhillsamp.com.

The New World is a spectacular journey across the Americas to reveal the surprising abundance of nature and little known civilizations that lived there before Columbus. By contrasting parallel and often far less advanced moments in Europe, we'll uncover a very different ecological and cultural story of American history than previously

Instead of Botox, however, crews from the National Park Service use big tubes of silicone sealant, advanced fracture-mapping techniques and other technology to preserve the granite faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

The Black Hills Overdrive is a car rally for owners of cruisers, street rods, custom and specialty vehicles. Drivers and passengers have the opportunity to cruise through a variety of beautiful scenic byways in the Black Hills including the Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road and Spearfish Canyon.

"When gas was hitting $4 a gallon, it made sense to let guys avoid driving 75 miles to catch a trout," said Keith Wintersteen, assistant manager of the McNenny Fish Hatchery near Spearfish. "It's nice to be able to send kids on a bike, or to ride your own bike, and drop a line in and fish."

It is also one of the fastest growing municipalities in South Dakota. Today, the Spearfish area is home to nearly 13,000 residents.

"The first thing that draws people to the Badlands is the beautiful scenery, which reminds many people of a moonscape," said Judy Olson, Chief of Interpretation for Badlands National Park.

The museum, which is east of Rapid City just outside Ellsworth Air Force Base, also offers a living lesson in aviation history. Numerous exhibits are housed inside the museum and airpark, including 25 aircraft ranging from World War II Bombers to the current B-1, four different missiles, including a Minuteman II Intercontinental Ballistic Missile. It's also home to the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame.

Stars lead a weekend full of top entertainment, from a Kansas City BBQ Cook-Off to Cowboy Fast Draw Championships

*Wild Bill Hickok Days event images available by emailing lee@deadwood.org. You can directly download images of Glen Campbell and Ricochet here.

DEADWOOD, S.D. - The Cowboy Fast Draw Championships, Wild West re-enactors, an Old West auction, world championship BBQ and two days of free concerts featuring country legends Ricochet and the legendary Glen Campbell are all on tap for the annual Wild Bill Hickok Days celebration June 19-21 in Historic Deadwood.

"There is literally something for everyone at this year's Wild Bill Hickok Days. We'll have the top BBQ chefs, the top gunslingers and top performers converging on Historic Deadwood, and we couldn't be more excited," said Sarah Anderson, Deadwood Chamber of Commerce event coordinator.

DEADWOOD, S.D. (4/23/09) – The Adams Museum will begin summer hours on Friday, May 1, 2009.  Summer hours at the Adams Museum are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., daily.

The Adams Museum, located at 54 Sherman Street, Deadwood is featuring the Building A City exhibition, as well as select items from the City of Deadwood’s Wild Bill Hickok Collection. Admission to the non-profit museum is by donation.

HOT SPRINGS, S.D. (4/23/09) – Officials at Angostura Reservoir near Hot Springs, S.D. are expecting the reservoir to have the best water levels in years.

Willy Collignon, district supervisor at Angostura Recreation Area, said the April water level in the reservoir was already above the highest levels of 2008.  “And we haven’t had our heavy rains yet,” Collignon added. “We expect to have a very good year, and more water than in the past five or six years.”

RAPID CITY, S.D. (4/21/09) – In its third year, the Black Hills Fat Tire Festival offers competitive and noncompetitive events on some of North America’s best mountain biking trails -- many within the city limits of Rapid City. And this year’s festival is not just for mountain bikers, said Jerry Cole, festival director.

“We have expanded the festival into more than just a mountain biking event. It’s almost to the point where it’s an outdoor sports festival,” he said.

The 2009 Fat Tire Festival is set for Memorial Day weekend, May 22 to 26.

STURGIS, S.D. (4/6/09) -- The Monkey Rock Event Center, a unique, professional and provocative Rally site, has exploded onto the scene and will make its much anticipated debut at the 2009 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, July 30 - August 9, 2009.

Monkey Rock has set the new Sturgis Motorcycle Rally benchmark in event and entertainment center excellence and is committed to making your Rally experience exciting, entertaining, comfortable and engaging for riders and vendors.

"My dad was a risk taker," said Harvey, "and his life demonstrated the strength of the human spirit. He had courage to prevail in circumstances that seemed insurmountable. A lot of his stories reveal how hope, determination, and perseverance can lead to success and prosperity."

*A 20th Anniversary of Gaming in Deadwood logo is available for graphic support. Click here to download the logo.

DEADWOOD, S.D. (4/8/09) In 1989, Deadwood launched a long-shot experiment to see if legalized gambling could save the towns economy and preserve its heritage.

Twenty years and $12 billion in bets later, the answer is an overwhelming yes. To mark the 20th anniversary of legalized gaming, Deadwood is hosting a series of events that will celebrate this great venture.

STURGIS, S.D.  (2/27/09) -- Bear Butte, located just outside of Sturgis on S.D. Highway 79, formed millions of years ago from igneous rock, but this natural wonder provides much more than a lesson in Black Hills geology.

Bear Butte is a site sacred to many Native American tribes, especially the Cheyenne and the Lakota. Artifacts dating back 10,000 years have been found near Bear Butte. In more recent times, the Cheyenne and Lakota have maintained a deep spiritual tie to Mato Paha, the Lakota name for Bear Butte.

RAPID CITY (2/12/09) – A dozen Black Hills tourism groups from six communities have joined together to launch a $710,000 online marketing and public relations program for 2009. The coalition, named the Black Hills Digital Strategies Group, will advertise to potential visitors through online videos, Web site banner ads, keyword advertising, e-mail marketing and online public relations.

"So many people these days use the Internet to plan their trips, reserve lodging and book vacation packages. With the work we're doing through the Black Hills Digital Strategies Group and the South Dakota Office of Tourism, we have an opportunity to communicate directly with those travelers," said Bill Honerkamp, president of the Black Hills, Badlands & Lakes Association and chairman of the digital strategies coalition.

KEYSTONE, S.D. (2/3/09) -- Mount Rushmore National Memorial welcomes the public to attend two open houses to review the Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared on a proposed backcountry hiking trail at the park.

Presentations about the proposed hiking trail and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and repeated again from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 6, 2009 at the Radisson Hotel, 445 Mount Rushmore Road, Rapid City in the Sheridan/Deerfield room.

LEAD, S.D. (2/2/09) -- Deep beneath the streets of Lead, S.D., lie this Black Hills city's famous past -- and its intriguing future.

The Homestake Gold Mine in its 125-year life reached depths of more than 8,000 feet before closing in 2001. Now, the mine has found a new life as the Sanford Underground Laboratory, where top physicists plan to probe the very nature of matter in experiments shielded from cosmic rays.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (1/31/09) – Hot Springs' sandstone structures, Wild Bill Hickok's grave in  Deadwood and Rapid City's colorful Black Hills Powwow all offer visitors first-hand testimony about the history and culture of the West.

And it is this emphasis on historic preservation and cultural diversity that attracts heritage travelers from around the world to the Black Hills of South Dakota. Millions visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial, but those who seek more can find it in Hot Springs, Deadwood, Custer, Sturgis, Rapid City or Spearfish.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (1/20/09) -- The first-ever sheep shearing contest at the Black Hills Stock Show will become the second leg of a three-part series to pick the top shearers in the country, organizers say.

The shearing contest will be held at noon Sunday, Feb. 1, in the Crystalyx BioBarrel Sale Ring in the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center's Rushmore Hall. In addition, organizers also hope to schedule a shearing demonstration that morning. Admission to both events is free.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (1/13/09) -- The National Trust for Historic Preservation named Hot Springs, S.D., one of its 2009 Dozen Distinctive Destinations. Since 2000, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has annually selected communities across the United States that offer cultural and recreational experiences different from the typical vacation destination.

From dynamic downtowns and stunning architecture to cultural diversity and commitment to historic preservation, the selected destinations boast a richness of character and exude an authentic sense of place.

DEADWOOD, S.D. (1/12/09) -- Eagle Sales of the Black Hills (Budweiser) has once again taken the lead sponsorship role in Deadwood Chamber of Commerce Events.

DEADWOOD, S.D. (1-6-09) -- Deadwood does it right when it comes to historic preservation, tourism and revenue raising. It all comes back to gambling, which played a big role in the town's infancy-and continues to do so today. 

That's why Deadwood is #6 among True West Magazine's 2009 Top Ten True Western Towns. Cheyenne, Wyo., won the top award. 

The stock show's first-ever hunting event will be a fund-raiser for the new South Dakota Youth Hunting Adventures, a non-profit program that provides hunting experiences for youths who would not normally have the opportunity to enjoy this type of outdoor experience, including youths with handicaps. South Dakota Outdoor Adventures will be held at the Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn during the stock show's first weekend.

DEADWOOD, S.D. (11/18/08) -- The Lodge at Deadwood, the new upscale resort and convention center now under construction, will help Deadwood become a major destination for conventions, corporate events, board retreats, trade shows, weddings, and private catered functions.

Work on the $47 million project began in July, and The Lodge at Deadwood is scheduled to open its doors in the fall of 2009.

CUSTER, S.D. (10/24/08) -- On Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008, the Indian Museum of North America located at Crazy Horse Memorial will participate in the fourth annual Museum Day, presented by Smithsonian magazine.

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL, S.D. (9/15/08) -- James P. Sokolik from Santa Clarita, Calif., is the winner of the Crazy Horse Memorial 60th anniversary theme bike.

CUSTER, S.D. (9/10/08) -- A crisp night didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd of over 3,000 at Crazy Horse Memorial on Sept. 6, commemorating the 100th birthday of late sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski and the 131st anniversary of the death of Crazy Horse.

ABERDEEN, S.D. (9/03/08) -- The Northern State University Center of Excellence in International Business (CEIB) will host the 15th Annual International Business Conference on Oct. 9-11, at the Radisson Hotel Rapid City/Mt. Rushmore. Sponsors for this event are the Chiesman Foundation for Democracy, Northern Plains International, Inc., U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (9/02/08) -- National Geographic Adventure Magazine has named Rapid City as one of 50 Next Great Adventure Towns in its September edition, which hit newsstands Aug. 12.

CUSTER, S.D. (9/02/08) -- On Saturday, Sept. 6, the second and final night blast of the year will take place at Crazy Horse Memorial. This event observes the dual anniversaries of the 1877 death of Oglala Lakota leader Crazy Horse and will mark what would have been the 100th birthday of the sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski.

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL, S.D (8/27/08) -- Crazy Horse Memorial will host its annual Labor Day Open House, Aug. 29 through Sept. 1. The Indian Museum of North America and Cultural Center will have booths featuring guest artists displaying and selling American Indian art work.

CUSTER, S.D. (8/20/08) -- Eight months after the T. Denny Sanford Foundation awarded them a $5 million matching grant challenge, the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation announced today that it has crossed the $2 million mark in matching grant funds. South Dakota philanthropist T. Denny Sanford gave the matching grant to Crazy Horse in December 2007.

CUSTER, S.D. (8/20/08) -- Gerard Baker will present a program entitled “History and Ceremony of the Five Villages” on Thursday, August 28th at 6 p.m. during the free Thursday Night Summer Performance & Lecture Series held at Crazy Horse Memorial.

RAPID CITY, SD (8/20/08) -- The U.S. Olympic Team athletes are not the only ones breaking records. In July, the Rapid City Regional Airport had the largest number of travelers fly through its terminal in its history.

DEADWOOD, S.D. (8/13/08) -- Over 250 Sturgis Rally goers joined an all-star roster of celebrities from film, television and the world of premium cigars for the first annual Legends Ride, a celebrity-charity event produced by the Legendary Buffalo Chip.

CUSTER, S.D. (8/07/08) -- Arthur Amiotte will present a program entitled “Art of the Plains” on Thursday, August 14th at 6 p.m. during the free Thursday Night Summer Performance & Lecture Series held at Crazy Horse Memorial.

DEADWOOD, S.D. (8/4/08) -- When more than 60 wagon and stagecoaches from Fort Pierre, S.D., and Cheyenne, Wyo., pull into Deadwood on Friday, Aug. 15, they will be joined by a small contingent from Sidney, Neb.

DEADWOOD, S.D. (8/01/08) -- A one-of-a-kind commemorative Colt revolver and the chief executive officer of Colt Manufacturing Co., are both scheduled to be on hand at the Deadwood Firearms and Old West Auction & Show, Aug. 14 to 17 at the Deadwood Pavilion.

SPEARFISH, S.D., (7/14/08) -- The 37th Annual Black Hills Corvette Classic will be rolling into Spearfish on Thursday, July 17, 2008. Approximately 500 cars and 1,000 people from all over North American will attend.

In addition to long-standing events such as the Autocross and Drag Races, some new events have been added.

CUSTER, S.D. (7/07/08) -- It seemed only fitting that Frank Buckles, who fought for independence in World War I, paid a July 4 visit to Crazy Horse Memorial, a symbol of fierce determination and independence in its own right. At age 107, Frank Buckles from West Virginia is America’s last living World War I veteran.

DEADWOOD, S.D. (6/23/08) -- Following the original freighter trails from Fort Pierre and Cheyenne, nearly 70 horse-drawn wagons and stagecoaches are expected to rendezvous in Deadwood on Friday, Aug. 15.

The rides will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end to a transportation mode that sustained the gold camps of Deadwood Gulch from its earliest days. In 1908, after rail service arrived from the east, the last overland freight wagon traveled the old Fort Pierre-to-Deadwood Trail.

BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK, (6/17/08) -- Dr. Paige Baker, Superintendent of Badlands National Park, has announced the summer schedule of interpretive programs in the park. Beginning June 15, 2008, the Ben Reifel Visitor Center will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily with the evening program presented at 9:00 p.m. each day.

CUSTER, S.D. (6/10/08) --The once a year spectacular journey to the top of Crazy Horse began in 1985, and over the course of the last 23 years more than 180,000 walkers have participated in the unique Crazy Horse Volksmarch. The 10K (6.2 mile) round-trip walk is sponsored by the Black Hills Chapter of the American Volkssport Association (AVA) and hosted by Crazy Horse Memorial.

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL, S.D. (6/05/08) -- Marcell Bull Bear will presenting the History of the Kiyuska Band of the Oglalas on Thursday, June 12 at 6 p.m. during the free Thursday Night Summer Performance & Lecture Series held at Crazy Horse Memorial; light refreshments will be served.

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL, S.D. (6/04/08) -- As the program began for the 60th anniversary celebration, an eagle circled Crazy Horse Memorial in almost ceremonial fashion. Over a thousand people took part in the celebration, which included Rapid City-based drum group Okiciyapi, Crow Creek Sioux Tribe champion hoop dancer Jasmine Pickner, featured speaker Olympic Gold Medal champion Billy Mills, and concluded with a dramatic dual blast.

SPEARFISH, S.D. (5/29/08) -- The Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association will host its 8th annual convention in Spearfish June 25-28, 2008.

They are an Association of Combat Veterans from all branches of the United States Armed Forces who ride motorcycles as a hobby.

CUSTER, S.D. (5/28/08) -- This weekend is the opportunity of a lifetime to enjoy a hike to the arm of Crazy Horse mountain and experience the awesome view of the Black Hills. Join us for the 23nd annual Crazy Horse Volksmarch on Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8. The organized hike will give you an opportunity to reach the outstretched arm and come face to face with the 9-story-tall face of Crazy Horse, the world’s largest mountain carving (in progress).

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL, S.D. (5/22/08) -- The first time Billy Mills stood on the Crazy Horse Memorial mountain carving, he saw what he considers a very positive omen.

In the morning light with his daughter Lisa and others, Mills was near the recently completed carved face. They watched a solitary eagle circle the mountain, then land at the end of what will be the carving’s outstretched arm. Eagles frequently ride the currents above the mountain but this was the only time anyone witnessed an eagle landing on the mountain.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (3/22/08) -- Although fuel prices are unquestionably high, visitors to the Rapid City area have the distinction of paying some of the lowest prices for regular gasoline in the United States, according to AAA figures.

The AAA daily Fuel Gauge Survey on Thursday showed that Rapid City's average price for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.622 per gallon, the fifth lowest price among metropolitan areas in the United States.

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL, S.D. (5/20/08) – The Thursday night series of weekly programs featured in the 2008 Summer Performance & Lecture Series will begin June 5 at Crazy Horse Memorial. The summer series will take place each Thursday through August 28.

CUSTER, S.D.(5/20/08) -- Callers and e-mailers from around the country are congratulating Crazy Horse Memorial officials for “priceless” publicity the nonprofit, educational project garnered in a live nationally televised report on Monday.

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL, S.D. (5/19/08) -- Crazy Horse Memorial will kick off their 60th anniversary season by hosting its annual Memorial Day weekend open house, May 24, 25 and 26.

DEADWOOD, S.D., (5/01/08) -- The Adams Museum & House has been named one of the top 10 best Western History Museums for 2008 by True West Magazine. The Adams Museum & House was ranked at number eight in the article titled Western Museums We Love in the May 2008 issue.

PIERRE, S.D. (4/29/08) -- It will now be easier for golf enthusiasts to find and enjoy their favorite golf courses in South Dakota.

"The South Dakota Golf Guide was developed to provide visitors and current residents with a resource for golfing in our state," said Secretary of the Department of Tourism and State Development Richard Benda. "Golf is a great asset to the Mount Rushmore State and we want to promote it as much as possible."

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL, S.D. (4/28/08) -- This year marks the 61st anniversary of the arrival of sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski to the Black Hills. May 3, 1947 was the beginning of a dream, when Korczak accepted the invitation of Chief Henry Standing Bear to carve Crazy Horse Memorial as a tribute to all North American Indians. In 1983, the S.D. Legislature and Governor Bill Janklow designated May 3 as Korczak Day in South Dakota.

CUSTER, S.D.(4/28/08) -- High school seniors from Lakes Andes, S.D., and Andover, Minn., on Thursday won college scholarships at the 9th annual Native American Journalism Career Conference at Crazy Horse Memorial.

PINE RIDGE RESERVATION, S.D. (4/24/08) -- On May 7-11, 2008 over 200 Lakota Youth, accompanied by parents and relatives, will ride horseback across the breadth of the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

This ride, which will be the first of its kind, is approximately 100 miles long. The ride is being organized to reacquaint the young Lakota youth with their land, help them recognize its beauty, realize the freedom they experience on the reservation and offer the youth healing and rejuvenation of hope in their lives.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (4/23/08) -- While air travelers have been bombarded with recent negative reports from the airline industry, advanced bookings at Rapid City Regional Airport are up 106 percent for travel between May and December, Executive Director Mason Short announced today.

DEADWOOD, S.D. (4/21/08) -- The Northern Hills Habitat for Humanity is seeking applicants in the Lead, Deadwood and Central City area who are interested in applying for a home. Classes begin in June in Rapid City for all interested applicants.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (4/21/08) -- Monday, April 21st , nationally recognized speaker Roger Brooks of Destination Development, known as the “Dr. Phil of tourism and downtowns,” will be in Rapid City to present his final presentation on “Rapid City Community Branding, Development and Marketing Action Plan”.

CUSTER, S.D. (4/14/08) -- Crazy Horse Memorial invites the public to learn about “Archaeology in the Black Hills” at a free 4:30 p.m. program Thursday, April 17.

Black Hills National Forest archaeologist Donita Carlson will make the presentation during a regular Black Hills State University class held at Crazy Horse. The class, taught by Crazy Horse education director Donovin Sprague, meets in the Memorial’s Welcome Center.

LOS ANGELES, C.A. (4/14/08) -- The casting team of ABC’s popular parenting series SUPERNANNY is searching for South Dakota families to be on the brand new fifth season of the hit show. Producers from Ricochet Television are hosting an open casting call on Saturday, April 26th from 12:00PM to 4:00PM at Courtesy Subaru (410 N. Campbell, Rapid City, SD 57703).

CUSTER, S.D. (4/14/08) -- Between 100 and 125 students are expected for the 9th annual Native American Journalism Career Conference at Crazy Horse Memorial April 22-24, 2008.

DEADWOOD, S.D. (4/08/08) -- Now people who would love to experience the Black Hills on a motorcycle can book a four-night package complete with Harley Davidson rental, lodging and entrance to the region’s national treasures. The vacation package includes a massage at Blue Sky Salon & Day Spa in Rapid City and Deadwood gaming coupons.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (4/02/08) -- Retired General Tommy Franks will replace George Tenet at the annual speaker series hosted by the John T. Vucurevich Foundation. Due to circumstances beyond his control, George Tenet will be unable to speak in Rapid City, as previously scheduled. Retired General Tommy Franks will be speaking on “The Global War on Terrorism” at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Theatre on April 15th. All tickets previously purchased for George Tenet will be honored. If desired, full refunds on George Tenet tickets are available through the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Box Office.

KANSAS CITY, M.O. (3/19/08) -- The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced today that Rapid City Convention and Visitors Bureau has been awarded the 2009 and 2010 NAIA Women’s Golf National Championships. The 15th Annual event will be contested May 12-15, 2009, at Meadowbrook Municipal Golf Course in Rapid City, S.D. The 2010 national championship tournament will take place May 25-28.

DEADWOOD, S.D. (3/19/08) -- The South Dakota Community Foundation is pleased to announce that the Days of ’76 Museum has been awarded a $10,000 grant for the museum’s new exhibits. This grant was presented through the South Dakota Community Foundation’s statewide grant program. John Johnson of Sturgis serves on the South Dakota Community Foundation’s board of directors.

DEADWOOD, S.D. (3/13/08) -- The Days of ’76 Museum today announced that Deadwood-based TDG Communications has made a $25,000 commitment to the museum’s capital campaign.

KEYSTONE, S.D. (3/10/08) -- Mount Rushmore National Memorial was proud to host the first American Indian Elders’ Summit in the park on February 21-22, 2008. American Indian elders from South Dakota tribes shared with the National Park Service their views and ideas on what information about their history, culture, and language could be presented at Mount Rushmore. The Black Hills is a sacred site to many American Indian tribes.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (2/22/08) -- Rapid City has a new friend in Ted, the low-cost arm of United Airlines.

Following last summer's successful daily flights to Rapid City from Chicago, United Airlines has announced plans to resume service this year between Chicago O'Hare and Rapid City Regional Airport from April 21 through Oct. 31. In addition, the airline announced that from June 5 through Sept. 30 the route will be serviced by Ted, the low-fare arm of United Airlines that the company describes as "a friend that just happens to be an airline."

RAPID CITY, S.D. (2/21/08) -- As part of the National Park Service Centennial Initiative celebrating 100 years of national parks in 2016 Mount Rushmore National Memorial Superintendent Gerard Baker announces a proposed hiking trail system at Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

DEADWOOD, S.D. (2/21/08) -- The Black Hills Travel Blog, located at www.blackhillstravelblog.com, received a nod today from IgoUgo, a travel blog and review website owned by online booking engine Travelocity. In a post made this morning, IgoUgo called the Black Hills Travel Blog "a wonderful, up-to-date resource for visitors" to western South Dakota.

DEADWOOD, S.D. (12/26/07) -- On Wednesday December 26, 2007 Homestake–Adams Research and Cultural Center (HARCC) officials launched a $1.6 million capital campaign to renovate the former F.L. Thorpe building in Deadwood, South Dakota.

CUSTER, S.D. (12/26/07) -- “As we approach 60 years of carving the mountain, this is an absolutely wonderful way to celebrate and to help continue our progress,” exclaimed Mrs. Ruth Ziolkowski, President/CEO of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, at today’s press conference announcing a $5 million dollar matching gift. “This very generous challenge grant will help advance the dream started by Korczak and Henry Standing Bear.” The gift is being given by the T. Denny Sanford Foundation. Sanford is a well known philanthropist whose generosity has left imprints all across South Dakota.

PIERRE, S.D. (12/26/07) -- National Treasure: Book of Secrets will be in theatres December 21. The Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Film spent over two weeks filming on location in South Dakota.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (12/13/07) -- The Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce is offering $6000 in college scholarships according to Don Hausle, Chair of the Chamber’s Ag and Natural Resource Committee.

CUSTER, SD (12/13/07) --On Friday, November 9, the Black Hills Playhouse announced an exciting bill of shows for the forthcoming 2008 season of the summer stock theatre located in Custer State Park.

PIERRE, S.D. (12/13/07) -- The South Dakota Office of Tourism’s website, www.TravelSD.com now features information about the upcoming film National Treasure: Book of Secrets including movie trailers, interviews and information about the South Dakota locations used in the film.

DEADWOOD, S.D. (12/13/07) -- The Lead-Deadwood High School drama department will host Victorian Christmas Tours on Saturdays, December 8 and 15, 2007 at 11:00 a.m., 12:00 and 1:00 p.m. at the Historic Adams House at 22 Van Buren Ave, Deadwood. The event is open to the public, free to members and $5 per person for non-members. Reservations are required; please call 605-578-3724. Guests may park in front of the Historic Adams House or in the Sherman Street parking lot next to First Western Bank.

LAS VEGAS, N.V. (12/13/07) -- Days of '76 Rodeo at Deadwood was named the Medium Market Rodeo of the Year for the fourth consecutive year during the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association awards ceremony Wednesday night in Las Vegas. The Deadwood rodeo also has won the small-market rodeo award for four years.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (12/05/07) -- Rapid City Professional Hockey has a name! The expansion franchise in Rapid City, South Dakota, slated for play during the 2008-09 season, announced on Thursday that they will be known as the “Rush”. Rapid City General Manager Jason Rent made the announcement.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (12/05/07) -- The Central Hockey league has today announced the addition of a franchise in Rapid City, South Dakota, beginning CHL play in the 2008-2009 season. The team will play home contests at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Arena, a 5,000+ seat facility currently under construction that will open in the fall of 2008.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (11/26/07) -- The National Association for Interpretation (NAI) recently named Mount Rushmore National Memorial’s audio tour as the winner in the audio division of their 2007 Interpretive Media Awards during the 2007 NAI National Workshop held in Wichita, Kansas on November 8, 2007. The Interpretive Media Awards Competition is held by the National Association for Interpretation and its Visual Communications Section to promote excellence in the delivery of natural, cultural, and historical non-personal interpretive services. (“Non-personal” services include mediums such as exhibits, audio, video or books that supplement traditional ranger talks.) NAI members include national park service and state park interpreters, among others.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (11/26/07) -- Imprint, the supernatural thriller produced in western South Dakota by Linn Productions and Chris Eyre, took the top award at the American Indian Motion Picture Awards Show in San Francisco last Saturday night.

PIERRE, SD (10/15/07) -- Travelers have a new Internet resource to help them get acquainted with the Black Hills and plan their trips to the region. The Black Hills Travel Blog, located at http://www.blackhillstravelblog.com, went online in a soft launch last week. The blog is updated six times a week with feature-style articles, personal travel experiences, site profiles and practical tips that are meant to foster interest in the region among travelers and help them plan vacations to western South Dakota. The posts are written by Black Hills residents and avid travelers, including published travel writers.

CUSTER, S.D. (10/03/07) -- South Dakota’s 18th annual Native American Day celebration at Crazy Horse Memorial will feature a traveling high-tech classroom and opportunities to experience native culture.

The South Dakota Legislature established the holiday in 1989. Crazy Horse, the private nonprofit memorial honoring all North American tribes, celebrates the day with educational and cultural events to encourage harmony and understanding between people and nations.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (10/03/07) -- President & CEO, Jim McKeon announced that he will retire on November 30, 2007. Chairman of the Chamber Board, Kitty Kinsman said, “Jim is an inspirational leader who has helped to create one of the finest Chamber organizations in the country. During his twelve-year tenure, McKeon has positioned the Chamber as a catalyst in advancing several projects and initiatives designed to enhance Rapid City and the entire Black Hills region.”

RAPID CITY, S.D. (8/13/07) -- Rapid City, S.D. lands another hole-in-one with Allegiant Air as the low-cost airline announces it will offer nonstop service to Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz. from Rapid City beginning Nov. 21. The carrier will celebrate the convenient new service to Arizona with introductory fares as low as $69* each way.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (8/13/07) -- A United Nations special envoy has joined a growing list of distinguished scholars, analysts, activists and educators who will gather in the shadows of America’s Shrine of Democracy in mid-October to discuss the challenges of security, peace, stability and democracy in the Middle East, the non-profit Mount Rushmore Institute announced today.

DEADWOOD, S.D. (8/13/07) -- Deadwood’s Adams Museum and the Historic Adams House have been selected for an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Museums for America grant. The grant, in the amount of $50,153, is for sustaining cultural heritage. These funds will enable the Adams Museum and Historic House to create a fully integrated database system to manage its collections, thus making them more accessible to staff, the public, and researchers. The project will include upgrading to PastPerfect software, training staff and improving the information recorded in the databases.

SPEARFISH, S.D. (6/30/07) -- Travel writer Patricia Schultz’s book “1,000 PLACES TO SEE BEFORE YOU DIE” is one of the bestselling travel books ever published, with 2.4 million copies in print. The book has spent a staggering 162 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list and is the basis of the new reality television show currently airing on The Travel Channel.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (7/03/07) -- In the wake of years of effort to position the Black Hills as an attractive market for new air travel routes by the Black Hills Air Service Task Force and Rapid City Regional Airport, Frontier Airlines announced today that it will begin daily direct service between Rapid City and Denver International Airport beginning on Oct. 5.

CUSTER, S.D. (6/15/07) -- On Tuesday, June 26, Crazy Horse mountain carving will come to life with a fiery night blast to celebrate the 81st birthday of Ruth Ziolkowski, President/CEO of Crazy Horse Memorial and commemoration of the 131st anniversary of the Battle of the Little Big Horn.

DEADWOOD, S.D. (5/17/2007) -- The Wild West town of Deadwood will showcase some of the fastest gunslingers in the world, Team Penning competition, living history and three days of free music during the city’s annual Wild Bill Hickok Days celebration June 15-17, 2007.

PIERRE, S.D. (5/17/07) -- One of the most important things production crews look for when choosing a location destination is in-state resources; and South Dakota is no exception.

RAPID CITY, S.D.(4/25/07) -- The 2007-08 South Dakota Vacation Guide, a 276-page, full-color traveler's guide to South Dakota, arrived at tourism association headquarters statewide on Feb. 28. It's a big, comprehensive magazine filled with more than 700 color photos, 35 different maps (including a big fold-out state map) and information on more than 1,000 attractions, accommodations and visitor services in all corners of the state. About 460,000 guidebooks — 13 semi-trailers full of them — were printed, and circulation has begun, in plenty of time for the upcoming tourist season.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (4/25/07) -- An electronic version of the popular South Dakota Vacation Guide went live on the Internet April 12 and is available from Black Hills, Badlands & Lakes Association at www.blackhillsbadlands.com.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (4/25/07) -- Black Hills, Badlands & Lakes Association will host its 24th Annual Literature Swapping Spree on Wednesday, May 2 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.