To the south of Custer is Hot Spring South Dakota, is one of the most interesting and intriguing attractions in the Black Hills. 
Many years ago a contractor who was looking to build came across some large bones as he dug on a hill. It was soon found that the hill was a unique origin and interestingly it once was a sink hole. The sink hole collected the bones of mammoths from over 60 thousand years ago. How does a sink hole become a hill? That was very interesting to me. It seems the sand stone around the sink hole eroded faster than the mud and bones in the sink hole. After a few ten thousand years you have a hill. Wow! 
At the Mammoth site in Hot Springs you will have a great time. The tour guides are fun and I always find it interesting how each time I visit I have a fun time with them. One time it is a nice girl from Edgemont and the next a college student from the eastern part of the state. They all appear to love their work and care that we have an informative and good time at the site.
The bone you see me lifting is not a real mammoth bone. However it gives one the idea of how big and strong these lovely creatures were. I always find it sad how the mammoths got caught in the sink hole. Kinda a rough way to go. I guess that is just what happened many years ago when the earth was younger and the wild life fought day to day to make it to the next.
These are the bones of the mammoth called “Beauty”. I just like taking photos of him as his bones are so well preserved and they are easily photographed. He must have been a beautiful beast….magnificent as he wandered the South Dakota plains.
Come visit Custer Mt. Rushmore KOA and we’ll help you find these jewels in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
This has been another Tay Tay picture of the day.
It is springtime in the Black Hills. The newly hatched Bison are roaming around Custer State Park. I came across this little guy who was very cute. She was very happy and enjoyed eating the green Black Hills grass.
Today’s Tay Tay picture of the day is my adventure to Jewel Cave. My Grandpa and Grandma came to visit me at Custer Mt. Rushmore KOA. On Friday we decided to go 300 feet down to 49 degrees in Jewel cave. One of the most interesting things is how the temperature in Jewel cave is always 49 degrees.
tour was a lot of fun. I learned today all that is required to go through the calorie counter. This is a 7 in high section of Jewel cave that cavers have to traverse to reach the ahhhh room….forgive me the exact name escapes me. Dan the tour guide has a big long story about how cavers are looking for
My final observation of Jewel 
Today’s Tay Tay picture of the day is my adventure to Jewel Cave. My Grandpa and Grandma came to visit me at Custer Mt. Rushmore KOA. On Friday we decided to go 300 feet down to 49 degrees in Jewel cave. One of the most interesting things is how the temperature in Jewel cave is always 49 degrees.
My final observation of Jewel 
In Keystone, the town just down the hill for Mt. Rushmore, is a fun stop for all kids…and adults for that matter. It is called the Alpine slide. They take you up the mountain on the ski lift and you ride sleds down on the luge like track. One controls the speed using a hand brake and make sure you don’t go too fast. Those sled really take off. While the ride is fun, the view from the top is also worth the trip. You can see Mt. Rushmore to the west, and the beautiful Black Hills all around.
