South Dakota

Visiting Deadwood (Ellsworth AFB FamCamp, Box Elder SD)

On Saturday we moved from Americas Mailbox campground to Ellsworth Air Force Base FamCamp.  We traveled a whopping 3 miles (east on I-90) after topping off the diesel tank at Flying J which is right next to Americas Mailbox on exit 61.  As I mentioned in my last post – the campground loops at the FamCamp were full but they have room at their “overflow” lot for $10.  The “overflow” lot is located separate from the FamCamp.  It’s a few miles at the back of the base and has 30 Amp electric but no water or sewer.  That works for us, especially at that price.

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Main gate at Ellsworth AFB, Box Elder SD.
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Bomber next to the main gate at Ellsworth AFB. It’s in the Air & Space Museum next door.
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Water tower on Ellsworth AFB, Box Elder, SD.

Here we are parked in a row with the other rigs at the “overflow” lot on the back side of Ellsworth AFB.

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We hung around the Air Force Base (AFB) on Saturday and visited the Post Exchange (PX), or Base Exchange (BX) as it’s called on an AFB.

On Sunday, we jumped into the Silverado and headed north on I-90…

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Box Elder water tower (our new “hometown”).

we turned west at Sturgis on 14A until we reached the town of Deadwood, SD some 50 miles later…

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Click HERE and HERE for more info on the historic town of Deadwood.

We spent the whole day just wandering around town checking things out on this lazy Sunday.

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Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Stilla, Kaan, and little Coach on Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Site of Saloon where Wild Bill was shot on Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Main Street in Deadwood, SD.

We enjoyed dinner in a courtyard with live entertainment.

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Stilla and Coach at a inner courtyard bar/grill on Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Trolley on Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Stilla, Kaan, and little Coach enjoying ice cream cones on Main Street in Deadwood, SD.

We also visited a miniature railroad set up in the basement of one of the shops.  Kaan really enjoyed watching the train go around.

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Miniature Railroad in a basement on Main Street in Deadwood, SD.

Click HERE for more info on this miniature railroad.

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Miniature Railroad in a basement on Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Miniature Railroad in a basement on Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Miniature Railroad in a basement on Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Miniature Railroad in a basement on Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Miniature Railroad in a basement on Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Miniature Railroad in a basement on Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Miniature Railroad in a basement on Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Miniature Railroad in a basement on Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Miniature Railroad in a basement on Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Miniature Railroad in a basement on Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Miniature Railroad in a basement on Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Miniature Railroad in a basement on Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Miniature Railroad in a basement on Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Miniature Railroad in a basement on Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Miniature Railroad in a basement on Main Street in Deadwood, SD.
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Miniature Railroad in a basement on Main Street in Deadwood, SD.

If you’re ever in Deadwood, be sure to check out this attraction.  You have to appreciate all the work that goes into these… and best of all it’s practically free.  Donations are accepted and it costs $1 to make the train start moving.

Deadwood was nice, and we only left $40 at the slot machines 🙂  Unfortunately, we missed the daily gunfight that takes place on the main street because it was Sunday – the only day of the week they don’t do the show.

We left Deadwood and took the scenic route towards Lead.  Then we took 385 through the Black Hills to get to 44, and then through downtown Rapid City until we got back on I-90 for the remaining 5 mile drive to Ellsworth AFB again.  About 75 miles for the return trip, (125 miles for the day).

That’s all for now…