1st stop - Big Thunder Gold Mine
Watch your head!
Big Thunder is one of the safest mines in the area. The rock stability allowed the miners to use very little timbering. Because of its safety, during times of war, the Big Thunder Mine was designated as Keystone's bomb shelter. Not much gold was taken from this mine. Lore has it that they discovered some gold in an adjacent area but did not file a claim. They got drunk and talked about the gold they found and someone else filed a claim out of spitebut did not have the money to excavate it. They sold the rights to someone else for a few thousand dollars. The mine ended up producing over 3 million in Gold
After the tour we panned for gold and even founda few flakes!
Getting warm again - so back underground to Rushmore Cave. This is the original natural entrance.
It is filled with natural limestone formations
Lots of narrow winding tunnels and ups and downs. Could've used the hard hat in here too.
The "Big Room"
Lots of Stalactites
We got free admission with our VIP Pass and they told us the zip line ride was free as well. Since we were well chilled from the hour tour we didn't mind waiting in line in the hot sun.
Next Stop Mt. Rushmore to do the Audio Tour
Time to head home, we take the Iron Mountain Road with the Pigtail Bridges- you drive under the bridge and then the road circles around so you cross the bridge
As we were driving home we passed the Black Hills Playhouse. They do a practice run of a play on the Wednesday before opening and VIP pass holders get in free. We hadn't had a chance to do one yet, we were either working or had forgotten about it or last week when we remembered it was an off week. I had it in my mind that it was next week but I noticed cars in the lot as we drove by and decided to check my "cheat sheet" and sure enough it was this evening so we did a U-Turn and headed back
We ended up seeing "All Shook Up" a musical comedy with a lot of Elvis music and comical situations of mistaken identity. The Set wasn't complete and it was the first time the cast had performed in front of a live audience. They only had 5 days of rehearsals. They did quite well and we enjoyed the performance.Till Later, Meanwhile we keep on Trek'n
Melissa and Gary
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