Really Nice Vacations

Do you consider Wall Drug Store a tourist trap?

Personally, I haven’t been there. However, I have scores of friends who stopped by with their kids. According to the parents, the kids had a marvelous time exploring the Mining Company - supposedly a mining and panning simulation and digging for gem stones and fossils in the bonanza box. Of course, they took pictures at Mount Rushmore and the famous (or is it infamous) 25 footer T-Rex that roars every 10-12 minutes. If the kids love it, is it a waste of time for the adults to drive all the way just to see a mall selling western items?

The Wall Drug Store got its start during the Depression years when Ted Hustead started offering Free Ice Water tothirsty travelers. If you look at the above picture, check out a very small white sign which has “The ice water store” stated in black. Since then, Wall Drug Store has been the rest stop of choice for motorists in South Dakota ever since. Today, Western-themed statues—from Wyatt Earp to General Custer—fill the halls of the 76,000-square-foot shopping complex, which also includes a modest water park, a mining-and-panning simulation, a 25-foot T-Rex, a 520-seat western art gallery restaurant and more.

Why do people call it a tourist trap? My friend said “Drive so far and see nothing but a giant mall doesn’t make lots of sense”. Oh well, I guess it all boils down to the objective. Do you want to see a piece of living history and relive a bit of the olden days nostalgic? If so, the trip might be OK. Otherwise, think twice, the bottom line is it is indeed a giant store selling western stuff.

Stumble it!