Beautiful Rushmore Cave
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| Distance | 6 Miles |
| Time Needed: | 1 to 2 hours, tour takes about an hour |
| Best Time To Go: | Anytime. Seasonal, May 1~Oct. 31. Hours: (June 10~Aug. 31, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) (Sept. 1~Oct. 31, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) Tours leave every 20 minutes in summer. |
| Directions: | Follow US 16A north to the Keystone stoplight (the only one in town) and turn right on Hwy. 40 and drive 5 miles to Hayward |
| Cost | Adult, $9.50: Child (5-12), $5.50; Younger than 5, Free. AAA, AARP, Military Discounts available. Also, look for coupons in area tourist publications. (2008 rates) |
| Highlights: | Home of the "Big Room" |
| Description: | The six-mile side trip east of
Keystone to Beautiful Rushmore Cave is a nice diversion when you want
to escape summer's mid-day heat. The cave features an abundance of
stalactites, stalagmites, fossils and other formations. This is the
closest cave to the Roosevelt Inn. Tours leave every 20 minutes in
season. The highlight of the cave tour is a visit to the "Big Room" in which thousands of icicle-like stalactites hang from the cavern's ceiling. The tour is fairly easy because once inside the cave there are relatively few steps. Getting to the entrance, however, is a climb. Although we recommend this attraction, the "guides" -- high school students, really -- seemed poorly informed and uninterested when we last took the tour in August, 2006. The cave has new owners for the 2008 season and they have promised to improve the training for the guides. (See field note.) Info: 605-255-4384 or 605-255-4467. Beautiful Rushmore Cave, 13622 Highway 40, Keystone, SD 57751-6604 (Updated 7/16/2005) |
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