Wall, South Dakota: A Badlands Prairie Town and Travel Destination

With a population just over 800, Wall, South Dakota doesn't look like much from the highway - but, if you have been drudging across I-90 for the past several hours, it just might look like an oasis. Whether you are heading West to Rapid City and Mount Rushmore, or South to Badlands National Park, Wall, South Dakota is a great place to take a break during a long drive, stock up on supplies to get you to your next stop and see some great family-friendly attractions.

There are several parking lots and everything in the town is within walking distance, including most of the motels. Most of what visitors will be interested in is right on Main Street, including museums, gift shops, restaurants. There are three gas stations and enough rooms to accommodate 2,000 travelers with your choice of motels, hotels, cabins, guest ranches and bed and breakfasts.

One of the places you must stop while in Wall (and, really, one of the only places to stop) is the world famous Wall Drug. Owned by the Hustead family for over 75 years, Wall Drug got its start as a Mom and Pop drug store and has now grown to a 76,000 square foot tourist attraction and travel stop with everything from a Western art and historic photo collection to an Old West shopping mall. There are lots of photo props and fun activities for families - like a mining and panning experience, shows, an arcade and shooting gallery, dinosaur statues, a café and a fossil shop. It's also a great place to stock up on any camping supplies you might have forgotten before heading out into the Badlands.

If you are in the mood for a burger and a beer, head over to Badlands Bar & Pizza, or if you're craving Mexican food (or want to try a chuck wagon buffet), check out Cactus Café & Lounge. Both are located on Main Street, across from Wall Drug. The Red Rock Restaurant at 506 Glenn Street is another great option and has patio dining for visitors that don't want to miss a moment of the great outdoors that South Dakota has to offer.

While you are on Main Street, stop by The Mocha Moose to grab a coffee or ice cream, and don't forget to drop in at Legacy Old Time Photo to get one of those great old-fashioned family photos (complete with costumes).

Aside from the many stores inside Wall Drug, Main Street and the surrounding area also offer some other great shopping opportunities including Gold Diggers, a Black Hills Gold outlet; Buffalo Gift Shop, for skulls, jewelry and souvenirs; Dakota Mercantile, a gift shop; Wall Superstore & Mall, souvenir central; and Wall Trading Post, another shop for Black Hills Gold, as well as moccasins and the like.

You also won't want to miss out on some of the educational attractions in the area, like the Wildlife Museum and Gift Shop located on Main Street and housing more than 200 wildlife displays, or the National Grasslands Visitor's Center at 708 Main Street where you can learn all about National Grasslands before taking a quick 15-minute drive to actually experience one. Also, stop by the Wounded Knee Museum at 207 10^th Avenue for a narrative history of the Wounded Knee Massacre, or visit the Prairie Homestead while making the scenic loop Highway 240 drive through Badlands National Park. The Prairie Homestead is a restored pioneer home made of sod and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Aside from the obvious historic interest, the Prairie Homestead's website also states that they have the world's only white prairie dog town.

There is much to do and see in southwest South Dakota and many of these great attractions are within an hour or two from Wall. So, the next time you plan a trip that will take you through South Dakota, set your GPS to Wall and enjoy all that it has to offer.