South Dakota Vacation Guide 2012 - (Page 190)

Hot Springs (Continued from Page 189) commercial potential in the therapeutic healing waters. In 1890, he erected a building enclosing the largest natural warm-water spring. With a flow rate of nearly 5,000 gallons per minute, Evans Plunge never contains the same water; there’s an entire change-over every hour and a half. Evans also constructed the first, and perhaps most magnificent, of the town’s distinctive sandstone edifices – the Evans Hotel – with sandstone from his own quarries. Eventually, Hot Springs built an entire downtown district comprised of more than 35 sandstone structures. In recent years, an array of gift shops, art galleries, restaurants and accommodations have restored the unique downtown interiors, and once again nearby spas and bath houses stand ready to pamper you to perfection. Evans Plunge is still a preeminent attraction in Hot Springs, and a nice warm soak in the 87-degree mineral waters is the supreme luxury. Try out everything: the waterslides, fun tubes, Tarzan rings, water basketball, spa tub, steam room, saunas. During the summer, the Plunge is open most days from early morning to early evening. But before sinking into a steamy pool of aromatic luxury, a world of Woolly mammals, wild mustangs and underground mysteries await. Hot Springs is home to the world-famous Mammoth Site, the largest in situ (bones left as found) mammoth dig site contained inside a building. The site is the final resting place for large Columbian and Woolly mammoths (59 of them!) that became trapped after sliding into a spring-fed sinkhole about 26,000 years ago. A number of wild mustangs met a kinder fate when Dayton Hyde established his Wild Horse Sanctuary in 1988 just south of town. Today, a herd of more than 500 horses runs free across 11,000 acres. Along with viewing the beautiful horses, visitors can enjoy the spectacular scenery and guided treks to see petroglyphs and Native American ceremonial sites. 190 Black Hills, Badlands & lakes Region http://www.sojournervr.com http://WWW.EVANSPLUNGE.COM http://WWW.EVANSPLUNGE.COM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of South Dakota Vacation Guide 2012

South Dakota Vacation Guide 2012
Contents
Getting Here, Getting Around
Interstate Information Centers
State Facts
Native American Information
Places of Interest
Calendar of Events
Public Campgrounds and Recreation Areas
Southeast Region: A slice of South Dakota charm
Glacial Lakes & Prairies Region: Stories from the frontier
Great Lakes Region: Land of the mighty Missouri
Black Hills, Badlands & Lakes Region: Enchanting mountain getaway
Black Hills map
Index

South Dakota Vacation Guide 2012

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