Hundreds of miles from where the little town of Wall, South Dakota is located you will see the signs. Actually, you can see signs on the other side of the planet. “Wall Drug This Way”. “Don’t miss Wall Drug”. “Free Ice Water At Wall Drug.” And countless more.
Countless people have stopped in Wall just to see this store. And for the locals a lot of us seem to want to pass this by. As South Dakotan’s we are very aware of the fact it’s a tourist trap. But is it worth a stop? Is it worth all hype? Is there really nothing to see?
In 1931 Ted Hustead decided to buy this little business in Wall, South Dakota. Which was described by him as “The middle of no where.” As could be expected in a town of 300 people, business was slow. It was his wife’s idea (as all good ideas are right guys) to advertise “Free Ice water” to passing tourists heading to see the newly opened Mt Rushmore. By 1981 they were giving out over twenty thousand cups of ice water during their busy season.
But one of the big things that has given Wall Drug it’s infamy is its advertising. Hundreds of signs from miles away leading you to Wall Drug. As a person living in eastern South Dakota, many times I have tried to count how many signs there are. This turned Wall into a funnel for all passing tourists. Weather heading to Mt Rushmore. To the Badlands. Or the Missouri river. Or even just passing by. It’s impossible to ignore it. It has even been recognized by movies such as National Lampoon’s Vacation. And TV shows such as the Today show. And it even has a feature in Time magazine.
But inside, you’ll find what I have heard best described as western themed mall. With seemingly endless stores and shops. How about a wonderful candy store with amazing fudge? Or maybe a book store dedicated to South Dakota and the west? Or would you like to get a gift? With boots, hats, purses, toys and jewelry you really can’t go wrong. With something for almost everyone. It even has camping supplies.
But let’s talk about the real reason a lot of the people come. The attractions. Stand and a watch as a T-rex threatens to eat you every 15 minutes. Maybe you want to watch the old time cowboys sing a song? How about taking your picture with an 8 foot tall jackalope? During the summer there is even more. A shooting gallery arcade. A rock store. And jumping fountains. The whole store has a ton of picture opportunities with full size statues. As well as train silhouettes and horses. It even has a chapel.
And with all of that, throw a café and restaurant in. With a full menu as well as a simple quick eats menu, you can’t go wrong. I recommend the yummy burgers and hotdogs. And don’t forget to get yourself some fresh made donuts and a cup of five cent coffee. And yes. They still have free ice water. To find out more that the store has to offer. And more details. Click here to go to their website.
As I kid I remembered visiting Wall Drug. And very little has changed. The old western store captured my thoughts. My imagination. And was a ton of fun. But even now, that hasn’t changed. I can’t help but think to when Hustead opened this store. His imagination. His thoughts. How could he take a store in the middle of no where and turn it into a recognizable store across the world. The vision behind it is truly awe inspiring.
So when people wonder if it’s worth the stop? I say of course. As we grow older we seem to want to see things polished. We seem to lose our sense of adventure and imagination. And maybe above all that’s what Wall Drug offers the most of. A little bit of imagination. A little bit of adventure. And memories and fun.
Until next time.