Badlands/White River KOA
The Badlands/White River KOA is a campground experience that provides a host of attractions near the Badlands National Park. The campground has a swimming pool, nine holes of miniature golf, nature walks with opportunities for bird watching, dog park, ball field and the chance for the whole family to have fun on three-wheel fun cycles. Camping at this KOA site includes spaces for those with an RV as well as those who just bring along a tent. If you have neither, you can always opt for a cabin.
Badlands/White River KOA
20720 South Dakota Highway 44
Interior, SD 57750
605-433-5337
koa.com/where/sd/41111
National Grasslands Visitor Center
The National Grasslands Visitor Center is like visiting an attraction that undoes all the damage done by watching dozens of historically inaccurate Hollywood movies about the Great Plains. A trip to the National Grasslands Visitor Center in Wall, South Dakota has the power to help you deepen your appreciation of the Badlands by increasing your knowledge of the Dust Bowl Era that helped form the nearby grasslands.
National Grasslands Visitor Center
708 Main St.
Wall, SD 57790
605-279-2125
byways.org/explore/byways/16436/places/53288
Wild West Historical Wax Museum
The Wild West Historical Wax Museum is also located in the town of Wall. This museum is populated by authentic recreations of such real life Old West figures as Annie Oakley, Billy the Kid and even the actor perhaps most famous for playing in western films, John Wayne. The museum is open from early May to October. Alongside the more than 50 wax figures are actual antique swords, coins and photos.
Wild West Historical Wax Museum
601 Main St.
Wall, SD 57790
605-279-2915
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
The entire world could one day resemble the eerie landscape afforded at Badlands National Park if too many fingers press too many buttons that launch rockets of the type on display at the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. Step back in time to that period when America's official enemy wasn't terrorists, but communists with an arsenal of nuclear bombs. Make reservations for the in-depth tour to receive a crash course in Cold War history or just show up and get in line for the open house tour. You have probably heard about the silos containing enough weaponry to destroy civilization as know it and a visit to this nearby attraction lets you actually see what those silos look like.
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
21280 SD Hwy. 240
Philip, SD 57567
605-433-5552
nps.gov/mimi/index.htm
Article Written By Timothy Sexton
Timothy Sexton is an award-winning author who started writing in 1994. He has written on topics ranging from politics and golf to nutrition and travel, and his work appears online for Zappos.com, Disaboom and MOJO, among others. He has also done work for "Sherlock Holmes and Philosophy." He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of West Florida.
