Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

I didn%26#39;t pull up anything on this in a search. Has anyone been there? I see there is a museum, and I was wondering how interesting it is? Anyone with first hand knowledge?

Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

No museum.

Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

I don%26#39;t know anything interesting to do on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation. We haven%26#39;t ever seen anything worth stopping.

Thanks! I searched online too, and found a trip report from someone that raved about it, but they were big big BIG Wounded Knee buffs........by their description it didn%26#39;t sound like much to keep the interest of a family.

If you have a strong interest in the Lakota Sioux, I think it%26#39;s a necessary place to visit. It isn%26#39;t very tourist friendly so you have%26#39;ll to do some research to come up with your own list of places to see and things to do. There is some pretty country to drive through--especially the northern portion of the Reservation where the south unit of Badlands National Park is located.

If you have more of a casual interest in Lakota history, you may want to instead stop in Rapid City at the Journey Museum and the Prairie Edge store downtown.

Your family may enjoy watching, listening and eating at one of the many summer pow wows around the state. Visit web link:

http://www.drumhop.com/sdpowwow.html#July

Two Pine Ridge offerings:

Oglala Nation pow wow and rodeo. Early August 2006

Location: Pine Ridge, SD.

Info: 605-867-5821

Wounded Knee Memorial Ride and pow wow. August 7-13

Location: Wounded Knee, SD.

Thank you! I would say our interest is casual, so your recommendations are good ones.

I%26#39;m still planning the big summer trip for this year, so I can%26#39;t review any of these places yet, but there do seem to be a few cool things to do on the reservation. We will be driving through it in any event, south from the Badlands through Wounded Knee and Pine Ridge and over and up toward Hot Springs and Mount Rushmore, after an afternoon tour of the Minuteman Missile National Monument up just east of Wall.

There are several B%26amp;B%26#39;s and guest ranches in the vicinity. Here is a link to the Pine Ridge Chamber%26#39;s lodging page:

www.pineridgechamber.com/chamber/page7.html

We ar probably going to try either the Circle View Ranch - which has an authentic 1880s homestead cabin, no electricity or running water, out by itself on the prairie, away from the guesthouse - or the Blacktail Deer B%26amp;B - Sioux owned and operated, with some tipis to sleep in. It is across the road from the ubiquitous casino, which doesn%26#39;t interest us at all but at least provides a buffet if we aren%26#39;t feeling like fixing our own, and also has a hotel.

prairiewindcasino.com/prairiewind/hotel.htm

The Lakota Prairie Ranch resort also looks interesting, but not many details on the website.

I%26#39;ll be writing some reviews after we go in June-July, but that%26#39;s what my research shows at this point.

For your information, there is nothing in Wounded Knee and there is nothing spectacular in Pine Ridge, SD either.

We missed the Wounded Knee Memorial in of all places, Wall, SD. We drove a consideable winedy distance to Wounded Knee only to find a dilapedated vendor stall and the cemetary sitting on a lonely hill next to a church. We were somewhat disappointed.

We were drove through Pine Ridge during their annual Pow-wow/Rodeo. THere is of course the traffic snarls and back-ups as there is only one way in and one way out of the locality. When you attend the pow-wow, obviously it is a carnival atmosphere and certainly there is no order, rhyme or reason. Just be aware of traffic snarls whereas you may have to park it and walk into the Pow-wow grounds.

THere is an admission fee to attend the event.

I have been here 4 times, and I always stay for at least 10 days and last time I was there for 3 weeks.

I just love it there! The people I have gotten to know is so warm, kind and generous. They are like family to me.

I love the great sense of humor and how they take care of the elders and care for their children.

Yes, there is poverty and bad stuff going on too, that’s what I’ve heard. Still that’s not all I see. There is much to be said.

I’m still shocked when I hear people advising people not to go here and to be careful. Careful of what? Friendly loving people?

Yes, be careful every time you travel anywhere, but don’t listen to racist advices/warnings about this place, because that’s all it is. Racist.

What I see is people giving and giving, even if they don’t have everything themselves. I see smiles, I hear laughter and the best damn jokes in town:) I’m sad and crying every time I must go back home, and I’m thrilled and happy when I can return to my friends on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation.

The best place for vacationing:) And to enjoy the best smoothie in the world, visit Higher Ground Coffee House in Pine Ridge:)

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