Lynn’s morning kicked off with a brief vertigo episode—a quick turn to the left sent the room spinning. Thankfully, it was short-lived, but the lingering dizziness and queasiness stuck around.
Since the forecast promised a gorgeous, wind-free day, and fresh air always helps, we decided to venture out and explore more of Rapid City and Keystone, SD and do some touristy stuff.
The day’s stops included:
Cosmos Mystery Area – A quirky, mind-bending experience.
National Presidential Wax Museum – A fascinating glimpse at history.
Lunch in Keystone – Halleys West
Dahl’s Chainsaw Art – Unique and impressive craftsmanship.
A day of sightseeing despite the rough start.
Weather – High 76*, Low 56*. Mild winds 4-15 mph.
Traffic – None.
Food – Halleys West, Holy Terror Coffee’s cinnamon roll, grilled pork loin.
Notable – All the touristy stuff.
Cosmos Mystery Area :
Lynn had been eager to visit the Cosmos Mystery Area since we arrived in SD. As expected, it was gimmicky and packed with optical illusions, but still entertaining in its own mysterious way.
In hindsight, we probably should’ve picked a different day—Lynn woke up with vertigo, and the gravitational distortions and illusions did not help with the nausea. Still, she pushed through and completed the 45-minute tour.
Our group was small, about 12 people, and our guide, Tom, kept things entertaining. Maybe the dizziness struck Kirk too, as he took a tumble on a step, ending up with a few scrapes and bruises—definitely adding to the “mystery” experience. In true Kirk fashion, his first question was whether I had snapped a photo of his fall. He was jokingly disappointed when I hadn’t—but making sure he was okay took priority! 😂
Overall, entertaining, but definitely not for those prone to motion sickness (Lynn’s official verdict!). Another spot checked off Lynn’s must-see list!
Cost : $15 per person.
National Presidential Wax Museum :
Kirk had been looking forward to visiting this museum, and since it was right near Cosmos Mystery Area in Keystone, we finally checked it out. While educational and interesting, it was a bit underwhelming, and some of the wax figures were downright creepy. A few of the busts inside the “chambers” looked straight out of an alien horror film—seriously unsettling!
Standing at the podium to “be President” was a fun touch, and walking through the exhibits offered plenty of historical insights. One of the more disturbing displays featured Jackie Kennedy with blood on her clothes from JFK’s assassination—a powerful but grim reminder of history. Kirk can officially check this off his must-see list!
Cost : $12 per person.
Dahl's chainsaw art, other :
We couldn’t pass up a visit to Dahl’s Chainsaw Art in Keystone, home to the World’s Largest Bigfoot. There’s a smaller location in Rapid City, but Keystone boasts the biggest one! Very talented artist and lots of cool woodworking sculptures. Too big for our RV! Cost : Free!
Lunch was at Halleys West in Keystone, where the burgers were as good as advertised. We also grabbed one of Holy Terror Coffee’s massive cinnamon rolls to take home. Naturally, I had to sample their coffee, given the name—but it was a bit too strong for my taste, as I prefer lighter breakfast blends.
A stop at the Keystone Mall led to an unexpected win—Kirk insisted I needed Black Hills Gold jewelry, and I certainly wasn’t going to argue! I found a silver motorcycle necklace with Black Hills gold leaves, all locally sourced per the shop owner.
The drive out of Keystone included a scenic pass through Miner’s Gateway Tunnel, a nice way to wrap up the adventure.
Back at the RV by 3 PM, the sun came out, making for a relaxing patio afternoon. Otis lounged with Lynn as she got back into crocheting, while Kirk grilled up a delicious pork loin dinner and we had the giant cinnamon roll for dessert (decent).
Overall, a great day!
Love the Black Hills Gold motorcycle!
I love the Black Hills Gold motorcycle!!
Apparently I love it A LOT! Sorry for the double post!
Haha! No worries! Glad you like it! 🙂 Me too!