It was a large store, with food, souviners, and even a drug store. It was started back in the 1930's, They weren't making it so Mrs. Wall suggested putting signs on the highway offering free ice water to draw customers in. They still give free ice water, but nothing else is free!
We got to the Black Hills on Sunday afternoon, and decided to go first to Hill City and see the train. They advertise it as the 1880 Train, but it's also called the Black Hills Railroad. They have a couple steam engines, one is the only articulated steam engine still in service.
I happened to be wearing a WW&F Railway shirt, so I wandered past the 'emloyees only' sign and got to talk to several guys working in the shop. They have good shops for al their routine work, but don't have any big machinery.
We rode the train to Keystone and back, about 2 hours. It was a pleasant ride, through some nice scenery. The track is a single line, the engine runs around at each end on a siding. I never like to see locomotives running backwards for half the ride.
We went back to Keystone and found a hotel room, then then went out to see Mount Rushmore. They do an evening light show, with movie and a Ranger giving a talk, then at dark turn on the lights on the mountain. Its a nice show.
We went back the next morning and took some daylight photos, and visited the museum that has lots of detail on the carving. A nicely done exhibit.
On the road to Hill City you get this side view.
We took the scenic road to the south, headed for Custer State park. There were several of these tunnels, and some of them were oriented to have a view of Mount Rushmore through them.