Comments on: What’s with all those dinosaurs? http://blackhillstravelblog.com/whats-with-all-those-dinosaurs Travel Help from South Dakota's Black Hills & Badlands Sat, 04 Sep 2010 21:08:58 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Frank http://blackhillstravelblog.com/whats-with-all-those-dinosaurs/comment-page-1#comment-11001 Frank Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:51:36 +0000 http://blackhillstravelblog.com/?p=3697#comment-11001 I'd also add that the Dinosaur Park parking lot is a great jumping-off point for the Skyline Wilderness. It's not a wilderness in the federal-designation sense, but Skyline has some great trails and fantastic views of West Rapid. Just park your car at Dinosaur Park and start walking south on Skyline Drive. Around the bend, you'll see a Skyline Wilderness sign on your right. Shortly after that, there's a trial that takes you through the woods, under the lookout and along the west side of the ridge. When you come to the little road, follow it up to the top, cross the highway by the old Petrified Forest foundation and head back into the woods. The trail will take you to the old amphitheater, built by the WPA but never actually used. Not much left, but you can still see the terracing. I’d also add that the Dinosaur Park parking lot is a great jumping-off point for the Skyline Wilderness. It’s not a wilderness in the federal-designation sense, but Skyline has some great trails and fantastic views of West Rapid.

Just park your car at Dinosaur Park and start walking south on Skyline Drive. Around the bend, you’ll see a Skyline Wilderness sign on your right. Shortly after that, there’s a trial that takes you through the woods, under the lookout and along the west side of the ridge.

When you come to the little road, follow it up to the top, cross the highway by the old Petrified Forest foundation and head back into the woods. The trail will take you to the old amphitheater, built by the WPA but never actually used. Not much left, but you can still see the terracing.

]]> By: Cindy Davies http://blackhillstravelblog.com/whats-with-all-those-dinosaurs/comment-page-1#comment-10983 Cindy Davies Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:57:37 +0000 http://blackhillstravelblog.com/?p=3697#comment-10983 Thanks for the update and the link! Thanks for the update and the link!

]]> By: Joe http://blackhillstravelblog.com/whats-with-all-those-dinosaurs/comment-page-1#comment-10982 Joe Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:48:05 +0000 http://blackhillstravelblog.com/?p=3697#comment-10982 Cindy, thanks for the added details. I've updated the post to correct those items. Some of my information for the post came from the National Park Service and the National Register of Historic Places - it seems that they are slightly off on those same details of O'Harra's life (http://www.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/6roadside/6facts3.htm). Again, thanks for keeping us on our toes :-) Cindy, thanks for the added details. I’ve updated the post to correct those items. Some of my information for the post came from the National Park Service and the National Register of Historic Places – it seems that they are slightly off on those same details of O’Harra’s life (http://www.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/6roadside/6facts3.htm). Again, thanks for keeping us on our toes :-)

]]> By: Dustin http://blackhillstravelblog.com/whats-with-all-those-dinosaurs/comment-page-1#comment-10977 Dustin Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:21:12 +0000 http://blackhillstravelblog.com/?p=3697#comment-10977 They're really kitschy, but the history is pretty fascinating. It turns out there were quite a few roadside dino attractions constructed in the U.S. in the 1930s and 1940s, but I don't think any of them have a view like Rapid City's Dinosaur Park does. They’re really kitschy, but the history is pretty fascinating. It turns out there were quite a few roadside dino attractions constructed in the U.S. in the 1930s and 1940s, but I don’t think any of them have a view like Rapid City’s Dinosaur Park does.

]]> By: Cindy Davies http://blackhillstravelblog.com/whats-with-all-those-dinosaurs/comment-page-1#comment-10976 Cindy Davies Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:14:06 +0000 http://blackhillstravelblog.com/?p=3697#comment-10976 A couple of minor quibbles. Dr. O'Harra spelled his name with two r's. He was not the retired president of the School of Mines. He was still serving as president at the time of his death. But still an interesting article about Dinosaur Hill. A couple of minor quibbles. Dr. O’Harra spelled his name with two r’s. He was not the retired president of the School of Mines. He was still serving as president at the time of his death. But still an interesting article about Dinosaur Hill.

]]>