Wall had its beginning the summer of 1907; a railroad station linking Pierre and Rapid City joining the rails from east to west. It fast became a center for its rich agricultural area, and is home today to the National Grasslands Visitor Center, the only one of its kind in the United States--don't miss it! The town was named for the rugged strip of Badlands 1/2 mile to 3 miles wide, that separates the lower sod covered prairie of the White River from the great gentle, grassy flats of the upper prairies.

Internationally known for having the most famous drug store in the world, The Wall Drug, this true western town of approximately 850 citizens, opens its heart and doors to 2 million visitors annually. Economic impact of agriculture in South Dakota is 15 billion. Tourism provides 1.5 billion. Wall provides a nice portion of both!

Wall is a major stopover for I-90 travelers enroute to the Black Hills. Rich in history and tradition, people can enjoy seeing the old Deadwood wagon trail, the Prairie Homestead, experience horseback riding and covered wagon rides, roam the vast wildlife preserves, or join a cattle drive. A visit to Wall Drug takes about 1/2 a day and is well worth the time.

All this in Wall, and then the Badlands! For more information contact the Wall Chamber of Commerce at 1-888-852-9255 or www.wall-badlands.com.

The Badlands National Park covers 244,300 acres of the White River badlands. It was established to preserve forever, the scenic beauty and active wildlife and plant life of this astonishing world within our world. It is a surreal land that indeed, awes, inspires, and even frightens. As travelers of today pass through the soft rolling grasslands and pastures of western South Dakota, they are often unprepared for the sudden chaos of form and shape of the Badlands. One can feel that travelers of old had the same response. The Lakota called them "mako sika" meaning "badland", a land not useful. The French fur traders of the late 1700's called them "les mauvaises terres" meaning "the badlands"; a harsh place. Today, people are able to enjoy the incredible beauty of this land from another time thanks to the tireless efforts of early, South Dakota legislators like Peter Norbeck.

The land forms, colors, and hues of the Badlands are always unexpected and changing. It's renowned fossil life is forever intriguing. Caused by timeless erosion, the rocks are soft, and geologic change continues today. In February 1993 a rock slide continued for several hours moving thousands of tons of rock over the course of an afternoon, rearranging a portion of the park's scenery. Just when you think you know what to expect, around the next bend is something new. The history of the Lakota and the challenges of the early settlers to this area make for fascinating stories.

The Badlands is not a gentle place, with its severe weather at times, the impossible terrain, and the starkness of it's appearance. But it has a haunting quality, luring one to it's unusual beauty and powerful landscape. Over a million visitors yearly are fortunate to have good roads and accommodations all managed by National Park Service. A visit to this surreal, fascinating world is well worth your time.

For more information call 1-605-433-5361 or www.nps.gov/badl.