Apparently, Memorial Day is when everyone with a tent or RV busts out from the long Midwestern winter to commune with nature. I checked every state and county park in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota within two hundred miles of our route trying to find a place to ride out the weekend. There was NOTHING available.
Saved By A KOA
We finally found a spot at a KOA in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. At 300 miles away, it was at least 100 miles more than we like to travel in a day. We pulled in to find a nicely maintained RV park. But…the park is right next to I-90, with a constant parade of tractor-trailers using their annoying jake brakes. Adding to the noise assault was an enormous American flag near our site cracking like a giant bullwhip in the wind. We closed our windows, cranked up the AC in the 95-degree heatwave, and hunkered down for three nights.
KOA Sioux Falls
Biking And Exploring Sioux Falls
Despite our less than idyllic campsite, we had a good time in Sioux Falls. The centerpiece of the town is a beautiful series of natural waterfalls cascading over pink Sioux quartzite. Early one morning, we embarked on the Sioux Falls Bike Trail Loop, which begins in Falls Park and circles the entire city. It’s a smooth paved 19-mile trail and makes for a good ride.
Falls Park, built around a series of natural waterfalls that cascade over Sioux quartzite
Biking the Sioux Falls Bike Trail Loop
Unexpected Art In Sioux Falls
On another hot day, we ventured out to explore more of the city. Downtown Sioux Falls is home to SculptureWalk, an outdoor exhibit of 56 large sculptures by artists from across the country. The styles vary from classical to fantastical, and a new series of sculptures are installed each year in May. Residents and tourists are encouraged to vote for their favorite, and the city of Sioux Falls purchases the winning sculpture each year for permanent display in Falls Park.
Sculpture in downtown Sioux Falls
Another sculpture in downtown Sioux Falls
A winning sculpture placed in Falls Park
Overall, we enjoyed our stay in Sioux Falls, although we prefer our campsites to be out in nature instead of next to the freeway. However, Fernson Brewing Company, with very good craft beers, is conveniently located just a short walk from the KOA. That was a fun bonus.
Fernson Brewery
The Corn Palace: Mitchell, SD
When the Memorial Day crowds evaporated, we continued our journey west along Interstate 90. We stopped at The Corn Palace, just a few miles off the highway in Mitchell, South Dakota. In the late 19th century, cities of the Great Plains constructed “grain palaces” to promote their products and to encourage people to settle there. The Corn Palace is a fanciful structure, adorned with domes and minarets—but the best part is the murals, made entirely from corn cobs in various colors and sheaves of grains.
The exterior corn murals are replaced and redesigned each year after Labor Day with a new theme. When we visited, “South Dakota Weather” was the theme. Most of the murals were pastoral in nature. Sunflowers in summer, sledding in winter, a farmer standing in his field. But the mural of the tornado was ominous. And the corn art portraying giant lightning bolts striking a church—I’m still pondering that one.
The Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota
Thirteen colors of corn are used for the Corn Palace
Paint by number with corn cobs
The Corn Palace tornado
This could be interpreted any number of ways…
Plains Indian Culture: Chamberlain, SD
We visited Chamberlain, South Dakota specifically to see the Akta Lakota Museum. Located on the campus of St. Joseph’s Indian School, the museum and cultural center was established in 1991 to honor and preserve the culture of the Northern Plains Indians. The center houses a rich collection of historical artifacts as well as contemporary works of art by tribal members.
Akta Lakota Museum; the name means “to honor the people”
Akta Lakota Museum
Beaded Lakota moccasins
Traditional buffalo rawhide Lakota bags painted with bright geometric patterns
Just off of Interstate 90 near Chamberlain a 50-foot tall stainless steel sculpture gleams in the sun. Created by South Dakota artist laureate Dale Lamphere, the statue depicts a Native American woman dressed in Plains-style clothing, holding a traditional star quilt behind her back. The eight-pointed Morning Star, which separates the darkness of the night from the light of the new day, is the most common symbol on Plains Indians quilts.
An inscription by the artist reads: “My intent is to have the sculpture stand as an enduring symbol of our shared belief that all here are sacred, and in a sacred place.” It is a gorgeous, inspiring work of art.
Dignity Statue
About The Campground
Following our three-night stay at the Sioux Falls KOA, we retreated 170 miles to Left Tailrace COE campground, about 12 miles north of I-90. The campground is 20 miles northwest of Chamberlain (where we visited the Akta Lakota Museum and the Dignity Statue).
It’s a pretty, peaceful park with beautiful lake views and no traffic noise (yay!). The sites are spacious, with electric hookups only (we’re kind of getting used to this), water spigots throughout, clean bathhouses, and a dump station. Verizon is good.
Left Tailrace COE campground
Sunset at Left Tailrace COE campground
It looks like you are on a roll catching your blog up. We stopped in Mitchell twice the last time we stayed at the city campground just outside of town. Not the best place but it was quiet and cheap. Our Santa Fe trip has been fun we are here a couple more weeks. I’m hoping to make the trek to Chaco Canyon while we are in the area if the weather holds out.
Haha, yes I’m on a roll to get caught up, Pat! My goal is to be in the present by the time we leave Ashland at the end of November. Wish me luck! :-)
Santa Fe is one of our all-time favorite places—hope you get to Chaco Canyon, it’s been many years since we’ve been there and we would love to return.
I actually have recurring google calendar reminders for 3 months in advance to make sure I have reservations over all holiday week-ends. I can completely understand your total inability to find any where to be. There are SO many people who camp/rv these days.
A bike ride in 95 degree heat? Oh my! Who knew Sioux Falls was so lovely. What a great idea to get sculptures to “visit” your city and then you buy one of them. The corn palace is a true tourist attraction and actually pretty amazing. What a hoot. Wonder how long it takes them to do it? And when does the new one get erected? We saw the signs but never stopped. Thanks for giving me a close up view.
I would love to see The Lakota Museum. Their art work is beautiful. The statue is so powerful. Such an amazing piece. I can only imagine what it felt like to stand there with it.
Sherry, Sioux Falls was definitely a surprise. The waterfalls, the biking, the art…I like the way you describe the sculptures “visiting” the city. We headed out for our long bike ride in the morning and were back in the air conditioning before the temps climbed into the 90s.
The Corn Palace was a quick, interesting stop. Amazing what they create with corn! Knowing your appreciation for native culture, you would enjoy both the Lakota Museum and the Dignity statue in Chamberlain.
We found ourselves with no where to stay over memorial day weekend also and ended up at a KOA in very similar circumstances. Hot and buggy and noisy outside, peaceful and cool inside Beluga while we waited out the weekend.
The mannequin used for the Lakota man standing next to his horse was awfully pale……..accurate representation?
Loved your photo of the Dignity statue.
The Dignity statue is beautiful, Sue. As for the mannequin at the Lakota museum, he does seem a bit pale-skinned, doesn’t he? The exhibits were excellent, though, and focused on the history of the native peoples, the devastation that occurred as white settlers made their way west (beginning with the Lewis and Clark expedition), and the attempts of the Sioux to preserve their heritage.
Sometimes the least likely places turn out to be so much fun. Isn’t this traveling lifestyle the best!!
It seems that we find interesting things everywhere we go, Brenda. We love this lifestyle, just as you do!
Morey doesn’t care for KOA’s. If they have donuts and a good snack bar, I don’t mind as much. Lol. Falls Park looks amazing. No thoughts about becoming a South Dakota resident? No income tax and cheap vehicle registration.
Brenda, KOA’s aren’t our first choice because we prefer being out in nature. But sometimes they’re really convenient, and they certainly have all the amenities (not sure about the donuts…I didn’t check. :-))
There are some things about South Dakota residency that are appealing, but we would be giving up a lot to relinquish our Oregon residency. Since we still have our home in Ashland it would be complicated. However, no state income tax would be GREAT.
I like that Sioux Falls adds to their sculpture garden each year!
The corn palace certainly is a wonder. Are the types of corn used grown to be decorative or are they edible types?
That’s a good question, Lisa. The corn is grown to be decorative, but I don’t know if it’s edible. Their focus is on developing different colors. The green corn is new this year.
The Sioux Falls sculptures are cool! The entire downtown is a sculpture garden.
Who knew corn could be interesting? Holiday weekends give me the willies.
Deb, apparently no place in the country is safe from crowds on holiday weekends! We learned a valuable lesson.
No rezzies for Memorial Day weekend? Rookie! :) It has happened to all of us, of course, and it isn’t just holidays! Once we were headed to an Elks Lodge near Cooperstown, NY. An Elks member in an online group asked if we planned to attend the induction ceremony. I thought, wow, she’s really a hardcore Elks member if she attends those meetings! Then she further explained that the induction ceremony she was referring to was at the Baseball Hall of Fame, the one that thousands upon thousands of folks attend. LOL, I didn’t even know that was a thing! Obviously, we didn’t get anywhere near Cooperstown!
Isn’t Dignity amazing? She is really eye-catching!
No kidding, it was a totally rookie mistake, Linda! :-)) I don’t know why I thought we could take a little break from planning just because we were in the Midwest. Your story about the induction ceremony is great—I would have assumed it was some kind of big Elk shindig, too.
We really enjoyed our travels through South Dakota, and to see Dignity rising from the plains was spectacular!
Memorial Day means vacation and that means get out the camping equipment! Glad you found something. Sioux Falls is so pretty. The Corn Palace not so much but one must stop just because.
Pam, you’re right—Memorial Day is the weekend that ignites the camping frenzy. Now we know that’s true everywhere in this country, so we won’t be making that mistake again!
We really liked Sioux Falls and would go back—we loved the sculpture walk and the biking.
And we really enjoyed our stop at the Corn Palace. I was fascinated that they could create such intricate murals from dried corn cobs—and all naturally grown colors.
Ah yes, the joy of not knowing there’s a holiday weekend coming up – and then having to scramble to squeeze in with the hordes :-) Of course you made the best of it. Nice that the brewery glasses matched Eric’s shirt! Love the town’s dedication to outdoor art! We really have to make that Corn Palace stop. Very interesting display of the church surrounded by lightning – hmmmmm. We didn’t get to stay our full planned time in Chamberlain so I missed the Lakota Museum which is still on our list along with Dignity. Even in photos she’s powerful.
Jodee, as you know, the only way to survive and thrive in this RVing lifestyle is to roll with whatever happens. :-) We were happy to land in Sioux Falls and found it to be much more beautiful and interesting than we expected. And don’t miss the Corn Palace along the way! It’s a fun stop just to see what they’ve created with corn cobs.
I know you will enjoy the Lakota Museum and visiting Dignity when you return to that area.
We traveled to Sioux Falls when we first took to the roads as SD became our chosen state of residence. Loved the sculptures and statues downtown (pleasantly surprised) and Falls Park was lovely. We were fortunate to catch a light show over the falls while we were there. I have never been to the Corn Palace but have read about it. The Dignity Statue is breathtaking. I love how often you introduce me to new sights.
Lu, I had forgotten that you were once South Dakota residents. This was our first visit to the state and we found much of it interesting and beautiful. The sculptures in Sioux Falls are wonderful—I love that the city is so supportive of artists. I think the Corn Palace is worth a stop. And of course, the Dignity statue is gorgeous. I’m glad we can show you a few things you haven’t seen in all of your travels. :-)
We were in Sioux Falls three times and never got a chance to see the Art Walk downtown. The first time was when Steve introduced me to his Grandma sometime in 2004, then in 2012 to complete our being SD residents then last year when we renewed our DL. But so glad you had the time to explore it for us. I have always wanted to see the Corn Palace, but our route never took us there. Did you get inside? Using corncobs for art is excellent creativity! I like it.
The Dignity Statue seemed to be floating/
ML, if you travel to South Dakota again, you would enjoy the sculptures in Sioux Falls and the Corn Palace in Chamberlain. We did go inside the Corn Palace—it’s used by the community for basketball games, concerts, and other events. When there’s not an event it’s filled with all kinds of corn-themed souvenirs. The inside has some murals, too, but they aren’t as elaborate or colorful and aren’t replaced every year.