If you are ever in South Dakota on I-90, probably for the entire distance of I-90, you will see signs for Wall Drug. Many of the advertisements were for coffee for five cents or free ice water. While driving from Rapid City to Minuteman Missile National Historic Site (about 70 miles), I saw a sign for Wall Drug at least every mile, probably more often than that. I went to Devil’s Tower today, and I saw a sign for Wall Drug while leaving Devil’s Tower before even getting on the interstate, a good 150 miles away from Wall. Clearly Wall Drug is a tourist trap, but if you try that hard to trap the tourists, I will give it to you. After visiting Badlands, I went to Wall Drug just to see what was so special that they would advertise that far away.
Wall Drug
Wall Drug is note really describable. There are several different stores within its complex, and the complex is so complex, they actually have maps of the store. There is the classic drug store, and many different stores to sell stuff to tourists. There is a cafe and a soda shop. Then there is all the other stuff. If you enter from one of the doors that doesn’t lead directly to a store, you enter a hallway of sorts that somewhat resembles a mall.
Wall Drug entrance hallway
The hallway is full of stuff I would expect an old amusement park. As well as other stuff that I don’t really know where I would expect to find such stuff.
Entrance hallway has all the classic amusement park stuff
It also has a chapel.
A somewhat out of place chapel
Then you can go out to the new back courtyard, where you are promised among other things, deluxe bathrooms. [The bathrooms were not especially deluxe, but they were big.] The courtyard has a jumping water fountain that children can play in and a tiny replica of Mt. Rushmore. Then, past the courtyard is another building with more stores and another soda shop. There is also a dinosaur for unknown reasons. In this building though, they do have an amazing collection of old photographs and historical information on the area.
Backyard building with more stores
Wall Drug is a tourist trap. However, it is a magnificent, somewhat confusing, overwhelming, trap that would surely win an award for tacky and kitchy if such as award existed. Also, they do believe in truth an advertising. You can buy a cup of coffee for five cents, and there is evidently free ice water.