Black Hills & Badlands Part 5 - The World's Biggest Ball of Yarn a.k.a. Wall Drug

Genna tells me, with a wink, that every pharmacist is required to make a pilgrimage to Wall Drug in Wall, SD. And since it was just a few miles down I-90 West from the Badlands, the pilgrimage we did make.

The legend of Wall Drug is rather simple. A struggling family pharmacy was trying to figure out show to increase business out on the South Dakota prairie. They had the brainstorm that travelers coming across the prairie would want some ice water, so they started putting up signs along the highway advertising chilled H2O for free. It has since expanded into its own mega tourist trap - the town of Wall and Wall Drug have essentially become synonymous.
I started to twitch the instant I got out of the car. Then we went inside to mill with the throngs and view the t-shirts, the shit, the t-shirts, the sugary food, the shit, the t-shirts, the caps, the souvenir spoons, the mugs, and the t-shirts.

Then the T-Rex who arises, spews smoke, and screams a la' Jurassic Park every 12 minutes did his thing
We went into the "museum"...
Genna spotted and photographed this homely Indian with his papoose
It was all pretty awful -- Genna said that the cappucino was the worst she ever had - I tossed my expresso as well.

Genna, BEFORE the cappucino arrived

We moved on to the Main St. of Wall where it got worse. Given the fact that the Sioux from the Black Hills were largely displaced because white greed for gold, this setup was disturbing:
Genna once pointed out some souvenir cats that were repulsively constructed, in a very non-PETA protocol fashion, from rabbit fur. Here's such a critter that has the added bonus of appearing dead:
And we have very safe, "good" Indians to take back home
On to Mt. Rushmore.....