THE BLACK HILLS

deadwood, south dakota

Nestled at the base of a creek-carved canyon lies the Historic Old West Town of Deadwood, South Dakota. With a history forged in infamy, this once rough and tumble gold encampment now welcomes nearly two million visitors each year. They are drawn by legends such as Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok, the awe-inspiring natural beauty of the Black Hills, one of the largest ongoing historic preservation projects in the world, and the fun and excitement of legalized gambling.

But, it wasn’t long ago that Deadwood was withering away into a soon-to-be ghost town. In the late 1980’s, most businesses had left and the Victorian buildings were left to crumble. In 1989, citizens saw an unlikely savior, legalized gaming.

Today, Deadwood’s streets are once again paved with bricks and bustling with travelers from around the world. The gaming industry, along with the hit HBO TV series “Deadwood,” has helped to put this historic town, and the Black Hills, on the map as one of the leading vacation destinations in the world.