Click on photos for larger view
No ticket or pamphlet
August 1990
Wall Drug is probably the place that started the phrase "Tourist Trap". It started as a small drug store where a man wanted to promote his business. The little towns in South Dakota are far apart. You can drive for a very long time before finding civilization, so his place was a stop; but some people missed it, so he decided to start advertising with a billboard, offering free ice water. Lots of people stopped and so he continued advertising. You will see many, many (seems like a couple hundred!) billboards advertising his place for many miles..... but then the drug store grew and now it's a mall of sorts, but not any regular mall. When we went, it was a super large knick knack store, where you can buy "touristy" things like key chains, T-shirts, spoons, ash trays, plates and that sort of stuff. It's had a number of western themed figures in it (you know, like the Cigar Store Indian). It's free and I don't know if you can get free ice water, but there is a place to buy snacks and drinks as well as a full-fledged restaurant. Restrooms available too. Did you know, they give away free Wall Drug signs? Just ask!
Left to Right: 1) The kids with Poker Alice 2) Inside Wall Drug
Photos copyrighted to www.dahoovsplace.com E-mail: dahoov2@cox.net