RAPID CITY, S.D. — Business is booming at Reptile Gardens. “We’ve been in business for 84 years and we’ve never seen crowds like this,” said John Brockelsby, the Public Relations Director with Reptile Gardens.  It’s literally been a record year. This all came before July – typically the business’ busiest...

Small businesses in the U.S. that depend on tourism and vacationers say business is bouncing back, as Americans rebook postponed trips and spend freely on food, entertainment and souvenirs. U.S. states and cities have loosened many of their restrictions on crowd size and mask-wearing, a positive sign for businesses that...

SPEARFISH, S.D. — Increased tourism and worker shortages have been the trend this year, and business owners expect the Rally to exacerbate the issue. For a few niche businesses, traffic may slow down as locals tend to avoid Rally crowds and traffic. “We’ve actually been really fortunate with our team...

HILL CITY, S.D. — It began as a normal day of prep work for the 1880 train in Hill City, but ended as an historic one. For the first time in its history, two women, sisters as a matter of fact – drove the train And with this pair, it...

DEADWOOD, S.D. — What was once Deadwood Dicks on Sherman Street in Deadwood, will become Sportsbook Deadwood at the beginning of the year. Although it’s in a corner of Deadwood that is sometimes overlooked, owner Gerard Keating has high hopes for the area as a whole. “Sherman Street’s the new...

RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City just had its third-best first-half of the year for building permits. The City’s Building Services Division issued 456 permits in June, with a total valuation of over $23 million, the highest total for June since 2017. For the first half of this year, the...

DEER MOUNTAIN, S.D. — For 50 years, the Deer Mountain Ski Resort in Lead was a popular local and tourist destination, and it’s getting a major face lift. The destination is getting a new life after being shut down in 2017 – it will become home to a new tubing...

RAPID CITY, S.D. — The arrival of the B-21 Raider will bring thousands of airmen and their families to Ellsworth Air Force Base. Multiplying the size of the Box Elder community and providing growth opportunity for businesses in the Black Hills. But that growth is coming in the midst of an...

KEYSTONE, S.D. — During this past Fourth of July weekend, the town of Keystone was bustling. “All of our campgrounds are full, all of our motels, all of our lodgings, our cabins,” said Robin Pladson, the Director of the Keystone Chamber of Commerce. “Everything is packed.” During the Fourth in...

RAPID CITY, S.D. — Developers, legislators and all those in between were at the Ascent Innovation Center Friday to discuss solutions to the housing crisis in the area. The construction companies around the area, along with contractors and developers are coming up with solutions for a population of about 7,000...

RAPID CITY, S.D. — We are less than one week away now from celebrating the nation’s 245th birthday. Communities around the Black Hills are getting ready stage their fireworks extravaganzas. But if you plan to have your own celebration – don’t wait to get your fireworks. There is a shortage...

RAPID CITY, S.D. — The lifting of COVID restrictions and an increase in visitors equals increased business for restaurants around the Black Hills region. Restaurants nationwide have been seeing a boom, and Rapid City is no different. Owners and food service workers attribute it to the increase in tourism, as...

RAPID CITY, S.D. — The summer season equals tourism season in the Black Hills. “Saw some prairie dogs, saw more bison than I ever imaged that I would and after a while, it’s like ‘oh bison, like it’s just like seeing a dog’,” said Mary Blum, from North Carolina. In...

WASHINGTON — South Dakota Senator John Thune introduced the Metropolitan Statistical Area Preservation Act on Tuesday, designed to protect more than 140 areas – including Rapid City – from losing their MSA classification. The bill would prevent the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) increasing the minimum population currently required...

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — Yellowstone National Park had its busiest May on record. The park had over 483,000 recreation visits last month, up 11% from May 2019. Yellowstone officials said Friday the park is having its busiest year in recent memory. The park recorded over 658,000 visits from...

NEW YORK (AP) — The Biden administration has exempted most employers from long-awaited rules for protecting workers from the coronavirus. The move has angered labor advocates who had spent more than a year lobbying for the protections. The Labor Department included only health care workers in its new emergency temporary...

WALL, S.D. — Congressman Dusty Johnson applauding the new interstate agreement Thursday afternoon while touring the Wall Meat processing facility. He talked with the staff to get a feel for how the business is faring. Johnson says there are two major issues when it comes to meat processing in the...

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The sponsor of the Keystone XL crude oil pipeline says it is pulling the plug on the contentious project after Canadian officials failed to persuade the Biden administration to reverse its cancellation of the company’s permit on the day the president took office. Calgary-based TC Energy...

RAPID CITY, S.D. — Those red-shirted people are back milling around downtown Rapid City, the downtown ambassadors. The ambassadors assist visitors find their way around the area,downtown and beyond, whether it be a tourist attraction or a restaurant. Domico Rodriguez, the President and CEO of Main Street Square says that...

RAPID CITY, S.D. — You’ll recognize him by his signature, smiling face. Dan says, “I’ve been called “Downtown Dan” many times, that is not unusual.” Dan began working downtown Rapid City at the age of 19. He’s witnessed many changes happen to the area over the years and wanted to...