Minnie & Nellie’s Great Western Adventure

Minnie & Nellie

This post is just a way of storing a great trip that we took to the Dakotas in August/September of 2026. 

Minnie and Nellie took Amy and I along for the ride!!

Alexandria, Minnesota

Alexandria claims to have been the destination 
Of the first explorers to N. America. 

Lone Butte Ranch- Grassy Butte, ND

This was our AirBnB on a ranch about 10 miles from Grassy Butte, ND.
Which was about 15 miles south of Roosevelt Park-North Unit. 

View of the 1,500 acre cattle ranch. 

Our patio.

View from our back yard.

Neither of us took the top bunk.

Nothing like Spotted Cow on the patio.

One room cabin.

Sunset splashing to pasture.

Nellie and Minnie posing in front of the Lone Butte. 

Teddy Roosevelt National Park- North Unit

The viewing porch down below was built in the 1930’s by the CCC. 

Bison right along the road. We learned that this is NOT a buffalo. 
Buffalo are NOT native to North America, they are in Africa/Asia.
The bison have the big shoulders and the beards. 
So the lesson- if you are in America and see these big animals-
It’s a BISON!!!

We were up on a high ridge and the wind was blowing with gusts of 
50 miles an hour- yes, I was holding Minnie down so didn’t fly away!!

Medora, ND

Taking a lunch break- Bison Burger and Teddy Roosevelt Badass Brew.

Teddy Roosevelt National Park- South Unit

Wild horses.

Wild horses.

Field with probably 1,000 prairie dogs- when Nellie barked,
1000 prairie dogs took off. 

Bison

Bison

Lone Butte Ranch

Sunrise from our cabin. 

Sunrise from our cabin- 48 degrees. 

Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Library

It opened on July 4, 2026.

Relaxing on the patio outside the library.

From the roof of the library.

Merry Christmas, brother Mark.

As you go thru the museum, they create
AI generated pictures of the era.

Lone Butte Ranch

Nellie and Minnie near the property line of the ranch. 
You can see the cattle behind them on the other side of the fence line. 

The cattle are on the other side of the fence. 
On this side is the ranch, on the other side is National Grassland. 

Our Rancher explained that they and 3 other ranchers pay to graze in 
The National Grassland. 
The four ranches intermix cattle and then corral and separate them. 
Nothing motorized can go on the Grassland so they herd by horse back.

Three Turkey hens and their brood walking by our cabin. 

When ND have to drink Teddy’s Badass Brew. 

I told our ranch owner that I would like to come back
And see the winter and all the snow. 
He commented that snow isn’t that bad. 
It should be noted later he showed me his road grader
For snow removal. Hmmm!!!

Devil’s Tower- Wyoming

Sacred Native American site.

Custer, SD

We went from cabin life to AirBnB just a block from 
Main St. of Custer, SD. 
Custer is just under 2,000 people. 

On each corner in Main St., they had painted bisons. 
Minnie was scared to death of the bisons. 

Relaxing on the outside deck of the Mt. Rushmore Brewery. 
Four of beers are named in honor of Washington, Jefferson, 
T.Roosevelt, and Lincoln. 
The fifth beer was named Bison Snot- pretty good!!

Advice in restroom.

More restroom advice. 

Crazy Horse Memorial

Crazy Horse carving started in 1947. 

One Family has run the operation and refused government money. 
In roughly 80 years they have finished the face and his 
Left arm and hand. You may see the fingers. 

This is what it is to look like when finished. 
They give no expected date. 

Note how much bigger it will be than Mt.Rushmore. 
The grandson of the original sculptor is the head of things now.
He hopes to live til it is finished. 
With improved methods, some experts claim it may be finished in
50-60 years.

Mt. Rushmore

For those who wonder-
The rock on the right side is considered unstable and there is no ability
To put a fifth President if anyone wanted to. 
Mt Rushmore was built from 1927 to 1941. 

Custer State Park- Wildlife Trail

Antelopes- I believe. 

Mule Deer- I believe. 

Burros

Custer State Park- Needles Trail

This one of the best things we did on this trip.

The name “Needles” comes from the rock formations coming up like needles.

I am not sure why Amy did not let me drive on this part.

I still don’t know why Amy didn’t let me drive.

One way tunnel- it was 8’6” wide. 
I don’t understand why I didn’t get to drive.

This is how dogs pose for a picture when they see a rabbit. 

Mitchell, SD

Corn Palace

Minnie & Nellie’s Adventures

We are back home in Galesburg, but Nellie is looking out the window dreaming about her next trip. 

We are so lucky- both Nellie and Minnie are such good travelers. Yes, Nellie barked at prairie dogs and bisons but she didn’t bark when we stayed in a hotel. 

Minnie and Nellie have traveled to 24 states with us- usually staying in AirbnB’s. They fight less than Mark and I did in the back seat of Dad’s Olds ‘88. 

I am lobbying for a trip to Massachusetts to the basketball HOF. Three of the four of use LOVE basketball!!!

Here are the States they have been to…

1- Illinois

2- Wisconsin

3- Iowa

4- Minnesota

5- Indiana

6- Ohio

7- Kentucky

8- Tennessee

9- North Carolina

10- South Carolina

11- Missouri

12- Oklahoma

13- Kansas

14- Nebraska

15- Colorado

16- New Mexico

17- Texas

18- Arkansas

19- Mississippi

20- Alabama

21 North Dakota

22- Montana

23- Wyoming

24- South Dakota