Keystone is the home of monumental memories, and why not start with one of the oldest attractions in town? Rushmore Cave has been operating in some capacity since 1927 — minus a short stint for World War II — and has only gotten bigger and better ever since.
Originally known as Hermosa Crystal Cave when it officially opened, Rushmore Cave’s name changed in the 1950s because of the rising popularity of nearby Mount Rushmore. Electric lighting and a gift shop were added, and the owners slowly expanded and improved the areas of the cave visited by tourists. In 2008, a group of Black Hills locals took over ownership and started expanding above ground as well. They’ve added attractions such as the Wingwalker Challenge Course, the Soaring Eagle Zipline Ride, and the Gunslinger 7D interactive ride, in addition to continuing improvements on the original cave and buildings. Every improvement at Rushmore Cave has been made with one thing in mind: incredible family fun that you can’t find anywhere else.
Rushmore Cave is so dedicated to ensuring you have an amazing experience, they won the South Dakota Department of Tourism’s Peter Norbeck Excellence in Tourism Award in 2020. Better yet, they’ve been a runner-up for the award every year since its inception in 2013. The award recognizes their ongoing developments to enhance visitors’ experience here in South Dakota, and we couldn’t be more proud to have such a shining example of customer service here in Keystone.
When you visit the Black Hills, you have a lot of options. When you choose Keystone, we can guarantee your vacation will be memorable from start to finish, and with businesses like Rushmore Cave, it’s easy to see why. There’s so much fun to be had by all you’ll wonder why you didn’t come sooner. We look forward to having you here in Keystone!
To learn more about Rushmore Cave, please see their Keystone Chamber Listing.