Wall, South Dakota

As you travel west on I-90 signs for Wall Drugs show up with increasing regularity. It is a lot like the signs for South of the Border on I-95 South. So..we stopped at Wall Drug in Wall South Dakota. In 1931 Dorothy and Ted Husteads had gone looking for a drug store in a small town with a Catholic church. They found Wall Drug and decided to give it a go for 5 years. Mind you this was a very small store in a very small town that was very poor. They barely kept it going up until right before their 5 years was up. Just as they thought they'd have to give up in the summer of 1936 Dorothy had the idea to offer free cold water to travelers going to see the just completed Mount Rushmore. Ted and a high school boy started putting up signs.. "Get a soda . . . Get a root beer . . . turn next corner . . . Just as near . . . To Highway 16 & 14. . . Free Ice Water. . . Wall Drug." Each phrase went on a 12 by 36 inch board and were spaced out so the people could read them as they drove. By the time they got back to the store, people had already begun showing up for their free ice water. Dorothy was running all around to keep up. Ted pitched in alongside her. For hours they poured gallons of ice water, made ice cream cones and gave highway directions. When the travelers started on their way again, refreshed and ready for new adventures, they gave them hearty thanks. The ice water signs had worked. Today this enterprise has grown to cover a full block in the town. There is a cafe that seats over 500 people and a large variety of items offered for sale. From the very cheap tourist souvenir to some very nice jewelry and artwork.
We had a pretty decent lunch at the cafe and wandered around for about an hour looking at all of the "stuff". It was a good stop but like South of the Border..one visit will do us..probably not a place we'll stop again.