Unsure about traveling through Pine Ridge (Sioux Falls, Custer: rent, neighborhood, living)

[tentagausu]

Hello Everyone,

I'll be traveling to South Dakota for the first time in October. I have a heavy itinerary in a short time (the typical stuff - badlands, Deadwood, Rushmore, etc.).

However, I like getting off the beaten path. My wife and I are fascinated by different cultures and places.

We're not uptight, and have lived in a third world country. We will also be traveling with a young child and a teenager.

I'm very interested in driving through Pine Ridge - traveling from Custer to Sioux Falls in one day, via Hwy 18. I'd like to have a look around, see the reservation, maybe stop for lunch somewhere, visit the museum in Pine Ridge then slowly snake down 18.

I've heard some people say very positive thing - it's a fascinating place (though admittedly very poor) and that the people are very welcoming.

I've heard others say the exact oposite - that outsiders are not very welcome (to the extreme of having rocks thrown at cars) that there is a lot of violence, drunkeness, and problems.

I'm not a judgmental person. I understand the area has troubles that it is working through. I'm not going to judge the people or the place for the poverty and problems.

However, I don't want to drive a family through an area that is unwelcoming or worse yet somewhat dangerous.

Can anyone give me some objective advice? Is it the kind of area where you'd be fine with a car breaking down in the middle of the reservation with a family? (On a side note, is there cell phone service along 18?)

For those who have been, where do you suggest going, eating, doing?

Thanks for any advice!

[apple betty]

The Pine Ridge is filled with beautiful western vistas however so is much of the West. You know, so to say that the Pine Ridge is a must see is just not the case.

The people are also beautiful, especially the children who are hard to get away from at times. But to say they are any different from any other people or children anywhere in the world is just not the case.

What is it that you hope to experience? Maybe just to say you were on a famous reservation? There is very little industry. It is people living their lives the best they can. It is like driving through any neighborhood or countryside understanding that it is a very remote region with few services.

I have driven all around the rez, many many spots without a hint of uncomfortableness. I have also experienced the opposite. No need to give details, but it depends on the day, the weather, who you run into, how you present yourself, what plate is on your car, what your trouble consists, who you know, what is your name, wasichu etc.

[sdyankton]

South Dakota is a BEAUTIFUL state and you will love your trip. Now, that being said.....
In regards to driving through Pine Ridge, do yourself a favor and rent MAD MAX 2 (The Road Warrior) on blu-ray and just tell people that you went there and what it was like.

[ElkHunter]

I've driven through Pine Ridge countless times and have never encountered a single problem. I've stopped at cafe's and had very good meals. Never stopped at night so I can't answer to those concerns.

I've hauled cattle, horses and sheep through the Reservation, as well as just drive through in a car or pickup. Again, not a problem. Treat the folks there with the same respect you'd treat anybody anywhere else.

[windtimber]

Having driven across US 18 numerous times over the last 30 years, you won't have any problems. As far as having a breakdown is concerned - across the whole state you should make sure your vehicle is properly maintained. It's a long ways from any one place to any other place, no matter where you are - whether you're on a reservation or not! Cell phone service? I keep mine turned off unless I'm using it. I suspect the service is spotty...but that's just a guess.

[Mlipin]

I am from eastern SD and don' think I ever stopped on Pine Ridge. I've driven through alot but it was always at the wrong part of a looooooooong trip to stop. I wouldn't avoid it if it would take you out of your way to do so...BUT...make sure you take advice from folks that have been there or live there....

[Ghengis]

We have driven through the Reservation and Pine Ridge and while not a particularly enjoyable experience, I would recommend that people take the time to see for themselves what has become of our Native Americans. Did not stop in town as there was frankly nothing I saw that appeared open or inviting. However, we did stop at the Wounded Knee Memorial and I would highly recommend this. We were alone when we stopped and felt a little awkward in being there. However a young man suddenly approached us and while he likely saw our uneasy body language, he graciously welcomed us to the site. A truly moving experience and I believe it enriched my life to go out of my way to see this memorial. It may have helped me just a bit in the way I deal with people of all persuasions for that matter.

[MJ1986]

Originally Posted by tentagausu

Hello Everyone,

I'll be traveling to South Dakota for the first time in October. I have a heavy itinerary in a short time (the typical stuff - badlands, Deadwood, Rushmore, etc.).

However, I like getting off the beaten path. My wife and I are fascinated by different cultures and places.

We're not uptight, and have lived in a third world country. We will also be traveling with a young child and a teenager.

I'm very interested in driving through Pine Ridge - traveling from Custer to Sioux Falls in one day, via Hwy 18. I'd like to have a look around, see the reservation, maybe stop for lunch somewhere, visit the museum in Pine Ridge then slowly snake down 18.

I've heard some people say very positive thing - it's a fascinating place (though admittedly very poor) and that the people are very welcoming.

I've heard others say the exact oposite - that outsiders are not very welcome (to the extreme of having rocks thrown at cars) that there is a lot of violence, drunkeness, and problems.

I'm not a judgmental person. I understand the area has troubles that it is working through. I'm not going to judge the people or the place for the poverty and problems.

However, I don't want to drive a family through an area that is unwelcoming or worse yet somewhat dangerous.

Can anyone give me some objective advice? Is it the kind of area where you'd be fine with a car breaking down in the middle of the reservation with a family? (On a side note, is there cell phone service along 18?)

For those who have been, where do you suggest going, eating, doing?

Thanks for any advice!

I've driven through there twice. No problems at all... It is "out there", and planning stops is important. You never know when the next gas station is!

There should be decent service with Verizon along US Highway 18. Other carriers could be iffy.

[Rock Hunter 24/7]

Ditto on what Elkhunter said.
I have been all over the res and have never encountered a problem with the people. Treat them as you expect to be treated and you should have no problem. Sure the living conditions may not be as good as others, but they are human beings too.

If you are a history buff, you may want to take in the Wounded Knee Cemetary and see how our white soldiers of days gone by did. What a travesty.

Not much in the way of sights but interesting to see how others have to live.

[chip123]

*~*~*~*~*~*~Hi I want you to be aware that I just watched a show on the history channel called "Gang Land". It was about a gang called the "Wild Boyz' in the Pine Ridge Reservation of S.D.they are all made up of native americans(the Sioux Tribe). It showed how violent these gang members are and how they have no regard for human life whatsoever and how unwelcoming they are to outsiders. If you even look at them wrong they will come after you. They even go as far as disrespecting their own culture. They only have a few policemen to patrol the Pine Ridge area which is about the size of Rhode Island and has about 55,000 people on the reservation and these gang members know how to fool them. They will call 911 an report a bad accident and while the cops go and check it out they are having a huge gang war across town were the police can not get to the people in time who were just brutality beat or killed in time to save them because they are across town looking for a car crash that never happened.I have also heard it a beautiful place but if you are even a bit concerned about the safety of you and your family I would not dare to step foot near that reservation! I sugest that if you are traveling with your wife, a young child and a teenager I would not detour into the Pine Ridge reservation I would find a safer place to go. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*