5 Reasons to Visit Rush Mountain Adventure Park in South Dakota
Not a far distance from Mount Rushmore is an adventure park like no other. The Rush Mountain Adventure Park in Keystone, South Dakota offers a fantastic experience for family members of all ages, and we were so happy that we made this adventure park a part of our trip to the USA this past summer!
I have to admit that I was skeptical. My boys were a very cautious 9 and 6, with the little one not liking to do anything fast or high. We were also traveling with my two teenage nephews who were pretty much up for anything adventurous. I wanted to find a place that would be the best fit for all boys, but I was a bit worried that Rush Mountain would only entertain the big ones. Boy, was I wrong!
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Not only did all boys ages 6, 9, 13 and 15 participate in all the attractions, but they also LOVED every minute of it! Major win for mom (aunt)!
First Impressions of Rush Mountain Adventure Park
When we drove up to the entrance, we were truly in the middle of the forest and country. We thought we might have missed it, since we weren’t sure how many miles it was outside of Keystone. Rush Mountain Adventure Park wasn’t hard to miss once we did see it.
Our excitement levels were at their max at the mere sight of this place. The ropes course was visible right away, and my boys were having a hard time staying in their seat belts.
As we got a little bit closer, we could also see the roller coaster winding down the mountain with a large sign in the grass that read “Rushmore Cave”. We had arrived!!
Parking right next to the entrance at Rush Mountain
We first left the parking area and headed to the stairs that led to where we would get our wristbands. The only hard part about walking up all those stairs to get to the Rushmore Cave/gift shop to get our wristbands was the rising anticipation we felt at getting started with the rides!
Once we did start with the rides, though, we had one of the best days of our entire trip.
5 reasons to visit Rush Mountain Adventure Park!!
#1: Soaring Eagle Zipride at Rush Mountain Adventure Park
The first ride we chose to start our day was the Soaring Eagle Zipride, which was a zipline that not only went down the mountain, but it also went back up. This was a fantastic feature, since we weren’t required to walk back up the hill afterwards. It also gave us an extra ride, but backwards. How fun would that be?
Battling a Fear of Heights
For me, it was a bit terrifying. I never volunteer to go on rides that drop down like this, but I wanted to make the most of our day and try everything. I knew right away that my 6-year-old son wouldn’t want to do it, so I didn’t feel bad about missing out.
However, my thoughts changed when we got there, and I was suddenly feeling very confident. With this added bravery, I just knew my little guy would feel so inspired that he would join me. Fat chance!! It took bribery from my brother-in-law of a promised ice cream to get him to go on the ride.
Now, don’t get all hating! I would never force my kids to do anything, but I knew he would feel good about it afterwards. Sometimes, he likes to take the quick way out and say “no” without thinking about things. I thought I would see what a little bribery would do. I was actually a bit surprised that he agreed to it, but it also reassured me that he would be okay.
Deciding to take the plunge
Once we were actually in the seats with the seat belts being fastened, I suddenly woke up to where I was and what was going on. Panic soon set in, but I made sure that my little guy didn’t see it. To me, this was like bungee jumping, though I know that deep down, it wasn’t. I was being overly dramatic.
The protective gates were moving to the side, and there was no turning back now! I am glad that we, a couple of scaredy cats, went through it together!
Surviving our first ride at Rush Mountain
I hope he leaves these situations feeling stronger and more sure of himself, and perhaps the smile he had at the end was more from a feeling of accomplishment than of the desire for his promised ice cream! Overall, I guess it didn’t really matter.
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I have to say that I wish I could be more like that. I was super proud of myself and my little man for taking the “plunge”, so to speak on this ride, but it would be nice to feel one day that I could be more excited than nervous when going on one of these things. No matter the feelings beforehand, we were all charged up and ready for the next adventure after that!
#2: Gunslinger 7-D Ride at Rush Mountain Adventure Park
Since we were close the the Gunslinger 7-D Ride, we decided to stop there for our next activity at the adventure park. We noticed right away that there were three different lines to stand in, which were determined by the specific movie that would be playing on the screen.
The worker at the ride said that the Los Banditos was more family-friendly, so we chose that one. My boys aren’t used to “scary” movies, so we went with the most tame movie of the three. She had mentioned that the Carnival was kind of like a horror show. Yikes!
I was also happier with low-key thrills and chills. We were there to have fun, and we were all very excited for this ride!
The Wait for the Gunslinger 7D Ride
Outside on the wall, we noticed a very large sign that instructed visitors on how to talk like a cowboy. We had a great time reading this to pass the time. It was also fun that it fit the theme of our movie!
Each movie was about 5 minutes long, so the wait time wasn’t too bad. There were also 12 seats in the 7-D theater, so we were glad to be able to experience it all at the same time.
Preparing to get the top score!
When we were inside, they gave us some practice shots with our shooters to get used to shooting robot cowboys. There were even pictures of who scored the best all the way to the worst. We were all determined to get first place! 🙂
The Gunslinger 7-D Ride made you feel that you were on a train and then on a whitewater raft chasing robot cowboys with guns. It was so much fun!! We could have easily just came to Rush Mountain Adventure Park for the Gunslinger 7-D Ride by itself.
Overall thoughts of the Gunslinger 7D Ride at Rush Mountain
When it was all said and done, not one of us got the top spot, but we didn’t care, since it was such a good time! Little man didn’t even mind that he got last place! 🙂 He said that he had to cover his eyes in a few spots because it was a bit scary, but I think it was more of the 7-D aspect that was unknown to him more than him actually being afraid of cartoon, robot, cowboys! 🙂
#3: Mountain Coaster at Rush Mountain Adventure Park
As we started down the hill, we were more than ready to try the Mountain Coaster ride. I should say that we all were except for little man again. Though he was only six years old, we weren’t expecting much from him. I, again, was feeling overly optimistic about this ride, though I was originally freaking out over it when we were planning the trip.
That may sound weird to say, but I don’t just plan trips with me in mind. I was really wanting to find a great place in South Dakota for the teenagers and adults on the trip too. After finding Rush Mountain, I just knew my little guys would love it as well! 🙂
Getting to experience the Rushmore Coaster Ride with kids
When we were actually there, though, there must have been something magical in those Black Hills, because I started to feel like I could take on the world…or at least all the rides at Rush Mountain Adventure Park! Little man was feeling braver from the last two rides and agreed to go on the ride with me as long as I wouldn’t drive too fast. Deal!!
Safety procedures on the Rushmore Coaster Ride
The facts that the workers gave us a demonstration of how to use the accelerator/brake and that I was in complete control of the speed for this car made the ride so much more enjoyable for me and my son.
We made sure that my husband was the next car behind us and was fully aware that we wouldn’t be racing down the side of the mountain at top speeds. They had signs up to insure that people would keep a safe distance as not to have any crashes.
The ride was smooth and fun, and little man’s confidence seemed to grow with every ride we tried. All of the others in our group also had a great time! We could see them whizzing down the track with large smiles on their faces! This day was proving to be a very smart choice for finding family fun!
#4: Wingwalker Course at Rush Mountain Adventure Park
Next on our list of activities was the Wingwalker Course, which was the first thing that we saw when we arrived to the adventure park. The boys were happy to get to this ropes course, since they wanted to start the day with it.
We decided to keep it towards the end, since it might have taken more time to complete. It did! In fact, you could have been up there as long as you liked, because no one told you when to come down.
Skye Tykes Ropes Course for smaller children
Underneath the Wingwalker Course was also a Skye Tykes ropes course for the smaller children. My younger son was under the impression that he would be doing the smaller course, but when we started to get on our harnesses, we realized that my six-year-old son was actually a bit too big for the Skye Tykes course.
This was a time when I wasn’t sure what would happen, but I was pleasantly surprised when little brother just shrugged off the news and said that he would just try the bigger course. Yoohoo!
Getting on our harnesses for the Wingwalker Ropes Course
We all got on our harnesses and walked up the steps to the main part of the course. I, personally, was afraid of heights, so I had never done anything like that before. My two boys hadn’t either, but I think they were a bit more excited about it than I was. I was one level below “freaked-out”, but of course, was playing it cool! 🙂
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Still, I went up for the chance to have another adventure with my guys. I told myself that it was more for the little guy who might get scared at any point, which was really me lying to myself. I’m okay with that! It got me up there!
A ropes course for the whole family
My kids were rock stars on that ropes course! Big brother went to the higher level with the rest of them, when little brother and I stayed on the main level (of the two). They both loved the zipline part, of which I practically had to be pushed off! 🙂 I still did it, though!
This place was amazing! Not only did we have a great time together as a family, but my younger son and I also seemed to be cured of our heights/speed fears. Again, Rush Mountain was magical!
The course consisted on ziplines, balance beams, rope bridges and wooden plank bridges. It had everything you could think of with regards to a suspended ropes course, and it proved to be perfect for people of all ages.
#5: Gemstone Mining
If you know anything about my children, you would know that they love “pretty stones”. I think this is very common for children their age, and when we mentioned that South Dakota was an area well-known for finding gold in the past, my boys were determined that they would find some treasure in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Luckily for them, Rush Mountain Adventure Park helped a bit with that!
Bags of “treasure sand” were for sale in the gift store just next to the mining area. It gave you the feeling that you were really one of the miners from long ago. At least, it did for my boys! 🙂 Just look at that view of the Black Hills!
Extras at Rush Mountain Adventure Park
Rushmore Cave
I don’t list the Rushmore Cave as one of the things we loved about Rush Mountain Adventure Park because, sadly, we didn’t get to see it.
When we arrived to the park, it was one thing that my boys really wanted to do first, but I thought it would be better to wait until after the attractions. Thought it might be a better thing to see when it was the hottest part of the day. A cool trip to the caves would be nice!
What we didn’t anticipate was my kids getting too much sun and heat that we would have to leave after the ropes course. I guess those are two things you can’t ever predict: the weather and kids.
Be sure to plan time for the Rushmore Cave
It was really a shame, since I was so excited about visiting the cave. It was the one thing that I looked forward to doing the most, since it wasn’t high up or fast! 🙂 The boys were also very excited to wear helmets with lights on them, but what can you do?!?
I want to mention it, though, because it is one of the reasons why I am making a pledge to return to Rush Mountain Adventure Park. Looks like Rush Mountain Adventure Park is going back on my bucket list! 🙂
Since we had a terrific time, I know that it would be easy to return for the fun of the rides, but I also really want to experience that cave. The view from the entrance in the gift shop is reason enough to get your interests going. You’ll have to visit to see it for yourself!
Sparky’s Snackitorium
In case you start to get hungry, you can find a little something to munch on at the park. Whether it is a slice of pizza, bag of chips or an ice cream, Sparky’s Snackitorium at the Rush Mountain Adventure Park will help your kids avoid any of those sudden hunger-induced fits.
Hey, it offered just what my little guy needed to get him on the Soaring Eagle. Bribery may not be your parenting style (or mine for that matter), but vacations are funny things. Not to mention that an ice cream can be kind of nice on a warm day!
Rush Mountain Adventure Park’s Gift Shop
If you are an explorer or know someone who is, Rush Mountain Adventure Park has just what you need! I don’t think that I have seen so many “pretty stones” in one place, and this feeling was magnified by the amazed looks on my boys’ faces.
They had plenty of other, fun things in the gift shop, like clothing, western decor, explorer gear, jewelry, toys, specialty food items and more. Everything was of such good quality and so neatly displayed that it gave you the feeling of being in a boutique!
Overall Impressions
We had so much fun at Rush Mountain Adventure Park. We would definitely go again and ride the rides many more times. As an added incentive, visitors received a sticker after they finished each of the rides. We thought that this was really neat, and we wore our stickers with pride.
We would also gladly recommend this adventure park to anyone looking for some excitement in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Whether you are a hardcore thrill-seeker or a cautious beginner to all things fast and high, you will really enjoy your time at Rush Mountain Adventure Park in Keystone, South Dakota. It is truly a great place for all members of the family!
Special thanks to Rush Mountain Adventure Park for hosting this post!
Getting In Touch With Rush Mountain Adventure Park
If you would like to get in touch with the Rush Mountain Adventure Park, here is their information.
Website: https://www.rushmtn.com
Address: 13622 SD-40, Keystone, SD 57751
Telephone: 1-605-255-4384
Email: info@rushmtn.com
Site Map of / Directions to Rush Mountain Adventure Park
Click here for a map of Rush Mountain Adventure Park
Click here to get directions to Rush Mountain Adventure Park
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