Skip to Main Content

Keystone, South Dakota: Big Thunder Gold Mine

Take an all-horizontal -- no tiresome climbing -- tour of a real gold mine.

Address:
604 Blair St., Keystone, SD
Directions:
South of downtown Rapid City ten miles on US 16, then exit south on US 16A toward Keystone. Drive two miles, then turn left onto Hwy 40. When it bends left, Big Thunder Gold Mine is on the right.
Hours:
Daily 8-8 in the summer. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:
605-666-4847
RA Rates:
Worth a Detour
Save to My Sights

Visitor Tips and News About Big Thunder Gold Mine

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Big Thunder Gold Mine.

Big Thunder Gold Mine

When we visited this attraction they told us that no gold was every discovered in this mine. So despite calling it a "gold mine," it really isn't!

[Pat Butler, 01/22/2015]

In 1882, two German immigrants started blasting and chiseling out the passage through solid rock, hoping to intersect with rich veins found in nearby mines. They kept at it for decades, and ultimately didn't make the big discovery, but it's probably too late now to rename it "Big Wannabe Gold Mine."

Mine corridor.

Big Thunder Gold Mine

My girlfriend and I wanted to check out a gold mine, and Big Thunder Gold Mine did not disappoint. Make sure you have a sweatshirt or light jacket, because it's about 50 degrees in the mine.

[Brian From Rockland County NY, 06/08/2014]
Big Thunder Gold Mine

Guided tours of an authentic 1890s gold mine. The shafts go down 240 feet, but visitors are kept near the surface in horizontal passages. See the original stamp mill and bell crusher in the Mine Museum! A free lump of Black Hills Gold (ore) for everyone on the tour!

[Tammy Robinson, 09/10/2007]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Borglum Historical Center, Rushmore Borglum StoryBorglum Historical Center, Rushmore Borglum Story, Keystone, SD - < 1 mi.
World's Largest Wooden BigfootWorld's Largest Wooden Bigfoot, Keystone, SD - < 1 mi.
Large Mt. Rushmore ChairLarge Mt. Rushmore Chair, Keystone, SD - < 1 mi.
In the region:
Statue #36: Lyndon B. Johnson, Rapid City, SD - 16 mi.

Latest Tips Across Roadside America

Catch up on the latest discoveries from the road.

Explore Thousands of Oddball Tourist Attractions!

Unique destinations in the U.S. and Canada are our special obsession. Use our attraction recommendation and maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Map and Plan Your Own Roadside Adventure ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

South Dakota Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

JFK's World Famous Twine Ball, Highland, Wisconsin (Mar 18-24, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings