Buffalo Ridge, South Dakota: Buffalo Ridge Ghost Town (1880 Cowboy Town)

The owner has been unable to open the attraction this year because of a lack of help, blamed on the pandemic.

Temporarily closed. But still kind of fun to drive by.

We visited on a beautiful day and were able to find ample parking. In fact, we had the place to ourselves! We got the introductory tour, complete with the complementary animatronic show in the 1970s-era gift shop, which itself was worth the price of admission. 1880 Cowboy Town was so much more than we had hoped for.

President Lincoln is showing his age, but frankly, he's holding together pretty good for someone who is 210 years old. It's true he has lost his hat, his right arm, his left leg (but he still has his left shoe), most of his pants and podium; and even his voice is now out of order.

But there are plenty of other sights here, including a preacher with the bored-stiff congregation of one, a barber with a decapitated customer, and an earless cowboy oozing green goo. "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" was very moving.

It is really difficult to imagine that we could ever visit a site better than this, but we won't stop looking.

We stopped at the Buffalo Ridge Ghost Town mainly due to it was animated. The South Dakota tourism information on this landmark was not the reality. It states that there were 50 animatronic displays, but there were only 10, and only about six worked. We barely could hear the voices. Apparently neglected for decades. Abe Lincoln's arm is a PVC pipe, duct-taped on. Very disappointing. It wasn't worth the $8 admission. Even though it is supposed to feel like an old ghost town, you can tell that it has been neglected.

We drove by this place twice, thinking it had long been closed. On third pass we noticed a man pumping gas at one of the circa 1970 pumps outside and decided to go in to purchase water. I told the man at the counter that it was a shame that the cowboy town was closed, and he proclaimed that it wasn't, and asked if we would like to see it.

After paying our $8 admission, the man followed us into the the other part of the building and provided us with two quarters to view the first exhibits, as he stood nearby to make sure we watched and listened in its entirety. He is very proud of this place, and excited to tell you all about it. From there he offered the golf cart, or we could walk onto the grounds to see the rest.

This was one of the most entertaining stops on our trip -- especially if you're into quirky roadside attractions.