July 15

Close Encounters

Ok, I obviously borrowed the image.  There wasn’t a space ship hoving over Devil’s Tower or a military installation there.   The movie was made in 1977 and I do remember several parts of the movie but not its entirety.  We got to hear a little speech when we checked into the KOA that is the closest commercial campground to the park.  We learned how Richard Dreyfus stayed there while filming the movie.

You can stay closer but you will need to forego hookups.  I enjoy water and electric hookups so the National Parks are not for us.  One of the reasons I chose to stay here (other than its cool and only 2.5 hours from our next campground near Mt. Rushmore) is that they have a nightly showing of the movie.  I figured the kids might enjoy seeing it after we saw the monument.  Unfortunately, rain seems to follow us recently and it was storming at 7 when they were to be showing it.  I will have to get Pat to pick it up so the boys can see it when we get home.

The Tower

Brian and Sean both loved the playground at this location.  Brian is also starting to chat more with other kids that are playing.  Brian has been very sweet and making sure that Sean is still a part of playing with the other kids.  The only negative with this location was the showers down in the tent area need another hook (2 would be even better) and for the built in bench to be a bit deeper.