ROS AND JOHN RV LIFE: Rocky Point Recreation Area, South Dakota & Belle Fourche

Saturday 19th August 2023

We had a very quiet week at Heartland Rv Park and on Saturday drove 87 miles north to Rocky Point Recreation Area.

Rocky Point Recreation Area is located on the 8,000-acre Belle Fourche Reservoir. The reservoir was created in 1911, when Orman Dam was constructed to store water for agricultural use. At the time of its completion, Orman Dam was the largest earthen dam in the world. In 1989, Orman Dam was designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/rocky-point-recreation-area/

Belle Fourche was a very small ranch town with not a lot of shops, two tiny grocery stores and a museum. We got a good feeling for the area and the people seemed very outgoing and friendly.

Belle Fourche is pronounced foosh.

We had an amazing spot on the side of the lake with a little beach area perfect for swimming. John finally swam in a lake! He tried my life vest, floaty and decided the water was not too cold and the floaty made it fun so we bought him one. We swam each evening when he finished work, was great way to switch off from work.

The only downside to the park was there was no water hook ups hence another 1 week stay, the bathhouse was very dirty and the flies and mosquitoes were evil. As soon as we stepped outside no matter what time of day if you had exposed skin you would be bitten. We took to wearing long sleeve shirts and trousers the whole week despite the mid 90's heat. If we went for a swim we would run out of the rv, swim and quickly run back in the rv. It was such a shame as we would have loved to sit out and enjoy the view.

We went to the Tri State Museum in Belle Fourche. They had some great displays and the day we went there was a Sweet Corn Festival on.

https://www.thetristatemuseum.com/

This is also the center of the Nation. Below information taken from their website -

Belle Fourche, South Dakota holds the distinction of being “The Center of the Nation.” But why is the center here? Because when Hawaii was admitted to the Union in 1959, its landmass – added to the landmass of the continental U.S. – shifted the geographic center of the 50 states to latitude 44 degrees, 58’N, longitude 103 degrees 46’W, which is approximately 20 miles north of Belle Fourche. This actual geographic center is marked with a small metal survey marker and a flag. It is on private land, though it is generally accessible. We will gladly provide you with directions.

Belle Fourche, however, felt that the Center of the Nation deserved a, big beautiful monument. And since our town falls within the measurement’s margin of error, our Chamber of Commerce conducted a fundraising effort to build it on the land below the Tri-State Museum and Visitor Center.