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Do You Know What Is Inside The Giant 60 Foot Tall Bull Head Off I-90?

Do You Know What Is Inside The Giant 60 Foot Tall Bull Head Off I-90 in South Dakota?

If you've traveled on I-90 about 30 minutes west of Sioux Falls you have probably noticed the great big giant bull horns reaching high into the South Dakota horizon.


Dives Worth a Drive in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota

Almost every small South Dakota town has a watering hole. It’s where the locals go to kick back a few brews and engage in conversation.

Some of these establishments are located in buildings almost as old as the town itself. There might be a fresh coat of paint on the walls or new vinyl on the booth seats, but the ambiance is still reminiscent of a good ol’ dive.

If you think a "dive" is all about the sketchy clientele, the smell of the Devil’s lettuce, and stale Grain Belt, you’d be wrong. Not every dive has a bad reputation.

What makes a dive, a dive?

A dive has character. Neon beer signs and local memorabilia adorn the walls.

You might find a pool table, dart board, and a few video lottery machines.

The bartender knows the regulars by name and they know what you drink.

Some dives don't even serve food except for bags of chips and pickled eggs that sit in a jar of brine on the bar.

Dives aren't fancy. You might see 70's-style wood panels on the walls and wobbly tables leveled with a folded napkin.

Finally, the bathrooms. The bathrooms in dives are in a class by themselves and could be a whole topic on its own. 

There are several small-town dives in our area with friendly faces, cheap booze with a burn, and even really good food! We use the term "dive" in the most affectionate way.

Here are some of the best and why you should go there.

15 Free Things to Do with Kids in Sioux Falls

"What are we gonna do with these kids?" A question every parent askes, especially in the summer. And it's always better if what you do with the kids is free.

Sioux Falls is a small city full of big fun for all ages, and a lot of it is free. We have world-class parks, museums, live music and so much more. Here's a handy list of 15 free things for you and the kids to do in Sioux Falls.

Do You Know What Is Inside The Giant 60 Foot Tall Bull Head Off I-90 in South Dakota? If you've traveled on I-90 about 30 minutes west of Sioux Falls you have probably noticed the great big giant bull horns reaching high into the South Dakota horizon.

That is just one of the amazing, thought-provoking pieces of art at the Porter Sculpture Park just off the I-90 and Montrose exit.

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I have driven by the Porter Sculpture Park exit more times than I can count. Last week my daughter sent me a text saying we needed to embark on an afternoon adventure and tour the sculpture park.

After we parked our car in the Porter Park lot on a hot afternoon we walked up to the little white shed and were greeted by the prairie steel artist himself, Wayne Porter. From our first encounter, I could tell this is a man who loves what he does.

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Mr. Porter shared his story with one joke after another. I asked Wayne about how this award-winning Roadside Attraction came to be.

He gave me a little back story saying...

“I studied political science and history then went back to Hand County and started a sheep ranch...because I'm brilliant, right? Not a real smart thing to do. While the sheep were on grass I would go in and help my dad blacksmith and I would knock off a sculpture. It added up over a period of time. After a while tour busses would stop in Hand County and wanted to pay me to tour the yard. And I said...boy this is a lot easier than sheep ranching! So I moved everything out here.”

Hand County, South Dakota is about 2 hours northwest of the sculpture park's current location.

Porter is just a delightful host and storyteller. He revealed that he made his first sculpture when he was 10 years old. As he told me about it he turned, opened a desk drawer, and produced a small steel bull's head that he could tie around his neck with a couple of rawhide straps. This would be the first of many impressive works of art he would produce.

When I asked why he does what he does Wayne Porter explained, “I like making people happy. Making people happy makes me happy.”

Porter spends around 6 months a year living in his white RV at the park location. The park is open 7 days a week 7 A.M.- 8:30 P.M. May 15th Through October 15, 2021.

There are dozens of large and small steel sculpture pieces that are connected by mowed paths in the park field. The most notable would be the 60-foot-tall Bulls Head. Very intimidating. We were walking around this monster structure when we noticed there was a rod iron door open in the back. And when we walked in were startled by what we saw. Check out the pictures above.

This is truly an amazing experience for the whole family! Worth blocking off the time to pull in, take some pics, and make some memories!

 

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