Rapid City, South Dakota Relocation Guide

Looking west from Rapid City, dense stands of pine and fir on the hills appear black against the big sky -- hence the "Black Hills." The South Dakota "Badlands" and their bizarre sand-and-clay formations are just 50 miles east. Rapid City is your bridge to some of the most intriguing and beautiful attractions in America: The inspirational Mt. Rushmore National Memorial, the visionary Crazy Horse Memorial, and the tranquil Black Hills National Forest with its abundant wildlife. There are mountains at our doorstep, filled to the brim with incredible scenery and crystal blue lakes. There are herds of buffalo roaming Custer State Park, the Badlands and Devils Tower. Everywhere you look, anywhere you go, Rapid City truly is "Real. America. Up close."

The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology boasts one of the finest fossil and mineral museums in the country. A beautiful collection of Sioux art and handicrafts may be seen at the Journey Museum located near the city's center. The unusual Dinosaur Park, with life-size reproductions of dinosaurs of the Mesozoic era, sits atop skyline ridge, dividing east and west Rapid City . A children's fairyland may be found at Story Book Island where nursery rhymes come big as life. All wood carvings used in Rapid City 's Scandinavian Stavkirke Church are exact reproductions of the original structure in Norway. All of the main attractions are open free to visitors.

Other amusements in the city include nine movie theaters, live theater productions, fine arts center, The Ranch amusement park, golf courses, tennis courts, baseball and softball parks and some of the world's best trout fishing streams.

During the winter months skiing and snowmobiling are popular outdoor sports in the scenic Black Hills. Who'd have guessed that a region boasting such darkly monikered attractions (not to mention all those caves) would make good in the tourist trade? But sure enough, tourism is big business in this land of arid climate marked by blistering summer days and blustery winter storms.

Rapid City's proximity to such natural wonders and wondrous monuments (Mount Rushmore, Chief Crazy Horse) makes it a shoo-in for road warriors seeking the glory of the Old West. Legalized South Dakota gambling adds a little glitz -- and a new kind of gold rush -- to the experience.

Mobile-home manufacturing, livestock and tourism lead the way economically for many of the city's 55,000 residents. Ellsworth Air Force Base (home the B-1b Lancer) is 12 miles east of town.

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Buying Your First Home

• Buying Your First Home - Making The Right Move

• Buying vs. Renting

Buying A Second Home

• Buying A Second Home - Living The Dream

• Ready To Be A Landlord? - Finding A Great Rental Property

Tips For Every Buyer

• Key Factors For Making A Good Investment

• Getting The "Real Scoop" On The Houses You're Looking At

• Next-Door Nightmares

• How To Negotiate To Your Advantage

• Why You Need A Good Home Inspection

• Should You Buy A “Fixer-Upper”?

• Home Warranties - Five Facts To Consider

• RESPA - The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act

Financing Tips

• Saving For A Down Payment

• What Are They Talking About?

• Get The Scoop On Your Credit Report

• Eliminate Your Mortgage

After You Buy

• Finding A Place For Everything

• Homeowner's Survival Kit

• 10 Repairs You Can Do Yourself

• Decorating On A Budget

• Home Security Dos And Don'ts

• Homeowner's Insurance

Building & Remodeling Tips

• How To Talk To A Contractor

• Five Simple Steps To A Beautiful Bath

• Kitchens: What's Hot?

• Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Windows

• Raise Your Home's IQ

Tax Advantages

• Can You Deduct The Cost Of Home Improvements?

• Tax Advantages And Restrictions For Homeowners

• The Ins and Outs Of Home Offices