Part 3 here
Andrey and I take turns driving, so after my turn ended, I fell asleep. Suddenly I woke up and found out that car is not moving anymore. Turned out that while me and kids enjoyed the sweet dreams dad noticed a road sign and brought us to the old west town.
When Richard Hullinger bought 14 acres at Exit 170 back in 1969 he had no plans for an attraction. In 1972 a gas station was built at this location along with forming an idea of an old west attraction. Later, an additional 80 acres were purchased.
About that time a movie company came to a small town nearby to film an 1880 era movie. A main street set was constructed from old buildings and a number of Indian relics and antiques were borrowed from Clarence Hullinger, Richard’s father. Winter set in, and the filming was abandoned. The movie company returned home, giving the main street set to Clarence for the use of his artifacts. The movie set was moved to the 80 acres and the 1880 Town was born. Clarence and Richard started to collecting buildings and contents from 1880 to 1920 era. They Have kept historical value on an equal balance with public appeal, choosing buildings that are not only interesting to look at but are also historically correct for the early South Dakota town.
There is sign near fourteen-sided barn and town is located behind it. The sign reads: 1880 Town, Dakota Territory, elevation 2391 feet, population: 170 ghosts, 9 cats, 3 dogs and 3905 rabbits.
Main street
Barber Shop and Bath
Bath is near
Inside the house
In the toilet
School
Fire station
Bank
Railroad station
Inside the car
Inside the railroad station
General store
Church
Hotel
The cashbox inside the hotel
There is doctor’s office on the second floor. He was physician, eye doctor and dentist
Ouch!
Doctor’s desk
Typewriter
Marshal’s office
The Jail
Mayor office
The Blacksmith
Nice advice….
Here worked the shoemaker
Post office
We walked there, enjoyed views and had a break from the sitting in the car. After some time we were back to the car and continued or journey. Around midnight we entered Nebraska.
and at 1.30am we came to Monowi, that has population of 1. In the beginning of the last century in that village lived around 150 people. But it lost its younger residents to cities and in 2000th it had only 2 residents, Rudy and Elsie Eiler. Rudy died in 2004 leaving his wife as the only remaining resident. In this capacity, she acts as Mayor, granting herself a liquor license and paying taxes to herself. She is required to produce a municipal road plan every year in order to secure state funding for the village’s four street lights.
We came to the hotel at 3 am and fall asleep as soon as our heads touched the pillows.
Part 5 here