Hill City in Pennington County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Dreams Can Come True

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 17, 2023

1. Dreams Can Come True Marker

Inscription.
When Burlington Northern abandoned their railroad right of way between Deadwood and Custer in 1983, a group of citizens recognized the historic value of the rail line and saw the opportunity to create a recreational trail. They formed an organization called the Black Hills Rails to Trails Association.

The association worked to find an agency that would develop and manage the trail. When the Forest Service expressed interest in authorizing some of their land for the proposed trail, the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks stepped forward and agreed to develop and manage the trail.

The State of South Dakota accepted Burlington Northern's generous offer to donate railroad property between Deadwood and Custer in 1988-89. When the right of way from Custer to Edgemont became available, that segment was added to the trail.

In addition to the agencies mentioned, many organizations and individuals helped construct the trail. Some of these include the SD Department of Corrections, SD Army National Guard, SD Department of Transportation, SD Parks and Wildlife Foundation, Friends of the George S. Mickelson Trail, the National

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Rails to Trails Conservancy and the SD Mining Association.

The first section of the 114-mile trail was dedicated in 1991. With continued involvement and cooperation from many groups and individuals, the final segment of the trail was dedicated in 1998.

[photo captions]
• Many special events are held on the trail each year
• Trail construction in the late 1990s
• National Guard building a bridge on the trail
• Quality time on the trail

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Parks & Recreational Areas • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1998.

Location. 43° 55.652′ N, 103° 34.433′ W. Marker is in Hill City, South Dakota, in Pennington County. It is on South Newton Avenue just south of Poplar Street, on the left when traveling south. The marker is in Tracy Park, at the Burlington Northern Hill City Trailhead shelter on the George S. Mickelson Rail Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 512 South Newton Avenue, Hill City SD 57745, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South Dakota’s

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 17, 2023

2. Dreams Can Come True Marker

This marker is the rightmost of two interpretive panels mounted on the south wall of the Burlington Northern Hill City Trailhead shelter on the George S. Mickelson Rail Trail at Tracy Park.

West River,

in the Badlands,

and in Greater Rapid City.

It is also in the American Black Hills,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Over a Century of Service (here, next to this marker); Welcome To Hill City (within shouting distance of this marker); The Little White Church (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Hill City (approx. 0.2 miles away); Von Woehrman Building (approx. ¼ mile away); BNSF Railroad Signal (approx. 0.3 miles away); Semaphore & Telegraph (approx. 0.3 miles away); Hill City Depot (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hill City.

Also see . . . George S. Mickelson Trail (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: The main trail route extends 108.8 miles, from Edgemont to Deadwood, with approximately nine miles of additional branch trails. Nearly
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 17, 2023

3. Hill City Trailhead Shelter
The Burlington Northern Hill City Trailhead shelter on the George S. Mickelson Rail Trail at Tracy Park.
all the trail follows the route of an abandoned railroad branch line constructed by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in 1890-91 and last operated by the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1986. The trail's route is mountainous, forested, and scenic, traversing the heart of the Black Hills and largely within the boundaries of the Black Hills National Forest. The trail alignment includes four tunnels and more than 100 converted railroad bridges. There are fifteen established trailheads spaced along the route, all of which include vehicle parking, self-sale trail pass stations, vault toilets, and tables. The trail is named after George S. Mickelson, the South Dakota governor who helped spearhead the project.

(Submitted on September 2, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 1, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 2, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.