Near Interior in Jackson County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
From Rail, to Roads, to Recreation
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 18, 2026
1. From Rail, to Roads, to Recreation Marker
"I've been about the world a lot and pretty much over our country, but I was totally unprepared for that revelation called the Dakota Bad Lands."
Frank Lloyd Wright September 28, 1935
Visitors first saw the White River Badlands from rail cars in the late 1910s which run parallel to and south of the wall formation. The formations were a big draw and interest in tourism developement [sic] began with local businessman Ben Millard and Peter Norbeck, Senator of South Dakota.
But travel through the Badlands was treacherous with rough surfaces and steep inclines. Badlands development was stalled without safe reliable public roads. Norbeck supported Federal and state actions to fund road projects and highway construction was underway by the late 1920s.
Ben Millard [inset photo] had already made investments in the Cedar Pass area with land purchased for a campground and hotel. By the late 1920s he began construction on a lodge, cabins, and a dance hall. Thus the era of recreation began as vis[i]tors had a place to stay, hot meals, and entertainment for when they were not out exploring the fascinating landscape.
[Background
this page online
[Inset captions describe the photo]
• Basic cabins were available for $1 per night. Nicer cabins were also available.
• The first cabins were built before indoor plumbing was a mainstay, making outhouses necessary, especially for vacation rentals.
• Millard engaged bands to play at the dance hall once or twice a week and on holidays.
Erected by National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical date for this entry is September 28, 1935.
Location. 43° 44.866′ N, 101° 56.677′ W. Marker is near Interior, South Dakota, in Jackson County. It can be reached from no nearby street. Marker is in Badlands National Park, in the Cedar Pass Lodge cabin area. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 20681 State Highway 240, Interior SD 57750, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Oglala Lakota Pine Ridge Reservation, in West River, and in the Badlands. It is also in the American
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 18, 2026
2. From Rail, to Roads, to Recreation Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Serving Visitors Since 1935 (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Serving Visitors Since 1935 (within shouting distance of this marker); Cliff Shelf Nature Trail (approx. 0.7 miles away); A Slump And A Bump (approx. ¾ mile away); Badlands Oasis (approx. 0.8 miles away); Anatomy of a Badland (approx. 1½ miles away); Mako sica (approx. 1½ miles away); Saddle Pass Trail (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Interior.
Also see . . . Cedar Park Lodge, Badlands National Park. (Submitted on October 18, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 18, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 18, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
