Buffalo WY #16 - Shuffle off to Buffalo and play

 

June 23 2020

The drive from Rapid City SD to Buffalo WY was 3 hours, and we weren't playing until the following morning, so it was a leisurely transitional day. Sturgis SD where the bikers convene each year was on our route, so we stopped at Red's Grill & Pub for some lunch and also just to say we'd been to Sturgis. After lunch we determined that Devil's Tower was a short detour off our route and it would allow us to visit and get another stamp in our National Parks Passport book. This was definitely a highlight of the day. Once settled in Buffalo, we decided to drive out to TA Ranch House for dinner. For us, it was out in the middle of nowhere and our GPS was only partially helpful. For locals, it was just down the road from Buffalo. Our contact Amy in Buffalo recommended this place and while it wasn't fantastic, we enjoyed our meal. After our play the next morning, we stopped at the Occidental Hotel which transports you back in time to the days of Butch Cassidy and Calamity Jane. We probably should have booked a room there. Maybe next time.

The 4 dedicated courts, originally tennis courts, were in good condition and we were welcomed by the players there. They provided us with a level of skill comparable to ours. We were thankful for good weather which always makes playing outdoors enjoyable. 
Finding the Pickleball Courts at Buffalo was a little tricky since they were behind the Johnson County Family YMCA which is on Klondike Dr. You have to go around to the back on North Desmet Ave to find them. Parking was at a premium since there was a child care facility next to the courts and much of the lot was for their use. 
I'm reminded of a song in the movie "It's A Wonderful Life" where the lyrics say "Buffalo girls won't you come out tonight, come out tonight. Buffalo girls won't you come out tonight and play by the light of the moon." (Okay, the last phrase I changed the word "dance" to "play.")


Our side trip to Devil's Tower National Monument was well worth it. As you approach it you are in awe as it rises above the horizon and as you get closer and closer your amazement increases. We hiked the trail around it to see it up close and to take in the aura it exudes. It is a sacred site for a number of American Indian tribes as evidenced by the prayer cloths and prayer bundles hanging on the trees around it. The trail was easy and paved and worth the time it takes. We're glad we took this detour to see such a historic site.

Location: 1 N Desmet Ave, Buffalo, WY 82834, USA

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