What to Know:
Smokey Bear turns 82 on August 9, and the Pactola Visitor Center is throwing him a party all weekend. Join the celebration of the Forest Service’s most famous bear and the wildfire-prevention message he has carried for generations. The party runs both Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9, which is Smokey’s actual birthday.
This is a come and go event. On Saturday, stop by from 10 a.m. to noon or from 1 to 3 p.m. (the visitor center pauses for lunch from noon to 1 p.m.). Spin the wheel for Smokey-themed trivia and prizes, try the corn hole boards and lawn games, and watch Pactola Visitor Center staff demonstrate how forest fires behave, using matches in a safe, controlled setting only.
Getting there: the Pactola Visitor Center sits above Pactola Reservoir on US Highway 385, about 15 miles west of Rapid City.
About the Pactola Visitor Center summer programs: The Black Hills National Forest hosts free, family-friendly programs at the Pactola Visitor Center through the summer and early fall. Each session pairs a short hands-on activity with a Forest Service presenter, and all ages are welcome. No registration is required. The visitor center sits above Pactola Reservoir on US Highway 385, about 15 miles west of Rapid City. Programs are free, and schedules can shift with weather, so check ahead before you drive out. The Black Hills Parks and Forests Association is glad to help share these Forest Service programs.
