Description
What is the Buffalo Gap Grassland Patch?
An embroidered patch for Buffalo Gap National Grassland, the roughly 591,000-acre U.S. Forest Service grassland that spreads across Fall River, Custer, Pennington, and Jackson counties in southwestern South Dakota. The patch is made by L.W. Bristol Classics, a family-owned manufacturer in Bristol, Tennessee that has produced custom souvenir patches and hiking medallions for national parks, forests, and grasslands across the country for decades.
At 2 1/4″ x 3 9/16″, it is rectangular rather than round, which is the standard format for grasslands patches in this product line. Fully embroidered with a colorful design on the front, iron-on adhesive backing on the reverse. Sold at the National Grasslands Visitor Center in Wall, SD, and through BHPFA’s online shop.
About Buffalo Gap National Grassland
Buffalo Gap National Grassland is managed by the U.S. Forest Service as part of the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands, one of BHPFA’s partner units. The grassland sits just east of the Black Hills, bordering Badlands National Park to the north. The terrain mixes rolling mixed-grass prairie with badlands formations, creek drainages, and scattered ponderosa pine draws.
The grassland is home to pronghorn, mule deer, prairie dogs, and numerous grassland bird species. The Conata Basin section is one of the most significant black-footed ferret reintroduction sites in North America. Ferret reintroductions began here in 1994, and the population grew to one of the largest in the world by the early 2000s.
The National Grasslands Visitor Center in Wall, SD, operated by the U.S. Forest Service in partnership with BHPFA, interprets the history and ecology of all 20 national grasslands, with Buffalo Gap featured prominently.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 2 1/4″ x 3 9/16″ (rectangular)
- Weight: 0.3 oz
- Construction: Fully embroidered fabric
- Backing: Iron-on adhesive (can also be hand-sewn)
- Manufacturer: L.W. Bristol Classics, Bristol, TN
Who is this for?
If you’ve visited the National Grasslands Visitor Center in Wall or driven through the Conata Basin and want a physical reminder of the place, this patch is the direct choice. It fits on a jacket, daypack, or ranger hat without taking up much space.
For patch collectors working through the public lands of the northern Great Plains, this completes the set alongside the Wind Cave and Jewel Cave patches. The rectangular format distinguishes the grasslands series visually from the round NPS park patches.
It also ships easily as a small gift for anyone with ties to the Black Hills or western South Dakota.
How to attach the patch
The patch has an iron-on adhesive backing. Place it face-up on the fabric, cover with a thin pressing cloth, and press with a hot iron (no steam) for 20 to 30 seconds. For anything that gets regular washing or outdoor use, a few hand stitches around the edge will hold it permanently. Machine wash on a gentle cycle in cold water and air dry. Avoid hot-cycle washing and do not bleach.
Frequently asked questions
What does the patch design show?
The patch features a Buffalo Gap National Grassland design with prairie imagery.
How big is this patch?
2 1/4 inches wide by 3 9/16 inches tall, rectangular format. This is larger than the 3-inch round patches for Wind Cave and Jewel Cave, and a different shape. The rectangular format is used for grasslands and forests in the L.W. Bristol Classics line.
How does this patch attach?
Iron-on adhesive backing. Place face-up on fabric, cover with a pressing cloth, and press with a hot iron (no steam) for 20 to 30 seconds. The iron-on bond holds well on woven fabrics: denim, cotton, canvas, nylon. For synthetic fabrics or anything that gets heavy use, sew around the perimeter after ironing for a permanent hold.
Does the patch stay on after washing?
Iron-on adhesive holds well on woven fabrics but can lift at the edges after repeated machine washing. For long-term durability, sew around the perimeter after ironing. Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle and air dry.
Is Buffalo Gap National Grassland a national park?
No. Buffalo Gap is a National Grassland managed by the U.S. Forest Service, not the National Park Service. It is part of the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands. BHPFA is the official cooperating association for the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands, which includes Buffalo Gap, Oglala, and Fort Pierre National Grasslands.
Can I get a Passport to Your National Parks stamp at Buffalo Gap?
No. The Passport stamp program is NPS only. USFS sites do not have Passport cancellation stamps. If you have a Passport book, the nearest BHPFA partner sites with stamps are Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Scotts Bluff National Monument, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument.
Does buying this support the grasslands?
Your purchase supports Black Hills Parks and Forests Association, the official nonprofit partner of the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands (which includes Buffalo Gap), the Black Hills National Forest, Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Scotts Bluff National Monument, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument. Proceeds fund education programs, conservation projects, and visitor services at these sites.
What other Buffalo Gap products does BHPFA carry?
BHPFA also carries the Buffalo Gap National Grassland Pin (SKU 2156) and Buffalo Gap stickers (SKU 2157). For more patches, check the full patch collection.
What other patches does BHPFA carry?
BHPFA stocks patches for Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Scotts Bluff National Monument, the Black Hills National Forest, Custer State Park, and other regional public lands sites. Check the full patch collection.
