The One Stop We Missed

Among the myths and legends of the Wild West sits Deadwood, South Dakota. I still regret that we didn’t take the time to visit when we took our amazing vacation out that way. If you’ve been following Around Dusty Roads for a while, you may remember those older posts—Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, Custer State Park… we squeezed in a lot. But Deadwood? Somehow it slipped through the cracks.

Does that mean a return trip is needed? Let’s talk about it, and you be the judge.

A Town Built on Gold, Grit, and Gunpowder

Deadwood earned its reputation during the lawless days of the Wild West. Gold brought fortune seekers. Fortune seekers brought outlaws. Outlaws brought gunfights. And the whole mix created a town where danger and opportunity walked hand in hand.

Today, Deadwood leans into that history with restored saloons, historic buildings, and lively reenactments that celebrate its rough‑and‑tumble past. It’s a place where the line between truth and legend blurs—sometimes intentionally.

The Murder of Wild Bill Hickok

Of all the stories tied to Deadwood, none is more famous than the death of James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok. On August 2, 1876, Hickok took a seat in Nuttal & Mann’s Saloon No. 10. For reasons still debated, he sat with his back to the door—something he almost never did.

That small decision became part of Western lore.

The day before, a drifter named Jack McCall had lost all his money to Hickok in a poker game. When Hickok offered him money for a meal, McCall took it as an insult. Fueled by wounded pride and liquid courage, he returned the next evening, walked up behind Hickok, and shot him in the head.

Legend says Hickok was holding black aces and black eights—the now‑famous “Dead Man’s Hand.”

Honoring a Legend

Visitors to Deadwood can still pay their respects at Wild Bill’s grave in Mount Moriah Cemetery. His memory lives on in more ways than one:

• In 1979, he was inducted into the World Series of Poker Hall of Fame.
• Every June, Deadwood hosts “Wild Bill Days” in his honor.
• And every time someone draws a Dead Man’s Hand, Hickok’s story resurfaces.

Thus, while gone, Wild Bill Hickok is certainly not forgotten.

Truth or Tall Tale?

This one goes firmly in the truth column. The details may have been polished by storytellers over the years, but the core of the tale—Deadwood, Wild Bill, Jack McCall, and that fateful poker game—is solid history.

Your Turn: Is Deadwood Worth a Return Trip?

I missed Deadwood the first time around, and the more I dig into its history, the more I wonder if that was a mistake. Between the Wild West legends, the historic saloons, and the chance to stand where Wild Bill Hickok played his final hand, it feels like a place that deserves a spot on the itinerary.

So now I’m turning it over to you.
Have you been to Deadwood? Did it live up to the stories?
Or, if it’s still on your bucket list, does it sound like a place worth doubling back for on a future South Dakota adventure?

Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear your take.