Billy Gibson
Generations ago, folks flocked to the tiny hamlet of Nemo to search for gold buried deep in the nooks and crannies of the Black Hills region.
Today they come in search of family outdoor fun and adventure along the hundreds of miles of nature trails that course throughout the craggy terrain.
During most months of the year, Nemo is a quiet outpost with a smattering of permanent residents who spend their days in unhurried leisure. But the warm summer months bring thousands of visitors seeking to explore the undulating wooded landscape on foot or on horseback, but most of all nestled in the seat of a side-by-side.
The Black Hills area is widely regarded as the state’s top draw for all-terrain adventurists, and Nemo stands smack dab at the center of the action.
One of the town’s busiest denizens during the summer crush is Dane Hilger, who runs D&K ATV Rentals in Nemo. Hilger does a brisk business pairing up riders with fully licensed and permitted machines that allow visitors to free-range along the trails and take in the breathtaking vistas. His fleet of more than a dozen two-seaters and four-seaters gets snapped up quickly as the town is completely transformed during the summer season, which typically kicks off with the annual Black Hills ATV/UTV Rally held in mid-June.
“There are so many people in town it seems like it’s hard to get around sometimes, but it’s very family-oriented and everybody gets along and has a good time getting out and enjoying the great outdoors.”
Vacationers and even day-trippers have access to everything they need during a visit to Nemo with the Brandin’ Iron restaurant, camping sites, a general store and lodging.
Adam Rice, a native of Rapid City, owns and operates the Brandin’ Iron in addition to another restaurant in Arizona. Soon after high school, he headed to Arizona for culinary school and later opened his business there. But two years ago, Rice was lured back to South Dakota and decided to resettle in Nemo.
“The town just has an aura about it. It’s pristine and gorgeous. There’s no better way to see the Black Hills. You can get to a lot of cool places through the trail system that goes literally thousands of miles and you never have to get on the road. You can get to Deadwood, you can get to Mount Rushmore, you can go to Sturgis. I go out into the woods just about every day. There’s always something interesting to see.”
Larry Kaiser owns the Nemo Merchantile store where visitors will find fuel, snacks, beverages, clothing and an assortment of dry goods. He laments that during the summer he is often too busy to ride the trails, but he enjoys supplying the provisions visitors need.
“It’s just a lot of fun. You meet the most interesting people and everybody’s having a good time. They bring their kids, the grand parents and the dog and they just relax, unwind and have fun.”
While Nemo may be considered the mecca of ATV riders, there are several other prime spots in South Dakota open to the public.
In the southeastern region of the state near Avon, Jerry and Tina Talsma welcome ATV riders to their Trails End Ranch situated alongside the Missouri River.
The third-generation land owners opened Talsma’s Trail Park in 2005 with several hundred acres open to the public and trails that range from novice to extreme.
There are climbing hills, creek crossings, deep brush, open prairie land, river bottom terrain and expansive scenic bluffs overlooking the Missouri. There are also several play areas for riders to kick up some mud.
There are different fees to enter the park depending on the mode of transportation and special discounts for groups of 10 or more machines as well as multi-day and seasonal passes. Camp sites are available at a rate of $20 per night with electricity and $10 without.
The Talsmas have big plans for the summer with a Customer Appreciation Day on Aug. 14, a fundraising event for Horse Haven on Sept. 11 and a Halloween Scare Ride on Oct. 9.
For more information on the private park, visit talsmastrailpark. com. For more information about riding in the Black Hills, visit blackhillsatvrally.com and custersd. com where you’ll find details about ATV activities in the Custer area.