Meals Included: None

Welcome aboard your coach as your tour begins in St. Albert. Travel south through Red Deer (coffee), Calgary, and Lethbridge (lunch) for pickups. Then you will get a chance to stop at the Duty-Free before entering the U.S.A. at Sweet Grass. South of the border, you will follow Interstate 15 as you make your way to Great Falls, where you will stop for your overnight destination.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today you will take Interstate 87 southeast and stop for coffee along the way before making your way to Billings where you will stop for a lunch break. After lunch, you will carry on until you reach your destination of Deadwood, where you will spend the next 4 evenings in the Mineral Palace Hotel.

HISTORY OF THE MINERAL PALACE
The beginnings of the present-day Mineral Palace extend to Deadwood’s early days. In 1876 a shrewd and cunning entrepreneur named Al Swearengen arrived in rowdy Deadwood and the following year he established The Gem Theatre on the site now occupied by the Mineral Palace. It seems that the term “theatre” was loosely used because the Gem was actually a house of prostitution. Always packed with fortune-hunters, the Gem survived fires, floods, and wild patrons to become one of Deadwood’s most venerable and longest-operating entertainment establishments. Legend has it that in its prime the Gem was an immensely profitable venture, taking in at least $5,000 on most nights, and $10,000 on some. Unfortunately, Al Swearengen died penniless. He departed Deadwood soon after an 1899 fire and was killed not long after that while trying to hop a train in Denver’s rail yard.

In 1990, not long after gambling was legalized in Deadwood, the community’s Ford dealership was transformed into a complex of three casinos named Cousin Jacks, The Livery and Carrie Nation’s. Together, the three were collectively known as “Three Of A Kind.”

Construction on the grand and gracious Mineral Palace began in 1992, and a formal opening was held in March 1993. The 75-unit hotel combined with the Gem Steakhouse and Saloon and the three casinos was called Mineral Palace Hotel and Gaming. The facility also offers a liquor store, gift shop and free on-site parking.

Meals Included: Breakfast

After two days of traveling, you have some time to enjoy a free day to yourselves. Gamble, dine and explore this historic town with its many gaming halls (a total of 89), restaurants (a total of 36) and museums!

Take in the live entertainment at Mainstreet Shows & Shoot Outs starts a 1:45 pm and continues every half hour till 7:45 pm. This then moves to the Trial of Jack McCall which is at 8 pm at the Masonic Building Mainstreet.

Or take the Original Deadwood Tour, which is a narrated tour of Deadwood, Tatanka and Mt. Moriah Cemetery. The most informative, entertaining, hour-long tour of Deadwood and Mt. Moriah Cemetery you’ll find! Departing from Midnight Star daily 10:20 a.m., 11:30 a.m, 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. (times may vary). ($)

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning after breakfast, you can enjoy an entertaining day trip through the Black Hills to Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Monument. During your visit, you will have time to take pictures and have lunch before boarding your coach back to Deadwood. A local step-on guide will be on board giving you an interesting and informative tour of the area.  For this optional tour, there is a cost of $15.00 U.S. per person. And if this doesn’t suit your tastes, feel free to stay back and enjoy more of the amenities that Deadwood has to offer.

CRAZY HORSE MONUMENT
Crazy Horse Memorial started in 1948 to honor the Native American culture in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The sculptor, Korczak Ziolkowski, chose the legendary Oglala Sioux leader, Chief Crazy Horse. After unexpectedly dying 34 years into the project, Ziolkowski’s wife, Ruth, and their family (in conjunction with the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation) continues the project. Currently, the Crazy Horse Memorial is the world’s largest mountain carving in progress.

MOUNT RUSHMORE
The story of Mount Rushmore National Memorial begins in 1923 when South Dakota historian Doane Robinson envisioned creating an attraction so big it would bring people from all over the world to the Black Hills. He dreamed of sculptures of Wild West heroes carved into the granite needles of the Black Hills.

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning you’re encouraged to sign up and partake in the free slot and blackjack tournaments in the afternoon. Later on, take one more evening to explore this historic town and all it has to offer, as you will be headed back towards Canada in the morning.

Do some shopping at the many stores like DEADWOOD’S WILD BILLS TRADING POST where you will find a “Wild Bill exhibit, antique guns, antique gambling items, souvenirs, gifts, general antiques, items of historic interest”, or stop in at Mustang Sally’s which is “a sports bar and grill, with the best burgers in town”.

Meals Included: Breakfast

After loads of history, sightseeing, and some big gambling wins, it’s time to start your trek back home. You will retrace your steps today, back to Great Falls, for the final evening of this tour.