Dear Friends and Supporters,

Thank you for your keen interest in Wind Cave National Park, a small and oft-time overlooked treasure of this nation’s National Park system.   Please check out our Membership page. 

Friends of Wind Cave National Park, authorized as a 501-c-3 charitable non-profit organization, can legally function as the conduit for public support of the important and exciting expansion at Wind Cave National Park. We ask for your support and remind you that your donation is tax deductible and serves as a gift for future generations to come!

The park acquired 5556 acres in 2011 with the Casey Ranch addition, which includes the historic Sanson Ranch and a buffalo jump. At this time public access to the new properties is severely limited. A key barrier is that only a crude two-track trail leads for one mile from the county road to park boundary. Wind Cave National park is establishing plans for restoration and preservation of this acquisition, but cannot spend money outside park boundaries.

Citizen partnerships will be necessary to build this road. One mile of gravel road purchased through local construction companies would cost in excess of $200,000. We are actively exploring the option of the South Dakota National Guard performing the actual construction, leaving us with the need to cover actual cost of materials. We would possibly have achieved that assistance this summer, but an unforeseen requirement of an extensive professional engineering survey made it impossible to meet the calendar constraints for that request.

Refocusing on a target of summer 2018, we are now working out details for the engineering survey and will have our request re-submitted to the South Dakota National Guard for their contribution of actual construction. That will leave a need of purchasing the gravel and culverts and other miscellaneous material at an estimated total dollar expenditure of $20,000 based on 2017 quoted estimates.

As a significant donor to this key project, you would be recognized on a plaque to be erected to thank and honor major contributors. It is anticipated that the plaque will be placed near the entrance boundary where the road enters the park.

Other work in preparation for opening the historic ranch and buffalo jump to the public is currently underway in the park. The critical components are to secure the historic buildings on the site and to make sufficient improvements to assure public safety. Those monies have been designated through certain park channels and this initial work has begun.

We thank you for your part in helping make the vision of opening the buffalo jump and homestead for all the public a reality.

Gratefully,

Friends of Wind Cave National Park

Friends of Wind Cave National Park (FOWC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to support and promote Wind Cave National Park as a natural and cultural treasure. In addition, it strives to expand the awareness of the unique value of Wind Cave National Park to the Black Hills community and the nation.

    Friends groups exist across the United States as citizen based advocates for individual national parks. Friends groups are contractual partnerships enabling effective stewardship of these parks.  National Park budgets are established by the US government and typically cover only basic operating expenses.   Friends groups can provide community based fundraising for various projects to enhance the local park's interpretative programs or to maintain or install new infrastructure ranging from trails to buildings. Friends groups can receive and administer your ear-marked donation for specific projects.

    Friends of Wind Cave National Park values your participation, your enthusiasm and generous financial support in helping Wind Cave National Park be one of the true jewels of the National Park system and our national heritage. Please review the other tabs to learn more.