Tourism season off to an early start in Keystone

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - Keystone, South Dakota is the closest city to Mount Rushmore. Because of this, the town of 240 sees thousands - if not millions - of visitors each year.

Many Keystone businesses cater to out-of-towners who stop by on their way to Mount Rushmore and the other attractions in the Black Hills. Some close their doors over the winter and spend the spring preparing for an influx of summertime customers.

“It’s this whole cleaning process.,” Robin Fugir, Keystone’s Chamber of Commerce director, said. “You know, making sure everything’s running nice, cleaning up around the area, cleaning out the businesses.”

This year, a mild winter and warm spring have brought visitors to Keystone earlier than usual. Local businesses that opened their doors early are reaping the benefits.

“This year, it really counted on the weather.” Trygbe Nelson said, who owns Halley’s West, a restaurant in Keystone. “The weather was very good, very mild winter. So, we decided we’d try to open early and I really think it paid off.”

Time will tell if above-expected tourism continues through the summer.

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