USS LA SALLE ASSOCIATION REUNION
Rates $87.00 plus $9.40Tax $96.40 per night;. 34 rooms blocked 4-8 SEP 12 - this is half regular rate
Large 2 story (no elevator) with center court yard.
2111 N. Lacrosse St., Rapid City, SD (North side of Exit 59, I-90). Gaming Room w/bar, upscale Restaurant, large watering hole, gift shop etc. Large pool and water park for kids or young at heart
Reservations - 605 343-6550 or WEB
3 Restaurants within block or less of hotel. Remember 1 breakfast and 3 evening meals included with registration/tours.
TUE 4 SEP - Arrive Rapid City
WED - Around 0730 - Board bus for Ft. Hays, All you can eat breakfast (Pan cakes/Biscuits & Gravy), after breakfast board bus for an all day tour of Black Hills with stops at major attractions plus several camera stops. Lunch (on your own) at Hunters Lodge in Custer State Park. Around 1700 return to Ft. Hays for BBQ Dinner and Dinner cowboy music show, return to hotel. The regular cost for this day's tour is $79 but working on a group price. We did this trip last June and highly recommended. Good food/music and tour of Black Hills.
THU - On your own until around 1500 when we gather at Blue Bell Lodge where you can saddle up to the bar for refreshments and 1600 depart by covered wagon for hay ride (about 1 hr) to Chuck Wagon Dinner. Total time is about 3 hours This event is $45 per person but probably something you will do once in a lifetime. There is live entertainment on hay ride. Also did this trip, lot of fun. Both dinners are served on tin plates (old west style).
FOR PLANK OWNERS - New shipmate/Plank owner. added to list, Hugh Cowart, he was a RM.
Had to change reunion dates to 4-9 SEP 2012, hotel booked with conventions/business meetings starting week after Labor Day.
Plan first group event on WED, an all day bus trip starting about 0715 and ending around 2000. This starts with an all you can eat cowboy breakfast at Ft Hays, then an all bus trip to all major tourist spots followed by a dinner and cowboy music show back at Ft. Hays (pick-up and return from/to hotel). Then probably FRI a trip to Custer State Park and an evening hay ride (about 1 hr) with entertainment to a chuck wagon steak fry dinner on tin plates.
SAT evening would be our banquet dinner.
4 days is not enough to see all of the Black Hills but the bus tour on WED will give you an overview of area. We happened upon a Sioux Indian pottery place where indian pottery is made on site and of course sold. Very beautiful pottery of all sizes and shapes and American made. Also passed by a discount western ware store (no time to stop but plan to visit during reunion).
Will be sending a suggested program as soon as we can put it together with some options.
Arnet Hagen, USS LA SALLE ASSN.
