Murdo, SD: Santa Fe Train Diner
After seeing so many of these signs, practically every mile, you start to imagine how awesome this place might be. Advertising itself as a replica 1800's western town, it sounded similar to how Knott's Berry Farm started in Southern California. In a way, after seeing about 98 of these signs along the I-90, my brain was conditioned to take the exit into this thing and see if it's really all that's it cracked up to be.
1880 Town was partially built by the producers of "Dances with Wolves". After filming, they donated the buildings to the people who own this plot of land. They turned it into a theme park, though without any rides.
Sash and I finally took the exit for Highway 63, marked by a giant, "Exit Here" sign. There's actually a Shell Station there, but we didn't need gas at this point. We pulled into the dirt parking lot for 1880 Town and I checked the admission price.
It was $12.00 per person ($24.00 for the two of us).
"Naw!" I said to Sash. "I ain't paying that kind of money. Why don't we just get lunch instead?"
The "Santa Fe Train Diner" or "50s Train Diner" is an actual Santa Fe Passenger Train that once rode the rails from Chicago to California. In 1982, it came to rest here and soon began operations as a roadside restaurant.
They serve up the typical fare of burgers, salads, soups, homemade pies and whatnot. It's actually kinda cool to take a break off the Interstate and sit inside this thing, munching down burgers in the air conditioned train cars. Prices are relatively cheap here, while decor is rather short on style. But we kinda like homey joints that serve up nothing fancy but the basics.
Since you're already heading down the I-90, and most likely blasting your way through the wastelands of South Dakota, go ahead and pull into 1880 Town, and at least grab a bite to eat at the Santa Fe Train Diner. You don't have to pay the admission to eat there.
Santa Fe Train Diner
Interstate 90, Exit 70
22 miles west of Murdo, SD
(605) 344-2236
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| Santa Fe Train Diner, with some antique railroad implements |
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| Formica table tops are dated, but they're somehow cool here. |
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| Sash with a strange colorful guy inside the train diner |
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| The exit of the train diner by a large USA flag |
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| Nothing fancy served up here at the Train Diner, but it's better than going to the chains |
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| This anorexic cow statue seems representative of the slim pasture pickings of South Dakota |
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| Parking lot of 1880s Town |
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