By Kacie Svoboda
All conversation stopped when the tiny dots of the one-ton, brown-backed bison crested the ridge. The Custer State Park (CSP) buffalo herd kicked up dust across the golden prairie toward a record number of attendees at the 50th anniversary Buffalo Roundup. Approximately 21,500 people — substantially more than the usual average of 14,000 attendees — rose early and set up on the CSP slopes to view the herd and get a taste of Black Hills living history.
With this many more attendees, the stampede was delayed about 30 minutes as park personnel strove to find space for everyone and dealt with coordination problems. Visitor services coordinator Craig Pugsley found trying to park around 5,000 vehicles the most challenging part of this year’s event, even with an expanded parking area arranged to accommodate the higher attendance.
“I think it went real good,” commented six-time seasonal Roundup volunteer Oliver Tollefson. “It went off a little late due to logistical issues.”
Tollefson has worked as a traffic control coordinator, directing vehicles through the parking process for two years now. He noted that there were “many, many more vehicles” this year and he also saw more people who had come specifically to see the event.
A group of friends originally from Minnesota traveled to the 50th Roundup for their annual girls trip for a variety of reasons, ranging from the beautiful scenery and the grandeur of the buffalo to the cowboys. Group member Cindy Brinker of Las Vegas, Nev., planned the trip based on a South Dakota travel guide.
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