fort hays old west town & dinner show

My daughter and I have traveled much of the US, but I must say our trip to South Dakota and Wyoming was the most enjoyable one we have had. This was our first trip to the area and we were awe struck with the terrain. This was a twelve day trip that was well thought out and went with only one disappointment. Our "chuck wagon dinner" at Fort Hayes Old West town and dinner show was beyond cheesy! It was the essence of a tourist trap with horrible food and the feeling of being herded like cattle. I truly did not know those places still existed. They give the area and the tourism industry a very black and negative mark. I don't even eat prefab chicken breast and canned pork and beans at home. The menu was advertised as barbeque chicken, baked beans, homemade biscuits, roasted potatoes, etc. The meal served was ONE HALF frozen boneless, skinless chicken breast which was warmed in the oven with bottled barbeque sauce poured over it, canned pork and beans that were warmed not cooked, we had a very small baked potato that was smashed onto the plate to disguise the size, a frozen biscuit that had a very bad freezer taste, and dessert. We had the option of purchasing pie for $6 or $7. Fortunately, I did take the option, otherwise I would not have had anything to eat. Then the crowning blow was that once finished eating, we were required to get up from the very crowded picnic table and carry our own plates to the back of the room. This was impossible for elderly infirmed people and as a matter of fact, we carried plates for some people. I trust you can do something about this rip off.

I'm surely glad I had a 1/2 off coupon (or BOGO), because it was barely worth that. The food was mediocre. The music was pretty good. The comedy was poor.The floor was dirt and the seating was backwards to the stage!!!I won't go again (and the wife said the same thing.

It was interesting. We went for the pancake breakfast and to see some of the buildings used in "Dances with Wolves". The pancake breakfast is advertised as an all you can eat pancake breakfast. Anything that goes with the pancakes is definitely extra. They were closing as we got there. We checked the times and they were supposed to be open for another hour. It was cool seeing the movie set memorabilia.

Did the Rushmore tour package which was enjoyable from beginning to end...two things that stand out in my memory of the day are the dinner show and (Matt?) the tour bus driver...totally exceeded my expectations!

It's a really fun place to visit! I went with my friends and we all loved it! the set and surroundings really make you feel like you have stepped back in time! They serve the traditional cowboys breakfast on tin plates. They have serveral cars and waggons to have a look at dotted around the site, and they have plenty things for all ages to do. My favourite thing was making a tin plate in the tin shop. Earl who worked in the tin shop was amazing. He was so friendly and throughout our experience at fort hays he kept checking on us. He was lovely! The dinner show is very entertaining! again you feel like a real cowboy! you get served a traditional cowboy dinner on a tin plate. The show was also really good, lots of singing and dancing was had by all!All in all I think Fort Hays is a great place to visit, its fun for all ages. The food my not appeal to everyone but it does make you feel like a cowboy eating what they ate in surroundings such as those at Fort Hays! I really enjoyed it :)

The food is pretty good and the band are great. Watch out for the amazing fiddle player "Lizzie". I recommend the BBQ beef over the chicken when you get the choice with the meal

Ft Hays, from Dances With Wolves! Check out the rope making shop and the tin plate shop (free). My 13 yo grandson got to help make a rope, and took a lasso home. Then we took in the chuck wagon supper. Good food, followed by an outstanding musical show! Chan Foresman and the Ft Hays Ranglers really know how to put on a show. The grand finale was "Proud to be an American", and the entire room came to their feet!

We did full day tour, we were picked up at our hotel & taken to Ft. Hays for the all you can eat breakfast, which included pancakes, sausage & biscuits & gravy with coffee& juice. Then loaded the bus for an all day tour which was excellent. Having a great driver & guide, Matt, made the day go by so fast. Saw a lot more things we would not have seen or known about if we tried this on our own. Then back to Ft. Hays for the chuck wagon dinner & show which was entertaining. Definitely worth the money. After the show they took us back to our hotel.

On our cross-country RV trip we visited Mount Rushmore as our 1st attraction. While planning the adventure I had considered doing the " Mt. Rushmore tour" - driving myself. Oh boy, am I glad I didn't. This day long adventure is one of the best values we got during our entire trip. We got there early [7 AM] and, enjoyed a hearty breakfast. Then looked around the film set of Dances With Wolves, The Tinsmith shop [ where my wife made herself a tin plate ] and the other shops onsite. We then took one fabulous bus trip through Mt. Rushmore and, the Black Hills. Had we driven ourselves we would have missed a lot ! Our bus driver / tour guide was outstanding and, made this a really memorable time. After about 6 -7 hours of tour we returned to a chuckwagon style dinner and, a wild west stage show.... WOW ! This attraction is actually "underpriced" for what you get. This attraction is a MUST-DO if you visit Mount Rushmore.

We visited 3 years ago a similar show in Idaho and we have to say, that show was more exithing... The food here was very basic and the meat almost cold when you get back at your table. There was chicken too but you had to make a choice ... meat ?, ok but than no chicken and visa versa. Dessert was to pay extra for... There was no beer for sale ! and once the show was started no more food or drinks ! They announced that the show was suppose to last for 1 hour and because the hall was not complete sold out .... 45 min. and it was done... The musicians waren't so bad but the highlight is sure .. the violin player Lizzy ! for $ 32 per person, it could have been a bit more, guy's ... sorry ... I'm so sorry that the Rockin' B ranch in Idaho is closed now....

We stopped by this place and expected to see a movie set and some authentic items from the Old West. There really wasn't much there and many of the items sitting around are newer in tim. We did not go to the Dinner theatre, so I can't judge that. But if your not interested in the tour or shows, I work say there is no reason.

We attended the Chuckwagon dinner and show at the end of September with our 2 kids. The dinner is served on tin plates and you drink out of tin cups. You sit at picnic tables lined up with one another so you were able to meet the people that sat around you. After dinner a lively show was put on by the band. They played a variety of songs that entertained everyone. There was even one member that came out in various humorous outfits to bring laughter to the show. Our kids (8 and 10) really enjoyed this show and we would take them again!Before the dinner and show we visited the old town outside and got to see how to make rope and how old machines work. One man had the machines hooked up to create a penny press. There is no cost to visit the town.

FREE to roam around and check out the museum and Dances with Wolves memorabilia. Loved the little "stores" from way back when. We didn't have time to see the dinner theater and show. You eat out of cowboy tin plates!

We completed the full day trip and dinner showThe people and the location were fantasticWe definitely saw more and learned things we would have missed had we tried to do our own tour plan

I have a previous review about this places somewhere else on Tripadvisor--we attended just this September. We drove by the place for 30 years not realizing how good it was: fun with an old town amid the best scenery in the Black Hills, family comedians, food that is top rate and served on tin plates and tin cups, and fine music by wonderful musicians who bring play cowboy music my Grandpa taught me and down the house. The food is served by the entertainers--you just don't realize it until after you see the show! This is a highly efficient and organized event. It's a family event; they even start by saying the prayer. They had a side door open during the show and we could see the haze collecting in the hills. The whole thing lasted about 2 hours.We go to the Black Hills frequently and will be going to this each time we are there.