Rush Mountain Adventure Park
4.6(1.7K)google
4.4(85)yelp
FamilyInteractiveNatureOutdoor
Overview
Situated near Keystone, Rush Mountain Adventure Park offers an action-packed, thrilling combination of subterranean exploration and high-energy theme park rides for families. The park centers around the historic Rushmore Cave, a beautiful limestone cavern filled with dense stalactites and stalagmites that visitors can explore via guided walking tours. Above ground, thrill-seekers can race down the mountain on a thrilling alpine coaster, experience a multi-sensory 7D theater, or conquer elevated ropes courses.
Practical Info
Every day10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Suggested Duration3-6 hours
Best TimeOperated seasonally primarily across the warm months from mid-May through mid-October. The premier slot to experience this amusement park is a summer weekday morning at opening at 9:30 AM. Arriving early guarantees instant, hands-on access to their signature Rushmore Mountain Coaster—a gravity-driven alpine coaster winding down the steel tracks through the ponderosa pine forests—before massive weekend family crowds build up.
Getting ThereNestled quietly deep within a mountain valley at 13622 SD-40 in Hermosa, just east of Keystone, SD. To drive, leave Rapid City via highway SD-79 South, turn right onto SD-40 West toward Hermosa, and follow the scenic corridor for 10 miles to spot the giant roller coaster flags on the right; a vast complimentary gravel customer parking lot fronts the ticketing station. No public buses serve this forest park zone.
Travel Tips
- The alpine coaster enforces unyielding physiological safety caps. Single operators must be at least 54" tall; combined multi-rider weight cannot exceed 375 lbs (170 kg), with random scale verification.
- The cave system inside the park features hazardous low-ceiling rock overhangs and variable safety lighting. Wearing the provided protective helmet is legally mandated; non-slip closed-toe shoes are essential.
- Because attractions track elevated ridges, localized lightning inside a 5-mile boundary or sustained winds past 25 mph triggers immediate ride suspension; multi-ride wristbands are non-refundable under weather edits.
Reviews
Positive
- A high-energy family escape! The star alpine coaster lets riders control their own speed while winding through ponderosa pines, offering superb thrills and scenery.
- Along with ziplines and ropes courses, passes include a guided trek through Rushmore Cave; combining geological wonders and theme park rides delivers excellent value.
- The safety protocols for the amusement rides are ironclad; every high-altitude attraction features redundant safety harnesses meticulously checked by alert ride operators.
- The parking lot is expansive and free, and the park utilizes bright, color-coded signage that makes navigating between different thrill rides exceptionally easy even in a rush.
Heads up
- Purchasing the full-access wristband is quite expensive, and the on-site concession stands, popcorn, and gift shop items carry a massive markup, putting a dent in your wallet.
- Queue management can break down during peak summer months; due to the lack of a digital virtual queue, wait times for the alpine coaster easily exceed an hour in direct sun.
- For toddlers under 42 inches tall, almost all major thrill rides and aerial climbing challenges are off-limits due to strict safety height caps, narrowing down their choices.
- The entire adventure park is carved into a steep hillside; pushing heavy double strollers or navigating via wheelchairs across the steep inclines is incredibly exhausting.