Get Free Ice Water at Wall Drug Store!
Since 1936, Wall Drug Store has had road signs up welcoming travelers to stop for “Free Ice Water” for miles before you arrive. For cold days, they also still have coffee for 5 cent a cup! It is such a great advertisement campaign that the you look forward to stopping in Wall, South Dakota to visit their little Drug Store. The store has over 2 million visitors a year.
Wall, South Dakoda, is located just outside the Badlands National Park and Buffalo Gap National Grassland. Wall is also just off the highway that takes visitors of the Badlands National Park. It also takes those traveling from the East coast and Midwest to Yellowstone, Crazy Horse Memorial, Mt. Rushmore, and so many other places.
I enjoyed my time at Wall Drug Store. It is a bit bigger then it once was back in 1936. It is now like a mini mall with Hole in the Wall Bookstore, Calamity Jane’s Jewelry Emporium and Black Hills Gold, Buckboard Western Apparel, the Western Art Shop, the Country Store & Fudge Shop, and so much more.
Wall Drug Store also has a backyard with includes a Jack-a-Lope, picnic area, a smaller replica of Mt. Rushmore, a stuffed Buffalo, T-Rex that moves, a train station with a little water show, a shooting gallery (bb guns), and so much more!
For the children and rock lovers, they have the Rockhound Shop. Plus in the backyard, The Mining Company plus Pan it Mine it area to pan for gold and other rocks.
The Store also has a travelers chapel which has been used by traveler as a church but also as a wedding chapel. The chapel is a great place to get married for more information on the chapel get in touch with Wall Drug Store.
It is like a mini Disneyland! Plan to spend a few hours here. In addition, the dinning room has the largest private collection of Western Art with over 300 oil paintings plus Tiffany Lamps in the Dining Room areas. Plus other areas of the place had local history, family history photos, and other artwork.
Don’t forget to have one of the homemade donuts or stop at the soda fountain and have homemade ice cream!
Brief History
In 1931, a small drug store was bought in a small town in South Dakota by Ted and Dorothy Hustead. The town had only 326 people but the couple were looking for a place to bring up their children with a Catholic Church in town.
By 1936, the business had not grow and Ted was looking at putting the store up for sale and leaving town to get more opportunity for the family in a larger place. But one hot summer day, Dorothy had an idea on how to bring in some business as the vehicles along Highway 16 and 14. She wanted to put up sign along the highways that said thing like, “Get a Soda”, “Get a root beer”, and most importantly, “Free Ice Water”.
The idea has make the Drug Store world famous. From the day that the sign went up, they have been busy. On a good summer day, the store can get 20 thousand plus customer in a day. Over 2 million people a year from all over the United States and the world come.
Work at Wall Drug Store
Are you an adult with a recreational vehicle, i.e. RV or Van? They have spaces which include all utilities and internet for $50 per week for employees.
Know a student who need employment for the summer? Wall Drug Store has 28 dormitories at a cost of $35 per week including all utilities and internet for employees.
The perks include a swimming pool, weight room, volleyball court, and basketball court for those in the recreational vehicle areas and in dormitories. Employee discounts on most items. Plus in your free time, employees are given passes to Black Hills National Forest and Badlands National Park.
The store offers year round and seasonal positions which is great for students that might be working towards a college degree and are taking online classes or have their summers off. It is also great for those that are taking time off from their careers to travel and/or retired and want a place make a bit of money with a great area to visit for a few months.
Check out their Application Process for a great opportunity for a bit of money and low cost housing for a few months!