wildblueyonder

I can't make up my mind between 2 chuckwagon dinner suppers, near Hill City (we must do one!). Has anybody any experience of/preference for Fort Hays Chuckwagon Supper and Show and the Flying T Chuckwagon Supper and Show? I think it might be a good idea to book before we go, but can't decide between them.
Thanks!

wildblueyonder

{bumping up to the top}

Nobody any thoughts on this?

LOL - I guess this isn't the kind of thing locals do! But to us Brits, a good cowboy singsong evening, along with cowboy beans and those very mysterious biscuits, is a must!

On a vaguely similar topic; none of us (self, hub and grown up son) have ever ridden a horse, but we are very tempted to go on a trail ride somewhere - would you advise this? Can complete novices enjoy such a trail if they're petrified the horse will run away with them into unknown territory, or, worse, bolt them out of the saddle?!

LHS

Well, I'm a local, and the only chuckwagon supper I've been to was at the Circle B. Which would be north of Hill City on hwy 385. It appears they also offer trailrides there as well.

http://www.circle-b-ranch.com/

I think the main difference between Flying T & Fort Hayes would be that you could look around Fort Hayes prior to supper. The shows are only about a mile apart on hwy 16 between Rapid City & Keystone.

Flying T & Circle B appear to have 3 choices on the menu, Fort Hayes is BBQ beef with your beans.

My impression is most of the trailrides in the Black Hills are geared toward people unfamiliar with horses. I've only been once, many years ago. I view horses as huge, scary animals ~gt;, and I didn't have any problem as we plodded along the trail.

Enjoy the Black Hills.

wildblueyonder

Hey, thanks LHS - I'll maybe go for them then, even though they're a bit further away.

As for the horses. This will be our third trip to the western US and, so far, we've managed to avoid the temptation to get in the saddle. I wonder if we can be a bit braver this time! (As you say, huge, scary beasts!

laurieb_nyny

I second the Circle B. A really fun evening. I think you should try a trail ride too!

kansasmom

Do try a trail ride. We've gone several times (although in CO or NM usually), and the horses are always incredibly tame. You really don't need to do anything but sit there and hold the reins. It's fun, and then you can at least say you've done it. If you've never ridden at all, I'd choose a one-hour ride instead of a longer one or you might be a bit sore.

wildblueyonder

Well guys - I have booked the 30 minute trail and a beef/chicken/buffalo comfo meal each! Perhaps if that goes well, we might take to the saddle again in Moab or Zion!

Thanks for your input; much appreciated.

laurieb_nyny

If you are going to Bryce, the trail ride into the Canyon is spectacular!

wildblueyonder

I was hoping nobody would mention trail ride + Bryce, laurieb!! No, we're not going there. We have two nights in Moab (because we haven't been to Arches before) and 2 nights in Zion, because we've been there before, but not spent enough time there. We have been to Bryce - but it was only for a couple of hours in a very bad thunderstorm - and I would LOVE to ride down amongst those hoodooes. Alas ...

(Back to the chuckwagon supper!) Can anybody please tell me what buffalo meat tastes like? Is it buffalo? Is it OK to eat it (I mean, is it farmed)? I would hate to be contributing to making the buffalo scarce again.

BarbaraS

Buffalo tastes like chicken - just kidding. It tastes more like a very lean beef. I have only had buffalo burger though. I'm certain it is farm raised and you don't need to worry about contributing to the extinction of the buffalo - we yankees pretty much took care of that years ago

LHS

Buffalo is indeed bison/buffalo meat.

Buffalo tastes a lot like beef, except it is lean. Truthfully, I have eaten meat I thought was beef, and told later it was buffalo. My sister-in-law now almost always cooks with buffalo rather than beef.

There are ranchers who specialize in raising buffalo for meat. In the fall Custer State Park has a buffalo auction where part of the park's herd is sold.

No worries about them being endangered anymore.

Here's an article about the health benefits of eating buffalo:

http://www.reluctantgourmet.com/buffalo_meat.htm

wildblueyonder

Thanks guys - I can enjoy with a clear conscience now!