Started the morning attempting to drive across the Needles Highway from east to west but it was closed off at the intersection with America Center Road. I didn’t expect that so no backup plan, and decided to head into the city of Custer to come up with a new plan. While cruising down the main drag of Mt Rushmore Road I couldn’t help but notice this bright pink building with a woman on the sign who has hamburgers for her…buns.
Walking up to the entrance I found it’s not only a cafe but also a bakery called Bakers Bakery & Cafe. From the road I couldn’t read the sign, but now up close this place lures me in like a desert oasis as I am basically a bi-pedal trash panda at my core.
Above the door is a historical sign so not only do I get tasty treats but also learn a tale from the Wild West. The sign reads “SITE OF SALOON WHERE JAMES FOWLER (ALIAS FLY SPECK BILLY) MURDERED ABE BARNES IN FEBRUARY 1881. BILLY WAS HANGED BY A MOB.” You can read more about it at this link, but apparently Abe borrowed Billy a gun and later that night Billy shot Abe. With his own darn gun. What a shame.
Anyways back to reality I am carried to a nearby empty booth and consumed a delicious orange cranberry muffin with my coffee. Would definitely do this again.
Still hungry afterwards I ordered the breakfast burrito. Apparently this was featured in Rachel Ray Magazine in 2014 but I am more interested to see if their green chiles (listed on the menu as green chili, ehh) are any good. Overall this was decent but I’d try something else next time. Keep in mind I may be biased having experienced actual green chiles from New Mexico so my standards are higher.
I searched online and found out why Needles was closed: apparently they are doing road maintenance until 2pm. Not pictured here but I think another site said they are doing annual checks on the integrity of the tunnels through the mountain. Not sure I’m going to have time for that today so it’s on to other activities which is no problem as there are endless things to do in the Black Hills.
After leaving the cafe I decided to do a quick load of laundry at the nearby Lost Sock Laundromat. There are clouds on the horizon to the northeast but it’s not on radar…typical because that is right where I am heading next. Who will win the day – my travels or possible weather?
