Enjoy FREE wine tasting of up to five of our world-class wines when you visit.

Never been to a winery before?  Don’t worry.  Half the people who visit Prairie Berry are enjoying their first winery experience.  Our winemaker is skilled at creating fantastic wines all across the tasting spectrum.

http://www.prairieberry.com/

The resort’s land was purchased from Plum Creek Timber in 1992 and began as Moonlight Basin Ranch, a real estate development on the north edge of the adjacent Big Sky Resort. Moonlight Basin progressed slowly; it opened as an independent ski area in December 2003, on the north face of Lone Mountain. The 11,166 foot (3403 m) summit is accessed by the Lone Peak Tram, part of Big Sky. The resort, completely on private land, is adjacent to the Lee Metcalf Wilderness Area in the Madison River drainage in Madison County. (The Big Sky Resort, also on private land, is in the Gallatin River drainage in Gallatin County.)

Moonlight Basin features the extreme terrain of The Headwaters.  These steep chutes and gullies on the north face of Lone Mountain, once known as the “Nashville Bowl,” can be hiked to from the Headwaters lift (opened in December 2005) or Big Sky’s Challenger lift, both of which unload at just under 10,000 feet (3048 m) above sea level. The resort also features terrain consisting of open bowls, tree skiing, moguls, long groomers, beginner runs, and a freestyle terrain park. A full day adult lift ticket for the first season was $39, for the 2008-2009 ski season the price is $55. The Lone Peak Pass combines Big Sky and Moonlight Basin resorts and is $93 for the 2008-09 season. The combined pass was first offered during the 2005-06 season.

The primary lift at Moonlight Basin is the Six Shooter, a high speed six pack chairlift that climbs 1850 vertical feet (564 m) from the base and is nicknamed “the flying couch.” The Headwaters chairlift connects at the top of Six Shooter, rising another 685 feet (209 m), for a total lift-served vertical rise of 2535 feet (772 m) from the 7000 foot (2134 m) base.  The other upper lift is the Lone Tree quad, installed in 2004 for the second season, which allows access to the gladed terrain northwest of the Headwaters.  Additional lift-served vertical is attained at Moonlight Basin by purchasing the Lone Peak Pass and taking Big Sky’s tram to the summit of Lone Mountain.

The two original chairlifts at Moonlight Basin, Iron Horse & Pony Express, were installed by Moonlight Basin Ranch in the mid-1990s before it was a stand-alone ski area; the lifts were operated by the Big Sky Resort.  Moonlight Basin will also offer a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course (The Reserve at Moonlight Basin) in 2009, coincidentally in the Jack Creek drainage. The par 72 layout will be 7800 yards (7132 m), at an average elevation of 7500 feet (2286 m); the clubhouse is scheduled for completion in 2010. The resort also offers fine dining, spa, and lodging.

The parent company of the ski resort, Moonlight Basin Ranch, has committed a significant percentage of its land holdings to conservation.

BUY from Amazon.com |  BUY from iTunes

1. Carnivàle (Ben’s Theme) Listen
2. Dora Mae’s Funeral
3. Carnivàle Main Title Theme Listen
4. Meet Samson, Ben’s Dream
5. Justin at Mr. Chin’s (Justin’s Theme)
6. His Name Was Michael
7. Storm’s Coming
8. Ben Heals the Girl
9. Rita Sue and Jonesy
10. Lodz and Ben
11. Carnivàle Convoy
12. We Can Be Saved
13. Mark of the Beast
14. Silent Film
15. Fix Up Dora Mae
16. Black Blizzard
17. Ben Heals Kerrigan
18. Justin Calls Iris
19. Management’s Advice
20. You’re the One
21. Russian Front
22. Babylon
23. Ben Searches the Templar Hall
24. Sofie Reads the Cards for Ben
25. Lodz and Management Plot
26. Lucky to Have Jonesy (Sofie’s Theme)

Over the next 25 years the Opera House was used for varied events from a practice basketball court, to a shooting gallery and occasional dance hall. But the elegance of the interior faded as the building fell into general disuse by the mid 1950’s. Broken windows provided easy access to pigeons that roosted among the stage hangings. An effort by local college students in 1956 and ‘57 was attempted to revive the Opera House. The students brought a series of melodramas to the stage during the two summers, but while community support was high, graduation of cast members and financial concerns brought a quick end to the venture. Once more the Opera House went dark and continued to deteriorate.

By 1966, the Opera House had been little used for nearly a decade, when another band of intrepid students from Black Hills State College formed a theater company for the summer months and began a small scale renovation of the interior. Known as “Stagecoach Theater”, the student’s efforts were longer lasting than 10 years earlier. What soon became a summer favorite, “The Phantom of the Matthews Opera House”, written by Paul Higbee, opened in 1976. Summer audiences continued to grow through the 80’s, but the conditions of the Opera House were anything but comfortable. The building wasn’t air-conditioned and there was only one single public toilet. By the mid 1980’s it was determined that serious restoration work would be needed to preserve and protect the Opera House if it were to reach its centennial year. The Spearfish Downtown Association took the first step and formed the non-profit Matthews Opera House Society. The building was leased from current owner Mike Kelly with a 95 year, rent free agreement that the restoration would proceed on a timely basis. The first restoration phase was completed by 1989. Work continued into the 90’s and was completed by the end of 2006, the official centennial date of the opening of the Matthews Opera House.

Today, the Matthews Opera House is the centerpiece of the Spearfish Arts Center and the home to an active community theater. It is once more an ongoing scene of live theater, concerts and art events throughout the year.

Today, the remaining structures are preserved as the Fort Laramie National Historic Site by the National Park Service.

Booking Instructions: This attraction requires a date and time specific reservation. Please select the number of adults and your date from the drop down box for your preferred tour time. “Add” to your itinerary. Then select the number of children, if applicable, for the same date and tour time. “Add” to your itinerary.

Known as the Queen City, Spearfish is surrounded by three prominent mountain peaks – Lookout Mountain, Spearfish Mountain, and Crow Peak which form a “crown” circling the City. Spearfish derived its name from Native Americans and fur traders or trappers in the early 1800’s who considered the clear and tumbling stream through the canyon a good place to spear fish.

In 1877, the first store was opened along with a United States Post Office. The Spearfish Normal School, now known as Black Hills State University was established in 1883. In 1893, a railroad was built through Spearfish Canyon. This route soon became an outstanding scenic attraction of the Black Hills and a roadway replaced the railroad through Spearfish Canyon.

The Federal Fish Hatchery, established in 1898, is known as the D.C. Booth Historic Fish Hatchery. In 1906, Matthew’s Opera House opened as the center of entertainment in Spearfish. After extensive renovation, Matthew’s Opera House still provides an historic setting for the visual and dramatic arts. The Black Hills Passion Play, a portrayal of the last seven days in the life of Christ, has been performed on a hillside in Spearfish for over 60 years.

Spearfish continues to grow and prosper. The community is a focal point for tourism, is rich in history, arts and entertainment and is a retail trade center. With Spearfish’s resort like natural setting, its business, educational, and cultural opportunities, it is a wonderful place to visit and to live.

History

The first rally was held on August 14, 1938, by the “Jackpine Gypsies” motorcycle club,[3] who still own and operate the tracks, hillclimb, and field areas where the rally is centered. The first event was called the “Black Hills Classic” and consisted of a single race with nine participants and a small audience. The founder is generally considered to be Clarence “Pappy” Hoel. He purchased an Indian Motorcycle franchise in Sturgis in 1936 and formed the “Jackpine Gypsies” that same year.[3]

The focus of a motorcycle rally was originally racing and stunts. In 1961, the rally was expanded to include the Hillclimb and Motocross races.[3] This could include half-mile track racing (the first year in Sturgis, there were 19 participants), intentional board wall crashes, ramp jumps and head-on collisions with automobiles.

The Sturgis Rally has been held every year, with exceptions during World War II. For instance, in 1942, the event was not held due to gasoline rationing.[3]

This rally is known as a rowdy affair, unsuitable for small children. Public alcohol consumption/drunkenness and public nudity are occasional problems for the local police.