Mt. Rushmore July 24th

We had a great time in Mt. Rushmore! It was beautiful when we got in at about 4:00. Our plan was that we were going to stop and see it in the light on the way to our KOA, check in and then go back for the lighting ceremony at 9:00. We ended up staying, hiking around, eating dinner etc. and then going to the lighting ceremony. While I was sitting in our seats and the kids and Brent were in the gift shop, the sky started putting on a pretty good show. The combination of the smoke from a forest fire, the sunset, the incoming storm and distant lightening made for a dramatic sky. By the time they came back from the store the lightening was going full force right behind the Presidents. They ended up sending us home at about 9:00 because of the two storms merging together above us and the expectation of hail. When we saw that they truly did light up the monument we turned around and went against the crowd and pouring rain so our camera man could get some footage. Thankfully, we were parked in bus parking and got on the road before the rush of traffic and went on to check into the 2nd largest KOA in the nation...at Hill City. If you want a KOA with things happening, this is the place for you. Florida...in case you were wondering where the largest one is. I didn't think that Rushmore would be my kind of attraction, but I was moved by it! The surroundings are beautiful and because I am reading a book about George Washington I think I made a connection with the monument to this great man that seemed to be so used by God for His purposes.