Fans and owners of the classic cars will be making their way to Rapid City, South Dakota this weekend, August 29 to 31.

The drivers club North Central Zone Meet will take place in one of America’s richest regions, full of sites such as Mount Rushmore, natural landscapes like the Black Hills and a diverse cultural history.

If you’re among the drivers or the fans coming to town, make sure you check out the Hotel Alex Johnson as your place to stay. The hotel is located in downtown Rapid City, walking distance from museums, restaurants and world class shopping.

You can get more information by visiting the Official Hotel Alex Johnson Website.

Listed on the National Register of HIstoric Places, the Hotel Alex Johnson brings convenience and history to travelers visiting Rapid City, SD.Six US Presidents have stopped into the Hotel, located in the heart of the downtown region. In the neighboring streets guests will find boutique shopping, dining and sight seeing opportunities are just a short stroll from the hotel lobby.The unique and historic architecture of the hotel shines through in every region. Exposed wooden rafters line spacious guest suites, on-property PAddy O’Neil’s Pub features rustic wood details and an inspiring and unique ceiling. The lobby is rich with warm wooden tones, antique winged leather chairs, chandeleirs and details wooden rafters and handrails lining the two-story-high vaulted ceiling.While rich in history, the hotel is also home to modern amenities and features, such as:

• High Speed Internet – WIFI
• Business Center
• Digital Cable/HBO
• Five Banquet Rooms
• Paddy O’Neill’s Pub
• Landmark Restaurant – AAA rated
• Business center with Internet service
• Room Service
• Pet Friendly

For more information or to make reservations, visit the Official Website.

The Black Hills Four Wheelers’ Dakota Territory Challenge will take place Thursday August 28th to Monday September 1st, 2008.

Vehicles must pass inspection for the more difficult trails.

The event will take place at the Whispering Pines Campground on Highway 385 and is open to all, please contact Sue Sharpe for prices at sls@rushmore.com.

If you’re coming from out of town there are several hotels to choose from without breaking the bank. If you’re coming with the whole family the La Quinta Inn & Suites might be the perfect choice. A brand new and comfortable hotel located near major highways, it is also connected to the Dakota’s biggest indoor waterpark, Watiki Waterpark.

Guests receive special discounts as part of their stay. It’s a great way to make the most of your stay for the Four Wheeler challenge and let the younger kids go wild with some water world fun!

Get more information about La Quiina Inn & Suites.

The Country Inn & Suites in Rapid City gives guest a a smoke-free environment with comfortable rooms and easy access to area sites.

From the Country Inn & Suites you’ll have easy access to Mount Rushmore National Monument, the Rushmore Mall and other Rapid City attractions.

With a staff focused on bringing you quality service and a hotel designed to deliver everything you’ll need and more, you’ll be sure to enjoy your stay whether its for business or pleasure.

The hotel features several amenities and features such as:

• 25-inch televisions in every room with Cable
• Free High Speed internet access
• Coffreemakers, ironing boards, hairdryers
• Heating indoor swimming pool with 100 ft waterslide
• Big breakfast buffet, with belgian waffles, hard-boiled eggs, biscuits & gravy, breads, muffins and more
• …and much more.

Get more information and make reservations online at the Official Website.

Looking for some gaming aciton in Deadwood, SD?Cadillac Jack’s Gaming Resort’s got what you need. The gaming floor has just been updated to have the most popular games running on more than 20% of the machines. In addition to the slots you’ll find tables for blackjack, roulette, poker and much more.The AmericInn is connected to the Casino and offers discount specials on room sto Player’s Club Members, which is free to join,Get more information on the room rates and Cadillac Jack’s exciting gaming atmosphere, complete with a top-notch restaurant, here. 

ISIS Hospitality has everything you and your family need to have a successful, low stress and high fun vacation.

CONVENIENT LOCATION

Both the Fairfield Inn & Suites and the La Quinta Inn and Suites are located near major thruways as well as the Rapid City Regional Airport, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Rushmore Plaza Civic Center and much more.

The hotels are also located next to the Watiki Waterpark, the Dakota’s largest indoor Waterpark. You can access the park right from the lobbies and get special pricing as a guest of the hotel. This adds a great source of fun at the hotel for the whole family, and adds a bit of theme park excitement to go with the historic, cultural, and natural wonders of the area.

Get more information about the properties here:

La Quina Inn & Suites
Fairfield Inn & Suites
Watiki Waterpark

Business travelers coming through Rapid City often stay at the La Quinta Inn and Suites, a property located adjacent to the Watiki Waterpark. Upon seeing the fun families enjoy during their stay many of them decide to bring their families along on the next visit.

Take John for example. Here’ s what he had to say:

Visited the property on business awhile ago but brought back my family to enjoy the water park. The rooms are comfortable and clean and the staff was outstanding on both of my stays. We had a wonderful time and will be back again.

Source

La Quinta is a brand new hotel with tons of amenities and features, one of the biggest being its location along side the Dakota’s largest indoor waterpark.

When you stay at the hotel you can get special discounts on your visits to the waterpark.

Get more information.

Rapid City, South Dakota is located near five national parks and monuments as well as a wealth of other fun and interesting activies, both indoor and outdoor.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Carved from a mountainside of granite, the Mr Rushmore Memorial is famous around the world. Guests can take tours with audio that explain the story and history behind the memorial and its construction.

Wind Cave National Park

One of the oldest caves in the world, the Wind Cave National Park follows 44 miles of underground tunnels and caverns. The park shares acres with rolling grasslands and wildlife.

Devils Tower National Park

Indian legend surrounds the formation of devils tower, the core of an ancient volcano. A true oddity on the landscape and a rock climbers challenge, the devil tower rises 264 meters above the flat Wyoming flat lands. The park is a longish car ride from Rapid City.

Great Accomodation

Rapid City is the hub for visiting all the parks, memorials, and outdoor activities in the area. With several great hotels to choose from, your family might just have the most fun at one of two brand new hotels connected to the Dakota’s largest indoor waterpark.

La Quinta Inn & Suites and the Fairfield Inn & Suites both offer package deals for rooms and access to the Watiki Water Park, a massive indoor waterpark full of games, slides, prizes, and more.

Get more information by visiting the hotel’s websites.

La Quinta Inn & Suites

Fairfield Inn & Suites

Rapid City, SD is near the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore, and many other significant historial sites as well as large corporations and other businesses.

If your itinerary is taking you through Rapid City there are a wide range of high quality properties for the business traveler.

Hotel Alex Johnson - Located in the historic heart of Rapid City with full appointed rooms and amenities to make your stay productive and comfortable. Located centrally and walking distance from area restaurants, shopping and transportation.

La Quinta Inn & Suites - Located near major highways and with airport pick-up services, the La Quinta Inn & Suites is equipped with business centers, comfortable rooms and high speed internet. The hotel is brand new.

Fairfield Inn & Suites - Located new the La Quinta Inn & Suites with airport pick-up services. The Fairfield features an equipped business center, gym, high speed internet access and many other amenities and features.

Check the hotels out today and book your stay in advance.

By Kevin Woster, RapidCityJournal staff Tuesday, August 05, 2008

It’s a campaign story of poignant repetition for John McCain.

Amid the relentless blur of outreached hands, clicking cameras and packed travel schedules, time stops for a grieving mother.

She gets a handshake, a hug and a few gentle words of comfort.

That’s what the Arizona senator and presumptive Republican nominee for president offered Joann Staley, a Las Cruces, N.M., resident during their moment together Tuesday morning in front of the Hotel Alex Johnson in downtown Rapid City.

McCain had shaken hands with a small group of rally clad fans standing just outside the invisible Secret Service boundary and was turning toward his waiting bus and staffers when Staley spoke: Senator McCain, please.

McCain stopped, turned back toward Staley, took her hand and bent his head to listen.

Time stopped. The Secret Service waited, stern faced, eyes active. McCain leaned closer and nodded as Staley softly spoke.

Then they embraced, and he said, God bless you, and thank you for your son’s service, and for your sacrifice, before moving on to the bus and the next stop on a campaign tour that sees many similar moments.

Asked about her brief time with the presidential contender, Staley said she told McCain about her son, Dan, a U.S. Air Force navigator who had served one tour of duty in Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and was preparing for another when he got sick.

He was supposed to go back, but they found out that he had leukemia, Joanna Staley said, eyes still moist from her moment with McCain. He lived 15 months after that.

It’s unclear whether the leukemia was service related, although Staley suspects a link between jet fuels and her son’s illness.

Whatever the cause, she said McCain offered the comfort she sought in reaching out.

He was very nice, she said. I told him that we’ve got to win the war. I don’t want all the sacrifices to be for nothing.

Contact Kevin Woster at 394-8413 or kevin.woster@rapidcityjournal.com