Black Hills, S.D. (KELO) — Earlier this summer, an idea drawn on a napkin soon turned into a landmark in western South Dakota.
The Tower of the Black Hills is one of the largest fire towers by square footage in the world.
It overlooks Spearfish, Belle Fourche, and a large area of the hills.
A few miles off of Interstate 90, you can find this nearly 50-foot tall landmark that Jeff Miller built on his land.
“A retreat area for people to come and enjoy. Really get the thick of the mountains and the history. Just the beauty and the quietness. You know, I can see the world, but I don’t have to hear them,” Miller said.
“It’s absolutely amazing and the views from there. I don’t know, I think we probably stood up there for maybe an hour the first time we were up there after it was completed and just looking,” Sturgis resident Kim Borsch said.
From the top of this tower, you can see over 40 miles of the Black Hills, as far as Spearfish and Belle Fourche.
The Tower of the Black Hills took two individuals 69 non-consecutive days to complete construction and offers up a unique 360 degree view of the Black Hills.
“I’ve been up there 5 or 6 times now and it’s never once been windy up there. It is very calm, it’s very peaceful and to just be able to look over the expansive Black Hills, it’s just absolutely breathtaking,” Borsch said.
Although the height of this structure may seem overwhelming, the hills themselves provide a unique quietness to them from the top.
“Take a look and feel the tranquility of what we got here and it’s something so unique and so different. And the people of South Dakota should be very happy that it’s here in South Dakota,” Miller said.
If you want to take in the views from The Tower of the Black Hills, you can find that information here.
