The First Time at Custer State Park

Frustration had set in as my boss tried to get me work but very little training, consisting of reading a couple of books and a “training manual” with basic history and “how to give a ride” information. I have devoured the information on Bison and local history, teach me how to drive a tour! I ride with him one morning for a couple hours and then he gives me a couple days to take a jeep out on my own to do some area familiarization. The new drivers are issued a couple of denim uniform shirts (which we can cover with our costuming) to wear with our jeans so guests can recognise us and wooden name tags. Finally on a Tuesday, the boss puts me in the passenger seat to learn from a seasoned driver to observe his style. Then (Wednesday) I get to ride along with a group tour and learn how to operate at a “chuckwagon” event. The next day (my day off) he calls and askes me if I think I am ready for a tour of my own. I happily and enthusiastically answer in the affirmative while giving a high five to Erin! After talking to the seasoned drivers Jeff discovers that the boss has polled them and they all agreed to throw me to the wolves to sink or swim, LOL.

Jeff’s Job consists of many facets in giving the guests a good ride: Pre-ride checks; Jeff (and all the other drivers) get dressed and head for the jeep barn to check out their assigned jeep for the day. The boss has seen fit to assign Jeff #14 for the season. Pre checks of all fluids, make sure you have blankets for the guests, props for the ride and then head down to the lodge where the guest meets for the ride. The ride consists of a 1-1/2 to 2 hour ride in one of our custom stretched Jeep Wranglers. These jeeps can accomodate up to 7 passengers. After the ride, we wash the outside and clean the jeep, get fresh blankets and set it all up for the next ride. The two hour ride now becomes a 3 hour job for the driver.

My First time: Friday, May10. The first time that Jeff has put people in the back of his company vehicle without handcuffs on in 24 years! How do I feel? Nervous, Jittery, questioning my ability and knowledge. I get to the lodge and meet my riders, two nice older couples, one from Arizona and the other from Pennsylvania. I get the safety briefing out of the way and get them loaded into the jeep and and settled in for our 2 hour tour. We break the ice and get moving out to go back in time and follow it through to the future of this park we have been entrusted to interpret for visitors. These folks asked good questions as we rode along and I relayed history of the area and the facts and figures regarding the animals in the park. What a glorious day, sunny, almost 70 degrees and we got to see all of our mainstay animals in the park. I put them within inches of our Buffalo, deer and Pronghorn. We saw turkeys, elk, grouse and even the donkey mafia extorting the tourists for snacks. When we arrived back at our lodge and I unloaded the Jeep, my guests all complimented me on my skills, with each couple tipping me. When I told them that they were my first ride, all four denied my claim, telling me I sounded like a native. Gret Compliment!!! Also, Thanks for the Cheddar.

My Costume: When I showed up for my ride, the boss commented that I was serious about it by my dress. Guess so. The Buckskin shirt belonged to dad, no sense in letting it moulder in storage.The hat is from a friend whom I trained to be an officer, my leather belt was made by dad, as well as my knife and sheath, the knife being a gift from dad when I was very young and the sheath, with my initials, made and tooled by dad. The denim shirt is the uniform shirt issued to us. My boots are Justins, wild rag is new and the walrus on my face is all natural.

As I write this, I am now 6 rides into my season and enjoying the experience immensely.

Come see us out here in South Dakota (and schedule a ride with me).

Jeff