The oceans of golden prairie, the eerie Badlands and the beautiful Black Hills so exquisitely captured in "Dances With Wolves" really do exist in South Dakota.

An upclose look at Fort Hays can be seen outside of Rapid City. Here you'll see the fort and headquarters where Lt. Dunbar received his orders after the Civil War. Walk through the Headquarters and the fort. See the sod house, horse barns, warehouse, and the buffalo killing field. The site is open Memorial Day through Labor. Ft. Hayes is located 4 miles south of Rapid City on Rushmore Road. 605-394-9653 or 1-888-394-9653.

Houck's Triple U Ranch located just west of Pierre, own's the world's largest privately owned herd of bison, some 3,500 head. Houck's vast, rugged ranch was used not only for buffalo sequences, but also for many of the movie's other scenes. Almost half the film was shot here.

The Indian winter camp scenes were filmed in Little Spearfish Canyon in the Black Hills National Forest. Inquire at Cheyenne Crossing store or Latchstring Restaurant.

The erosion-carved formations of the Badlands National Park were the backdrop for the brief wagon-travel scene between Fort Hays and Fort Sedgewick.

The 1880 Town near Murdo and the Akta Lakota Museum in Chamberlain both house props used in "Dances With Wolves". The costumes worn by Costner and McDonnel are displayed at the Midnight Star Casino in Deadwood.

Throughout South Dakota, you will find highway signs/markers that say "Dances With Wolves" filmed here.