Advertise:   ads@blueearthmarketing.com   712.224.5420

Environment
Man to change name, location of Bear Butte bar


In response to objections from Lakota activists, an Arizona man has decided to change the name and location of a bar near sacred Bear Butte in South Dakota.

Jay Allen owns the Broken Spoke Saloon. He recently announced plans to build "Sacred Ground," a bar and concert venue that would operate during the Sturgis motorcycle rally, on 600 acres Bear Butte.

But after hearing from tribal members, Allen has dropped the "Sacred Ground" name and is moving the venue further away from Bear Butte. He also dropped plans to build tipis and erect an 80-foot statue of an Indian.

Bear Butte is one of the most important sites for Lakota, Dakota, Nakota, Cheyenne and other tribes in the Plains. Tribal members go to Bear Butte to pray, worship and make offerings.

Get the Story:
Bear Butte biker bar to get new name and new location (The Rapid City Journal 10/28)

Relevant Links:
Defenders of the Black Hills - http://www.defendblackhills.org/defenders

Related Stories:
Respect urged at Bear Butte during high season (08/13)
Non-Indians press for access at sacred Bear Butte (07/16)
Plans for shooting range near sacred site scrapped (01/12)
Developers: Shooting range near Bear Butte still on (12/16)
Plans for shooting range near Bear Butte on hold (12/02)
Developers face deadline on proposed shooting range (11/14)
S.D. commission bans hunting at sacred site (11/07)
Janklow thought of shooting range by sacred site (10/17)
Janklow defends use of grant for shooting range (10/16)
S.D. governor says shooting range grant was OK (10/13)
Lakota group seeks protection of Black Hills (09/19)
S.D. to return grant for Bear Butte shooting range (09/19)
Protections for sacred sites called inadequate (06/19)
Federal funds used for shooting range near sacred site (03/25)
Judge to hear tribal suit against shooting range (3/19)
Four tribes file lawsuit to stop shooting range (03/04)