challenge dakota activities

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Challenge is a South Dakota 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to supporting and sponsoring active events in and around Hot Springs, South Dakota.   This includes organizing Stars, Stripes & Steps and the 9/11 Grand Stair Challenge, cash sponsorships, making event materials available, repairing staircases, litter clean-up along routes and more. Your donations to Challenge Dakota are tax deductible.

Challenge is building an inventory of event materials to share with local groups. (Coolers, banners, time clocks, sound system etc.) Thanks in part to major grants from First Interstate Community Foundation, we have purchased our double sided race clock and Bose sound system. In 2020, we were able to purchase 50 road safety cones with a grant from Black Hills by Choice, Southern Hills.

Challenge worked with the City of Hot Springs to complete a major renovation on Museum Mash, the stone steps on Chicago Street, as well as ongoing repairs on the concrete staircases. 

In the past two years, deterioration on Chapel Charge staircase has been sudden and extreme. We are exploring options to renovate that staircase. If you would like to be part of the team exploring options, please contact Mike Sommers, Chair of our Save the Steps committee. His email address is redrocksaver@gmail.com

(Photo is "Before" stair repair at Museum Mash)

Challenge was a major sponsor of the Hot Springs Rotary's Climb Hot Springs and has also sponsored smaller events. Although Climb Hot Springs has not been held for the past two years, we are delighted to announce that the event is slated to return September, 25, 2021. 

Challenge is building a fund to repair or replace major race kit components as needed (currently consisting of clock and sound equipment.) If your organization is in need of equipment for an event, or has equipment to donate, please contact Challenge. We loan the equipment free, but appreciate a donation, which will be dedicated to repairing and replacing equipment.

Challenge is building a fund to continue repair and future renovations and enhancements of all the city  staircases. We are exploring ideas for 'adopt-a-staircase' groups to handle weeding, cleaning and monitoring each staircase.

(Photo is 'After' stair repair at Museum Mash)

128 steps

Located by the 

Hot Springs Firehouse and 

the American Legion.

Castle Crunch leads to the high school &  the former 

Castle Manor hospital.

This staircase is in serious disrepair due to age. Challenge Dakota has formed Save The Steps to pursue repair of this Hot Springs Treasure.

156 steps

Begins near 

River & Minnekahta Streets

behind Kidney Springs, 

and climbs up next to the Episcopal Church, finishing 

in a residential neighborhood.

Currently this staircase is in disrepair due to age and erosion. Be mindful, watch your step and consider helping us in our efforts to restore Chapel Charge.

141 steps

Begins on National Street, 

just east of River Street,

between Evans Hotel &

Red Rock River Resort/1891 Bistro; leads to the VA Hospital

(historic Battle Mountain Sanitorium).

123 steps

River St, by the former location of Gus’s Ice cream & Heartland Quilts; leads to Pioneer Museum (former schoolhouse); 

be sure to visit the museum.

109 steps

Chicago & Jennings across from Post Office.

No railing.

Leads to Pioneer Museum 

and VA Hospital.

Challenge Dakota restored this staircase several years ago. However, we have been neglectful in controlling the weeds. We are seeking volunteers to help keep the weeds down between the stones, as they are the greatest culprit in deterioration of this staircase.

87 rough hand-hewn steps

were built primarily in 2017

by Joshua Johnson, on private land located outside Hot Springs.

Windmill Wobble is only used in the Knee High Hilly Half Marathon and is not a public use staircase.

Windmill Wobble is rough and the steps are very uneven. Runners should use great caution and consider walking up and DOWN the staircase. The owner expects to have a trail built soon to allow us to route runners UP the stairs and DOWN the trail, but that is not likely for this year (2020).