"Close Encounters" and Devils Tower KOA

Above, Close Encounters of the Third Kind is screened nightly
with Devils Tower in the background. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During our recent trip up to Wyoming, Montana, Colorado and South Dakota, one stop was at Devils Tower National Monument, famous for appearing in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). It took us a few hours to reach Devils Tower from the Little Bighorn Battlefield in Montana.

During our one-night stay at the Devils Tower KOA Kampground, we joined other campers for the nightly screening of the movie. 

Above, a view of Devils Tower from our campsite. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The KOA screens the movie every night when they are open. In an article in 2023, Cowboy State Daily showed that they seemed to have a larger screen and provided some seating. When we attended, the screen was smaller and we had to bring our own chairs. 

Still, we enjoyed our screening (until it started getting cold out). 

The Cowboy State Daily article began with:

DEVILS TOWER — What was once a common hayfield is now an uncommon campground.

The Devils Tower KOA campground is No. 1 in the national campground system for having above 90% occupancy on one-night stays during the summer season.

A lot of that is location.

“We’re the perfect distance from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone,” Zannie Driskill, who co-owns the Devils Tower KOA with her husband Ogden, told Cowboy State Daily. “So, if you leave Cody, you get here late afternoon or early evening. And if you leave Mount Rushmore, you get here, you know, a little after lunch and you can be here all day. And if you jump up the next morning, you can be in Cody without traveling too hard or anything.”

But there’s more at work here than just near-perfect distance from two world-famous landmarks.

The campground itself is a one-of-a-kind experience. It’s located just below Devils Tower, the tallest columnar formation of its kind in the world, and it’s where Steven Spielberg filmed “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” a 1977 box office smash that set records and helped rescue Columbia Pictures from bankruptcy.

To read the full article, go here. 

Devils Tower National Monument

Before heading to the Black Hills of South Dakota, we stopped for the night at Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming.

I had been there before in 1990, but that was only a quick stop before proceeding to Yellowstone National Park. 

We stayed at the Devils Tower KOA Kampground. The campground shows Close Encounters of the Third Kind nightly. We joined other campers at the night's screening. 

Before leaving, we took a drive into Devils Tower National Monument and took some photos along the way.

Below are various photos in and out of the national monument of Devils Tower.

Devils Tower Trading Post

Before we checked into the Devils Tower KOA Kampground, we stopped in the Devils Tower Trading Post (which is across the street from the KOA) to browse around.

They, of course, had plenty of Devils Tower souvenirs available. Unfortunately, most of them were made in China. Any souvenir made in China I avoid. 

They did have some alien items available since Close Encounters of the Third Kind was filmed at Devils Tower. The KOA is on the former set where the mother ship lands in the movie.

I took a few pictures while at the trading post.

Now In South Dakota

Above, at Devils Tower KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After watching Close Encounters of the Third Kind the night before, we made it into South Dakota yesterday. The Devils Tower KOA screens the movie nightly, with Devils Tower in the background. Before hitting the road, we toured Devils Tower National Monument. 

Above, viewing Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As our campsite wouldn't be ready until 3:00, we decided to go see the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mount Rushmore.

I had been to both before (back in 1990), but the Crazy Horse Memorial now looks nothing like it did back then. At least now, the face and arm of Crazy Horse are now visible. 

Above, Crazy Horse Memorial yesterday. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was pretty crowded at Mount Rushmore and we were there long enough to take some photos from the main walkway. 

We then headed back to Deadwood. We had dinner there and stopped off at a cigar shop before heading to the campground to check in.

Above, Mount Rushmore. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After checking in, we heard rain on the roof of the RV. Good thing we got in when we did.

One nice thing, Deadwood has a trolley service and the campground is one of its stops. We'll be touring around historic Deadwood and take a drive over to Sturgis. 

Above, Devils Tower during our tour of the park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tomorrow, we'll be heading back to New Mexico.  

A little factoid: The KOA sits on the site of the set where the keyboard and lights were when the mother ship landed and the aliens released the abuctees.

Made It To Devils Tower

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Above, Devils Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer. 

We got on the road from Hardin, Montana to go to Devils Tower, Wyoming this morning. 

I had been to Devils Tower once before in 1990. That was a quick stop while en route to Yellowstone National Park.

We're staying within view of Devils Tower. At night, the KOA we're at shows "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", the movie that features the Tower.

From here, we'll be heading to the Black Hills of South Dakota. It'll be a short drive tomorrow. 

Above, the view from the campsite. Photo by Armand Vaquer. 

7 Scenic National Parks In Wyoming

Above, Devil's Tower in eastern Wyoming. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those who have never been to the state of Wyoming, there are plenty of places to see and do there. 

For those who are history buffs, there are museums that focus on the old west. And, there are many national and state parks to visit. 

TheTravel has posted an article on seven scenic national parks in Wyoming.

Here's a snippet:

Wyoming is a treasure trove of natural wonders, and the National Park Service (NPS) and the Wyoming Division of State Parks are the guardians of these treasures. They diligently manage and preserve many places in the state, including national parks, state parks, recreation areas, monuments, historic trails and sites, ensuring that these areas are conserved for the enjoyment of future generations.

These are some of the most scenic parks in Wyoming designated under the NPS, featuring national parks, state parks, national monuments, and wilderness areas, prime for visiting and experiencing the state's beauty. 

To see what they are, go here. 

Things To Know About Devil's Tower

Above, Devil's Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Devil's Tower in eastern Wyoming gained international attention in Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind. But it actually was the nation's first national monument.

Travel Awaits has posted an article on seven interesting things to know about Devil's Tower.

They begin with:

Long before Hollywood aliens visited, Devils Tower stood as both a beautiful and cultural icon in eastern Wyoming. Named the nation’s first national monument by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, Devils Tower National Monument has been around for thousands of years. Native Americans such as the Lakota (Sioux) once regarded it as a religious and cultural symbol. As Americans made their way westward in 1875, an interpreter for a military expedition misunderstood the Native American name and referred to the landmark as “Devils Tower.”

Standing nearly 900 feet tall from base to summit, Devils Tower -- called Mato Tipila (“Bear Lodge”) by the Lakota -- is a popular tourist destination as well as a major climbing attraction.

A KOA Kampground near the monument's entrance shows Close Encounters of the Third Kind nightly to camping guests.

To read more, go here.