In this episode of the History Below The Pines Storytellers Collection, Host Levi Kessler pulls up a barstool at one of the oldest watering holes in the Black Hills: The Casino Bar (affectionately known today as Lumpy’s) in Central City, SD. ​Established in 1888, this landmark has survived 130 years of boom, bust, and Black Hills grit. We dive into the era when Central City was a titan of the territory—larger than both Lead and Deadwood—and explore why a bar that never held a legal gambling license earned the name "The Casino." This is another episode you do not want to miss!

How did wild-caught dolphins end up in a knotty-pine tank in the Black Hills, or spending their winters in an Arizona car dealership parking lot? In this episode, we uncover the surreal and often somber history of Rapid City Marine Life, a roadside attraction that feels like a fever dream from a different era of animal entertainment.

We trace the journey of these cetaceans from the Gulfarium in Florida to the unconventional indoor dolphinarium of South Dakota. From dolphins performing leaps for trainers on ladders to the bizarre logistical feat of transporting marine mammals to a Scottsdale Ford dealership for winter housing, we examine the ethics, the eccentricities, and the eventual closure of this local landmark.

This is an episode you do not want to miss!

In this episode we sit down with Tobias Steeves! Tobias is the owner and operator of the Tucked Tie Speakeasy. We talk everything from history of Prohibition in the Black Hills to the art of making cocktails! In future episodes we will go more into detail on the mobster side of things in the Black Hills!

In this episode, we descend deep into the legacy of the Homestake Mine, one of the most significant pillars of South Dakota’s history. We aren’t just looking at the blueprints or the production numbers; we’re sitting down with three men who spent their careers in the dark, breathing the air, and building the legend.

Join us as we go straight to the source. Our guests pull back the curtain on life at Homestake, sharing raw, unfiltered stories that you won’t find in the history books. From the daily adrenaline of high-stakes mining and incredible engineering successes to the lighter side of the job—including the legendary underground pranks that kept morale high—we cover it all. We even dig into the eerie, unexplained encounters that many who worked the deep levels swear were more than just shadows.

Whether you're a mining history buff or just love a good story from those who lived it, this episode is a front-row seat to the life and times of the Homestake workforce.

Join us for this historic episode as we take the podcast entirely underground! Recorded 600 feet deep inside the Big Thunder Gold Mine, Episode 5 features a special sit-down with owner Sandi and head tour manager Lizzy. Tune in as we dig into the rich history and fascinating stories buried deep within the mine. We may even talk about some ghost lore. This is an episode you do not want to miss!

In this episode we sit down with Erin Woodward the co-author of the book "The Price of Gold." Erin walks us through the journey of creating the book and gave us some insight into what used to be North America's deepest gold mine! This is an episode you do not want to miss! We will talk history of the Homestake, hear some stories, and even take a look at what the mine is today!

In this episode of History Below the Pines, we step back into the stone age as we look at the iconic now Defunct Bedrock City Theme Park in Custer, South Dakota.

A beloved landmark through the 1960s, 70s, and 80s,90s, and early 2000s! The park was the ultimate roadside destination for families seeking a slice of prehistoric fun. This episode explores:

• Dabba-Doo Nostalgia: A look back at the park’s prime when the concrete dinosaurs and stone houses were the stars of Custer.
• The Modern-Day Relics: What the site looks like today and the stories that remain after the beloved cartoon statues have moved on.
• We will also look at: How a cartoon-themed park became one of the most memorable chapters in Black Hills tourism history.

This is an episode you will not want to miss!

In this episode we take you the listener underground to one of the Black Hills most iconic bars of all time. The historic and now defunt Inferno Tavern. In this episode we will hear from the founding family to a drummer who once partied in this legendary place. This is an episode you will not want to miss! Please note this property is strict private property and the owner is okay with us using the name of the location. This is not usually something we do. Please stay out of private property and do NOT enter this location!

This episode was created with bits and pieces from our short docu on the historic Inferno that will be out soon on Youtube!