This week in History’s Attic

The TeePee Cafe in Bonesteel SD. Built when Highway 18 was routed around Bonesteel due to the Fort Randall Dam construction. Everyone knew it was going to be a huge funnel of tourists heading to the Black Hills and to see Mount Rushmore. So why not put up a catchy name diner to pull those weary travelers off the road and partner it with a Standard Oil gas station. I remember going in as a kid and the Neon on the ceiling was the bomb and sliding into a booth and that strange Gizmo in the booth jumped out at us. Later we found out it was a Seeburg tabletop jukebox (pictured below).

Not sure if the folks let us play it but it sure looked neat. And oh that tasty diner food – nothing better! For some reason I thought there was a teepee on the roof but maybe I am thinking of the teepee drive in in Gregory that had it. But anyway, what a treat to stop at a 1950s real diner as you can tell I never forgot.

Author Richard Papousek, April 2024