Free Ice Water

This morning we learned about the value of innovative advertising. For the past few days, we had been seeing signs along the highway promoting Wall Drug Store. The ads promised such treats as five-cent cups of coffee, opportunities for gold panning, and free coffee and donuts for veterans. They also hinted at the presence of a "T-Rex" in the backyard. We were intrigued and decided to investigate.

Apparently, the signs were a last-ditch attempt by the store's original owners at keeping their doors open during the Depression. In 1931, the town of Wall was too small and poor to support even a tiny drug store. Faced with nearly certain failure, the owners took drastic measures. They began to post signs on highways for miles in all directions, inviting weary travelers to come to Wall for free ice water. The idea was a grand success, and the store has since grown to be the largest drug store in the world. It currently employs a full third of the town's residents.

Wall Drug has come to be much more than a simple pharmacy and convenience store. It houses an old-fashioned soda fountain, a fudge shop, several specialized gift stores, two eateries, a Western-wear store, and many forms of amusement for patrons young and old. In the section of the store aptly named "The Backyard," Kala enjoyed the view from the back of a giant Jackalope. A surprisingly accomplished rider, she managed to keep him still for a photo. After an hour of playing (and taking the opportunity to get a prescription filled), we reluctantly left Wall behind. We had a lot of ground to cover today!

As we continued east, we witnessed a few other noteworthy roadside oddities. For example, we spotted this fellow, who seems to have been on the road longer than we have! What kind of security deposit do you suppose a hotel might require from a guest with that kind of a pet?

We also paused to admire some local livestock. Andy tried to have a polite conversation with an enormous bison, but they just didn't see eye to eye. Meanwhile, Kala resorted to drastic measures to get her point across, but found she possesses no skill whatsoever in cow-tipping.

Our only other planned stop today was at the Mitchell Corn Palace. The entire exterior of this unusual edifice is decorated in dried ears of corn. Many of the interior walls are decorated in corn, as well. Inside we found many corn-related souvenirs and the opportunity to sample caramel corn. Andy was fascinated with the place, but Kala found it a bit corny. Oh, come on! You knew that one was coming!

We are stopped for the night in Fairmont, Minnesota. Tomorrow, we hope to learn the answer to one of the great mysteries of the universe: Just what is SPAM, anyway?