Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
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The two RV Gypsies at Cosmos Mystery Area
24040 Cosmos Road
Rapid City, SD 57702
'605.343.9802
May 19, 2016

The Cosmos tour is not wheelchair or stroller accessible and is not recommended for those with balance issues. It is a short, but steep climb to the cabin, Pets are not allowed on the tour path. 2016 pricing:

  • $11 for those 12 years and older

  • $6 for children 5 to 11 years old.

  • Children 4 years and younger are free with an adult.

history clipart bookIn 1952, two college boys searched the Black Hills, looking for the perfect spot to build a summer cabin. Upon their search, they stumbled into the mysterious world of the Cosmos. The old cabin areas especially piqued their interest as the laws of logic and physics seemed to be turned upside-down. They continued to experiment and develop the demonstrations until they eventually opened their discovery to the public in 1953. Cosmos has been delighting guests with crazy fun ever since! Get your crazy on, and don't think too hard about what happens! Although it is overpriced for the short amount of time that the tour lasts, the two RV Gypsies found it to be fun.

sign: What is the Cosmos?

Cosmos Mystery Area is a unique and family friendly attraction, located amongst the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, 17 miles south of Rapid City on Highway 16, and only 10 minutes from Mt. Rushmore. The two RV Gypsies enjoyed a 30 minute tour of experiencing a world where mystery, science and comedy collided as they engaged in-hands-on experiments. They had an awesome time with the tour of mystery and fun. Leaving the highway, the two RV Gypsies had to drive on a dirt road.

dirt road leading to the Cosmos welcome sign

For the first demonstration, the two RV Gypsies each stood on a wooden plank facing each other. The guide put down a level to prove that the ground was indeed level and not on an angle. As the two RV Gypsies looked into each others eyes and changed positions, their height from each other seemed to change. The photos do not really show much change however.

the two RV Gypsies during a demonstration the two RV Gypsies during a demonstration

Karen Duquette was chosen to participate in a demonstration. The bench shown below is clearly leaning downhill toward the tour guide. Yet when Karen firmly rolled the tennis ball towards the tour guide, the tennis ball came rolling back up the slanted board back to her.

Karen Duquette was chosen to participate in a demonstration Karen Duquette rolled the ball downhill
the ball rolled uphill the ball rolled uphill

Karen Duquette stood on a small bench and although she was standing straight up, the gravitational pull of whatever magnetic force is located here, kept pulling her forward.

Karen Duquette tried to stand up straight Karen Duquette tried to stand up straight

Karen Duquette did NOT find it easy to walk in the cabin.

Karen Duquette having a hard time walking in the cabin Karen Duquette having a hard time walking in the cabin

Lee Duquette was picked to help demonstrate more of the mysterious gravitational pull in the cabin. Pushing on a heavy metal block was easy when pushing in one direction, but difficult to push in the other direction.

Lee Duquette was picked to help demonstrate Lee Duquette pushing on the board with ease
Lee Duquette pushing on the board but it would not move Lee Duquette

It was also difficult to walk outside of the cabin.

Lee Duquette outside the cabin Karen Duquette trying to walk

This board was supposedly level. Proof of that came form placing a tennis ball on the board and it did not roll downhill or move at all. But if pushed downhill, the tennis ball rolled back uphill by itself.

another demonstration the tennis ball did not move.

At first the lady appeared just a bit taller, or maybe even the same height as the man. But when they changed positions, the lady was definitely a lot shorter.

height demonstration height demonstration
Karen Duquette trying to walk in the crooked cabin Karen Duquette trying to walk in the crooked cabin

There was a lot more mysterious demonstrations, presumably mostly due to weird gravity pull. The tour guide made it a lot of fun.

Menu for the two RV Gypsies in South Dakota
May 15-20, 2016

You may view these adventures in any order your choose.

(There is also a link to Wyoming at the bottom of this page)

bullet S.D. Welcome Center/Rest Area/travel (site 12)

bullet Travel photos in South-Central SD

bullet Mitchell Corn Palace - site 13

bullet Badlands Petrified Gardens - site 14

bullet Wall Drug, the Jackalope and more- site 14

bullet Rapid City, The Berlin Wall, and more- site 15

bullet Bear Country USA

bullet Chapel in the Hills

bullet Cosmos Mystery Area (this page)

bullet Dinosaur Park in Rapid City

bullet Formal Gardens and sundial in Rapid City

bullet Pactola Lake, part of Black Hills National Forest

bullet Presidential Statues in Rapid City

bullet Marlins Restaurant

CAMPGROUNDS THE TWO RV GYPSIES STAYED AT IN SD

bullet Sioux City North KOA in North Sioux City, SD

bullet Hills RV Park in Plankinton, SD

bullet Belvidere East Exit 170 KOA in Midland, SD

bullet Three Flags RV Park in Black Hawk, SD

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go to the next adventure of the two RV Gypsies AFTER you have seen all of the above sites in South Dakota, please continue on to the adventures of the two RV Gypsies in Buffalo, Wyoming.