Sturgis, South Dakota was originally named Scooptown. However, it later changed to its current monicker in honor of the Civil War General Samuel D. Sturgis. Since then, it’s become most famously known as home to the largest annual motorcycle even in the world.
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally lasts 10 days and takes place in the summer months. The annual event began in 1938, two years after Clarence Hoel purchased an Indian Motorcycle franchise in Sturgis. The very first rally was held on August 14, 1938 and featured a race with just nine participants and a small audience. Over the decades, the annual event slowly evolved into the main attraction it is today that attracts more than 800,000 participants from all over the country.
If participating in the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally isn’t your reason for visiting, that’s OK. There are plenty of other activities and attractions in the area.
Visit the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame and take a look at nearly 100 different motorcycles and see how they’ve evolved over the last century. You can also visit the Saab Heritage Care Museum for some four-wheeled fun. This museum features roughly 75 Saab models dating back to 1950.
For the outdoor enthusiasts, South Dakota is a gorgeous region and Sturgis does not disappoint. Visit Bear Butte State Park and explore the sacred place many Native Americans have called home. There’s also an epic 2-mile hike to the 4,426-foot summit that offers up some of the best views of the four surrounding states.
Whether you’re traveling to the jet charter airport in Sturgis for business, leisure, or to take part in the annual motorcycle rally, you can take comfort in the skies when you book with Stratos Jet Charters.