The Cosmos Mystery area is outside of Mount Rushmore in Keystone, South Dakota. It’s only a short 15-minute drive from Mount Rushmore. The cost of entry for adults is $12 per person and $6 per kid ages 5-11. Children ages 0-4 get in for free. Stop in for a quick break when coming from Deadwood and heading for Wind Cave National Park.
Cosmos is a place where the laws of physics appear to suspend or warp. In 1952, two college students wanted to build a summer cabin and searched the area. They noticed an irrational balance of forces. While searching the area, the young men discovered a house. Located in an area where these forces seemed to increase considerably. The imbalance felt the strongest upon entry to the old house.
They decided to camp while investigating the area. Then came to the conclusion that it was something the public needed to see. The young men made several restorations to make the cabin safe. They proceeded to build the tourist facilities where the demonstrations are today.
Demonstrations include seeing water flow up hill and walking up a wall. Visitors can stand on a level surface to see their heights change. Yet, my favorite was being pulled sideways by gravity while hanging from a ceiling rafter. The Cosmos is the home of the stuff of science fiction. It is entertaining to explore and propels the imagination like nothing else.
These oddities are due to a concentration of gravity, or a gravity well. Visitors can verify this during a tour. Keep an eye on the trees and how they bend. As each tree bends in the same direction, creating a walkway of arches over the path.
My walk around the inside of the gravity well cabin, reminded me of the gravity machines at a carnival. The ones that spin super-fast and called, The Gravitron.
The Cosmos Mystery Area is great for the whole family. They even have an area where you, or the kids, can have a genuine gem and mineral mining experience. For a few bucks, buy a rock and bust it open to see if you’ve got a gem, mineral, or a rock.
The easiest way to get here is with a rental car, and Google Maps. Another option is using an Uber or booking a local tour. Booking a tour takes away all the stress of the day. Show up on time and the company takes care of the rest. For decent and affordable accommodations search through Booking.com.
I would definitely come back with some friends or family. I would love to see their faces as these bizarre oddities occur. Each demonstration is mind-blowing in its own right. Not to mention the fun, I myself, would have while revisiting them.
- Price of Admission:
- Ages 12+: $12
- Ages 6-11: $6
- Ages 0-4: FREE
- Hours of Operation (Hours are subject to change at any time):
- Monday-Thursday: 9a.m.-5 p.m. (first tour is 9:30 a.m.)
- Friday-Sunday: 9a.m.-5 p.m. (first tour is 9:30 a.m.)
