About Us
Decades of Family Fun, Adventure,
& Education in the Black Hills
Big Thunder Gold Mine has served as a mecca for fun, adventure, and education for countless visitors over the last several decades, but has evolved to the mega attraction it is today since the McLain family purchased the Mine back in 1993.
Native to the Black Hills and Rapid City area, Sandi McLain and her husband purchased Big Thunder Gold Mine at a local auction that proved to be one of the most influential decisions in their life. While Big Thunder Gold Mine had already served visitors for several decades, the Mine had become run-down and the attraction lost the luster it once had.
With a passion for education, especially pertaining to Black Hills history, the McLain’s were thrilled to learn about the rich history that the very Mine that they had just purchased carried with it, dating back to the height of the Black Hills Gold Rush of the 1890s. Nowhere else in the Black Hills region could you find an educational attraction with such a rich history. Little did the McLain’s know the sheer growth Big Thunder Gold Mine would see over the next several decades.
A Brief Historical Timeline of Big Thunder Gold Mine
1892
Big Thunder Gold Mine Was Discovered By Two German Immigrant Miners, W.B. Krupp and J.A. Engle
1914
Mining at Big Thunder Gold Mine Concludes
1915
[When did Big Thunder Gold Mine first open as an attraction?]
1993
The McLains Purchase Big Thunder Gold Mine at a local auction
1995
The McLain’s Purchase the Restaurant Adjacent to the Mine, which was once known as Ingram’s Cabinet in the late 1800s.
1996
The McLain’s Purchase a Real Gold Claim Along Historic Battle Creek, Roughly Four Miles Away From Big Thunder Gold Mine
2001
An Original Replica of the Tykoon Mill Was Built on Big Thunder Gold Mine’s Premises, Opening as the Big Thunder Gold Mine Mining Museum
2002
Big Thunder Gold Mine Begins Offering Claim Panning Adventures
2003
The Big Thunder Bar & Grill Opens as the Black Hills Premier Game Restaurant
2021
Big Thunder Gold Mine Receives the Prestigious George S. Mickelson Award and Earns its Distinction as one of South Dakota’s Great Places to Visit.
Big Thunder Gold Mine Today
Today, Big Thunder Gold Mine is still owned and operated by Sandi McLain, who eats, sleeps, and breathes the vibrancy of the Big Thunder Gold Mine experience. Passionate about providing visitors with authentic experiences and immersed in the rich mining history of the beautiful Black Hills, Big Thunder Gold Mine is as popular as ever among families and friends who value the great service and once-in-a-lifetime experiences Big Thunder Gold Mine has to offer. Future endeavors for the Mine include renovations throughout the Mine, Gift Shop, and more as we look to serve countless families, friends, and loved ones for many more decades to come.
Meet The Big Thunder Gold Mine Family
Meet Sandi McLain
Born and raised in Rapid City, South Dakota, Sandi McLain has owned and operated Big Thunder Gold Mine since 1993. As a past educator and counselor in the Rapid City area, Sandi’s passion for mixing education with adventure has allowed Big Thunder Gold Mine to grow to the monolith attraction it is today. It’s that passion for education and dedication to providing superb customer service that helped the Mine earn the prestigious George S. Mickelson award from the State of South Dakota in 2021.