This is Sylvan Lake, a movie setting fans will recognize from National Treasure II a few years ago. Since the 1920s, when Hollywood discovered Russ Madison's ranch in the heart of the Black Hills, the region has been a favorite on-location site for movie shoots. Major films shot here include Hitchcock's North By Northwest, Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Kevin Costner's Dances with Wolves (1991 Academy Award winner for Best Picture). But let's not forget the glorious science fiction schlock shot here, too! For starters, look for Beast from Haunted Cave, but do not watch alone on a dark Black Hills night!
Photo by Maggie Schneider
