Dept. of Game, Fish and Parks
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2002
For more information:  Custer State Park, 255-4515

37TH CUSTER STATE PARK BUFFALO ROUNDUP SEES INCREASED NUMBERS 

PIERRE - Custer State Park's 37th Annual Buffalo roundup reported record numbers during the 3-days of festivities, Sept. 28 - 30. According to park officials, over 7,000 visitors attended the roundup. 

"The entire weekend was a huge success," said Craig Pugsley, visitor services coordinator at Custer State Park. "The weather was perfect and the crowds exceeded our expectations." 

He noted that guests arrived from all over the United States and many foreign countries, including Holland, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy, for the annual buffalo roundup. 

Cool temperatures kicked off the event on Saturday with the 9th Annual Arts Festival, which hosted 80 vendors - 20 more than in 2001. Temperatures increased on Sunday and saw parking lots overflowing. Both Saturday and Sunday traffic counts accounted for a 10-percent increase over visitor numbers from 2001. 

New entertainment and activities rounded out this year's arts festival with Buffalo Frisbee Golf and Gov. Bill Janklow's Diabetes Screening, which were co-sponsored by the South Dakota Department of Health. 

Park staff counted nearly 1700 vehicles at the buffalo roundup on Monday, Sept. 30, as well as an increased number of motor coach tours. Spectators were on hand to watch horseback riders and park staff corral the park's herd of 1500 buffalo, which were then sorted, branded and vaccinated by park staff throughout the day. 

Over the winter, the park can support around 1,000 buffalo while the remaining 500 buffalo will be sold at the park's annual buffalo auction on Saturday, Nov. 16. 

For additional information on the auction, contact the park by phone at (605) 255-4515 or by email at CusterStatePark@state.sd.us.

The 2003 Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival will be held Sept. 27-29 . 

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