Excitement Promised at the 74th Annual Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally™

It’s that time of year again when the 74^th Annual Sturgis© Motorcycle Rally™ brings hundreds of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts, fans, exhibitors and onlookers to South Dakota. Anytime now the onslaught of bikers will begin rolling into the Black Hills area to help kick off the rally being held this year on August 4-10, 2014.

Whether you’re a long-time resident or just passing through, the City of Sturgis always promises an experience of a lifetime where locals show you down-home hospitality and hundreds of visiting exhibitors can offer you anything and everything you’d like to dress up the bike or your body.

Even if you aren’t a biker, there’s still great fun to be had at the Rally.  This year’s entertainment includes an endless amount of concerts, great food and drink, a multitude of vendor exhibits and other activities you have to see to believe. Check out the events schedule to help you decide what to do first.

One special event you may want to participate in is the 12^th Annual Mayor’s Ride. This ride, held August 4, is a benefit ride for the Sturgis Volunteer Fire Department. Join other VIP riders and be escorted on several of the Black Hill’s most spectacular two lane roads and byways. At the end of the ride, you will enjoy a grand luncheon with Mayor Carstensen as your host at Custer State Park.

Tickets are extremely limited so be sure to get tickets now! The cost is $150 per rider (+ tax) and all participants will receive on one-of-a-kind Mayor’s Ride Souvenir Gift Pack including:

• Limited edition decanter
• Limited edition 2014 Mayor’s Ride t-shirt
• 2014 12th Annual Sturgis Mayor’s Ride pin
• 2014 Jackpine Gypsies commemorative pin, plus other collectibles from each of the 2014 Mayor’s Ride Corporate Sponsors

If you are coming in for the fun, take some time to realize the beauty of South Dakota and the surrounding communities in and around Sturgis. Now is a great time to find an investment property in Deadwood, vacation home in Spearfish, or even a home in Sturgis itself. Our expertise in the Black Hills or Rapid City markets will ensure you a stress-free experience. Contact Jim Peterson at (605) 574-4444 or June Johnson at (605) 786-7356 at Integrity Realty Team, or email us to discuss how we can help you with all your real estate needs.

Our office is in the heart of Hill City and as a tourist spot, restrooms are hard to find – ours are always open for your convenience! Like us on Facebook for all upcoming events!

Founding Fathers in Black Hills Tops New Events for Independence Day

If you are looking for something to do July 4^th in the Black Hills region, you don’t have to look far. Endless beauty, six national parks and monuments, abundant wildlife, are just a few of the things that Black Hills can boast about that make the region so popular.

On the Fourth of July, we kick up the American Pride in full Black Hills fashion. Although Mt. Rushmore, Hill City, Spearfish, and Wall may not be having fireworks displays this year, it doesn’t mean there’s any less family fun to be had with parades, festivals and rodeo!

The newest tourist attraction taking place Friday July 4^th can be found in the Black Hills, Independence Hall in which a 2,300 lb replica of the liberty bell was recently hung outside of the Black Hills’ own Independence Hall, located at 9815 S. Highway 16. Visitors to the Black Hills’ newest patriotic tourism attraction can also hear a free dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence by a signer of the Declaration re-enactor that will be followed by the ceremonial ringing of the bell.

At Main Street Square, a celebration will honor past and present military personnel from 2 PM till 8 PM.

However, if you’re looking for fireworks, head down to post 22 for the annual firework show which takes place this Thursday. Elks golf course will hold a firework show on Saturday.

Here are just a few of the events posted below. For a full listing of events around the Black Hills, be sure to check out this Event Calendar to make your plans now.

Post 22 will hold fireworks on Thursday, July 3 at dusk

Arrowhead Golf Course will hold fireworks on Friday, July 4 at dusk

Elks Golf Course will hold fireworks on Saturday, July 5 at dusk

Crazy Horse will not be doing a fireworks display on July 4 in the evening but will hold a Special Mountain Blast at 1:04 p.m. in celebration of Independence Day.

Lead will hold a City fireworks display in conjunction with their Gold Camp Jubilee Days between 9:15 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. on July 4at Manuel Bros Park in front of the Open Cut.

Custer will hold a City fireworks display on July 4.  The display will be held at Pageant Hill at dark, around 9:30 p.m.

Sturgis will have fireworks on July 4 at dusk. They are based out of the Sturgis Fairgrounds on Ball Park Road.

Belle Fourche will hold a City fireworks display on Saturday, July 5 at dusk following the Black Hills Roundup rodeo. If you are attending the Rodeo, you may park at the Rodeo Grounds, otherwise parking is limited and it is suggested to park in residential areas and walk towards the library.

Summer also means the housing market is red hot. Home prices are rising month over month and inventory is gaining. Whether you are looking for a year-around home, land, investment or vacation home, our expertise in the Black Hills or Rapid City markets will ensure you a stress-free experience. Contact Jim Peterson at (605) 574-4444 or June Johnson at (605) 786-7356, or email usto discuss how we can help you with all your real estate needs. Our office is in the heart of Hill City and as a tourist spot, restrooms are hard to find – ours are always open for your convenience!

July Events Promise Black Hills Fun

Summer is full of activities in and around the Black Hills region and the month of July is no exception. The fun begins with a weeklong celebration around Independence Day with the Black Hills Roundup and continues into the following weekend with the Heart of the Hills Parade & Logging Show.

July 3-6 is the Black Hills Roundup in Belle Fourche where thousands of local residents, as well as people from across the country and abroad, come to help celebrate the 4^th of July. This oldest continuously-held outdoor rodeo in America is one of the great local pastimes and is great entertainment for the entire family.

This event features top-ranked cowboys and cowgirls competing in barrel races, bareback riding, steer wrestling, bull riding, team roping and more. This year’s world-class livestock will again be provided by Hank and Lori Franzen of Powder River Rodeo and D&H Cattle Company.

The festivities don’t end there. The whole family can also enjoy a week-long carnival, a mile-long parade, BBQ, the Miss Rodeo South Dakota contest and a huge Independence Day fireworks display!

On Saturday July 12, 2014 you can help Hill City celebrate with the Heart of the Hills Parade & Logging Show. Don’t miss the parade that starts at 9am on historic Main Street Then stick around for the logging show at Noon at the Chute Rooster Amphitheater grounds. The logging show is an annual must-see with an exciting axe throw, Choker race, pole tosses, tree falling, logging truck events and more.

Bring your lawn chairs, picnic blanket and umbrella’s to enjoy the show. Bring water to stay hydrated in the heat but enjoy the plethora of local food vendors that will be at the event. Keep the kids busy looking for coins in the sawdust pile.

Summer also means the housing market is red hot. Home prices are rising month over month and inventory is gaining. Whether you are looking for a year-around home, land, investment or vacation home, our expertise in the Black Hills or Rapid City markets will ensure you a stress-free experience. Contact Jim Peterson at (605) 574-4444 or June Johnson at (605) 786-7356, or email us to discuss how we can help you with all your real estate needs. Our office is in the heart of Hill City and as a tourist spot, restrooms are hard to find – ours are always open for your convenience!

Cruise Over to Belle Fourche for Annual Car Rally

It’s that time of year again! For all of us that live in the Black Hills region, it’s an annual event that gives us the opportunity to rev up our engines, polish that chrome and show off our rides. That’s right! The 27^th Annual Center of the Nation All Car Rally will cruise into Belle Fourche – June 13-14.

Get out those vintage vehicles, muscle cars, street rods, sports cars, low riders and even your modified trucks or off-road vehicles. Pre-registration show & shine event and street dance will kick off Friday night at Scott Peterson Motors. The fun begins at 6pm.

Both participants and spectators will be able to vote for the People’s Choice award to be presented later that evening. Enjoy live music with local band, Twenty-One 20, and top off the night at 8pm with the burnout demonstration that has become a crowd favorite.

The fun continues into Saturday when the action moves to Hermann Park for the all-day car show. Organizers are expecting a wide array of vehicles and over 150 entries. “We will have a little bit of everything,” said Dan Durfee, one of the car show’s committee volunteers. It’s always a lot of fun to see the variety.” For those that love to peruse the vendor booths, they will feature everything from food to auto parts to outdoor living displays.

Whether you prefer getting thrown back in time with the oldies or staying on top of the latest trends in performance vehicles, you won’t be disappointed! For more information, you can check out their Facebook page or read the Black Hills Pioneer’s All Car Rally Edition.

While you are out enjoying all the Black Hills has to offer, be sure to stop by Integrity Realty and let us show you some of our great properties. Whether you are looking for a year-round home, land, investment or vacation home, our expertise in the Black Hills or Rapid City markets will ensure you a stress-free experience. Contact me, Jim Peterson, at (605) 574-4444 or email meto discuss how I can help you with all your real estate needs. My office is in the heart of Hill City and as a tourist spot, restrooms are hard to find – mine are always open for your convenience!

Enjoy Memorial Day Weekend in the Black Hills

Memorial Day began as a somber day of remembrance; a day when Americans went to cemeteries and placed flags or flowers on the graves to honor all those who have died while in the military service. Today, while many of us still take a moment to give thanks to those who have given their lives, it’s also a long 3-day weekend to mark the beginning of summer.

Whether you’re a local resident or just visiting our beautiful Black Hills for the long weekend, there are some great events taking place to help you enjoy the weekend and to help remember our past.

Crazy Horse Memorial is presenting a Memorial Day Weekend Open House from May 23-May 26. Come and enjoy learning about the history of Crazy Horse and the culture & traditions of North American Indians. You can also enjoy viewing local artwork throughout the Visitor Complex by American Indian artists.

Admission this weekend is free to residents of South Dakota, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming. Visitors can also gain free entry by donating 3 cans of food per admission.

If reliving an 1880 Train Old West Shootout is more your speed, be sure to visit the 1880 Train/Black Hills Central Railroad on May 24 at 1:00pm. You can get thrown back in time and become a passenger on the old 1880 train. The excitement doesn’t stop there, however. As a passenger you will enjoy an Old West-style shootout on board the train as it steams through the scenic Black Hills. This is the first of five Old West Shootouts that will be held on board this season.

While you are out enjoying all the Black Hills has to offer, be sure to stop by Integrity Realty and let us show you some of our great properties. Whether you are looking for a year-round home, land, investment or vacation home, our expertise in the Black Hills or Rapid City markets will ensure you a stress-free experience. Contact me, Jim Peterson, at (605) 574-4444 or email meto discuss how I can help you with all your real estate needs. My office is in the heart of Hill City and as a tourist spot, restrooms are hard to find – mine are always open for your convenience!

Remain Calm While Selling Your Black Hills Home

Selling your home often ranks right up there on the stress scale along with other major life changes, but it really doesn’t have to be like that. Listed below are a few simple tips that can help you minimize the stress of listing and selling your Black Hills home.

First, and maybe most importantly, let your Realtor® take the wheel. Jim & June at Integrity Realty are professionals trained to help you buy and sell property. Making sure your agent is qualified should be the deciding factor. A good agent will know your market, and they will have lots of ideas about how best to show your home’s advantages to just the right demographic.

It can be intrusive having people you don’t know come into your home with a critical eye. Before you let anyone in the door, do a little prep work to simplify the process. De-clutter your home, even if it means getting a temporary off-site storage space. Make checklists for the sale of your home, your move, and any other daily routines that are important to keep going during this process.

Include a quick list for a quick clean up in case a last minute showing comes calling. Keeping plenty of paper towels and cleaning wipes on hand can help to make a quick clean-up go more smoothly. You may also want to eat out more often during this time to help keep your kitchen clean.

Give yourself a break. We’re at a great advantage in the Black Hills with our beautiful sights, local parks, and great shops in Hill City. Take walks, go for a drive or do some sidewalk shopping. If you can manage it, get away for a long weekend. Sometimes just being physically away from your home can help you get things back into perspective.

If fishing is the best way to help take your mind off your worries, May 17-19 is free admission to South Dakota parks and fishing areas. Anglers can fish without a license anywhere in the state, and entrance fees are waived for all visitors to South Dakota’s state parks and recreation areas. But camping fees, fishing regulations, and limits still apply.

Selling your Black Hills home doesn’t need to send you over the edge. We can help you keep your calm. At Integrity Realty, we determine the value of Black Hills area homes daily. I’d love to talk with you about giving you a Comparative Market Analysis of your home to determine the best course of action for you.

Our expertise in the Black Hills or Rapid City markets will ensure you a stress-free experience. Contact me, Jim Peterson, at (605) 574-4444 or email meto discuss how I can help you with all your real estate needs. My office is in the heart of Hill City and as a tourist spot, restrooms are hard to find – mine are always open for your convenience!

2014 Leadership Summit at BHSU

Those who live in the Black Hills enjoy a unique lifestyle. We take advantage of our beautiful surroundings by enjoying the mountains, the fishing, the wildlife and the slower pace of small town living. What many people may not realize is that we also have the advantage of larger cities within our reach and learning how we can become leaders not only in our community but around the world.

On Friday May 9, Black Hills State University is hosting a live simulcast of the 2014 Leadership Summit. This one-day leadership event will be broadcasted live from Atlanta to hundreds of locations around the world.

Leadercast was built on a belief that the world needs better leaders – leaders worth following. It exists to positively change the way the world thinks about leadership. This year’s theme of “Beyond You” challenges leaders to leverage their influence and focus outward rather than inward.

Dr. Mitch Hopewell, interim director of distance education graduate programs, supports BHSU hosting so that local faculty, staff, students and community members can access the knowledge and experience of world renowned leaders including former First Lady Laura Bush and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

“The internationally recognized speakers come from a wide spectrum of leadership perspectives; everyone will learn something,” Hopewell said.

Speakers include:

• Andy Stanley, Leadership author and communicator
• Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel laureate & human rights activist live from Cape Town, South Africa
• Malcolm Gladwell, Journalist and best-selling author of The Tipping Point and Outliers
• Randall Wallace, Screenwriter, director, producer & songwriter (Braveheart, Secretariat)
• Bill McDermott, CEO of SAP, the world’s largest provider of business software
• Laura Schroff, Former ad sale executive and best-selling author of An Invisible Thread
• Dr. Henry Cloud, Clinical psychologist and leadership consultant
• Simon Sinek, Best-selling author of Start with Why and leadership expert
• Laura Bush, First Lady of the United States (2001-2009) via exclusive video interview

Leaders from any organization (big or small) will benefit from these internationally recognized leaders sharing their leadership insights. Additionally there will be focus groups by local leaders to extend the discussion at your table and provide opportunities to collaborate on applying new insights.

If you are interested in attending, you can register HERE.

The cost of this Leadership Summit is $10 for students; $29 for educational, non-profit and veterans; and $39 for the general public. The registration fee includes lunch.
If you are ready to buy your new home in the Black Hills Area, I’d love to talk with you. Whether you are interested in homes in Hill City, Custer homes for sale, or Rapid City new homes, we can give you the most comprehensive listings that meet your criteria. Our expertise in the Black Hills or Rapid City markets will ensure you a stress-free experience. Contact me, Jim Peterson, at (605) 574-4444 or email me to discuss how I can help you with all your real estate needs. My office is in the heart of Hill City and as a tourist spot, restrooms are hard to find – mine are always open for your convenience!

Sturgis to Move Forward in Community Development

What do residents and business owners do the rest of the year when there is no rally? The answer is plan for progress.

In 2009, Sturgis residents went to city and officials and let them know about the need to make the area more business friendly. Sturgis has had the reputation of having a limited business economy due to a lot of downtown businesses only opening for the month of the rally.

Scott Peterson has purchased 22 acres along Vanocker Road to build a new Ford showroom to get things kick started. The land was annexed into the city in December. The anchor to the development of this area is the Belle Joli’ Winery production facility and tasting room.

The city has made an effort to secure land adjacent to exit 32 in an effort to attract a national retailer. The top 3 choices after a completed study by consultants Buxton Retail are Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Big Lots, and Cinemark.

The four main partners –the city of Sturgis, the Sturgis Economic Development Corporation, the Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce and Meade County have created a plan to guide progress in the development through 2030.

I am a local expert in the Black Hills region and can help you buy your first Black Hills home, Call me at (605) 574-4444 or email me to discuss how I can help you with all your real estate needs. Our expertise in the  Black Hills or Rapid City markets will ensure you a stress free experience selling your Black Hills Home. My office is in the heart of Hill City and as a tourist spot, restrooms are hard to find – mine are always open for your convenience!

Don’t Wait to List Your Black Hills House This Spring

If you’re thinking about selling your Black Hills home, now’s the time! Sellers who get their home on the market early in the season have a better chance of getting a higher price and selling faster since there’s less competition.

Home prices rose 11.3 percent last year and asking prices tend to peak in May, with inventory peaking in the summer. So, now is the time get your home ready and get it listed. You won’t want to wait until the last minute to start your preparations since this usually takes some time.

Here’s a couple tips to get your home ready.

De-clutter and Repair – You will want to store as much of your belongings as you can so buyers can really see the space and potential of your home for them. Also, do any minor repairs needed, give rooms a fresh coat of paint and take a look at any small upgrades such as fixtures or appliances.

Don’t Forget the Outside – Since so many people are using the internet now to shop, curb appeal is big. Clear away any debris, do any touch-ups or repairs and when weather permits, any yard work to increase your homes curb appeal.

Work with a Knowledgeable Realtor® – A Realtor® who knows the area well can help with any suggestions on getting your home ready and set a fair asking price so make sure to discuss any upgrades you’ve done. Your Realtor® can also help with getting plenty high resolution pictures of your home, inside and out, to show all the advantages and to help in marketing your home on all the sites that buyers are using.

I am a local expert in the Black Hills region and can help you sell your Black Hills home. Call me, Jim Peterson, at (605) 574-4444 or email me to discuss how I can help you with all your real estate needs. Our expertise in the Black Hills or Rapid City markets will ensure you a stress-free experience in selling your Black Hills Home. My office is in the heart of Hill City and as a tourist spot, restrooms are hard to find – mine are always open for your convenience!

March Events In Black Hills

If you’re looking for things to do in the area there are a lot of great events going on this month in the Black Hills region. After the long, hard winter it’s time to start thinking about Spring and all the great opportunities for things to do, and if your thinking about buying, now is a great time for a Black Hills vacation home.

Here are just a few of upcoming events in the area

Black Hawk Fire Dept. and Auxillary Chili Feed Fundraiser
The Black Hawk Fire Dept., 6010 Peaceful Pines, Black Hawk will be holding it’s rescheduled annual chili feed fundraiser on March 15^th from 5pm -8pm. Proceeds will be going to purchase a new thermal imaging camera for the dept. Cost is a free will donation.

 Saint Patrick’s Day in Deadwood
March 14^th– 15^th celebrate with events such as the Leprechaun Olympics, parades, music and food. Don’t miss the annual Pub Crawl on the 15^th, the largest in the region with over 1,200 participants annually. You can find the calendar of events on their website: St. Patricks Day Event.

Historic Adams House Tea & Tour
Take a step back to the Victorian era with a tea & tour of the historic Adams House in Deadwood. On March 22^nd from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm enjoy a cup of Earl Grey tea and a delicious scone, and then take a guided tour of the Queen Anne style mansion built in 1892. Admission is $12.00 for non-members and $8.00 for members.  Reservations are required and contact information is by phone at 605-578-3724 or by email at Rose@deadwoodhistory.com.

Whether you are looking for a year-around home, land, investment or vacation home, our expertise in the Black Hills or Rapid City markets will ensure you a stress-free experience. Contact me, Jim Peterson, at (605) 574-4444 or email me to discuss how I can help you with all your real estate needs. My office is in the heart of Hill City and as a tourist spot, restrooms are hard to find- mine are always open for your convenience.