Join us on a 7-day, 6-night motorcoach tour from New Ulm to the sensational scenery and wonderful wildlife of the beloved Black Hills.

Our accommodations will ensure comfort and convenience. All feature an included breakfast and are highly rated by previous guests. Best Western Plus of Rapid City (May 10, 11) serves as the first of three. At present, it ranks as the top traveler rated hotel (of 47) on Tripadvisor.com. Our mid-tour overnights (May 12, 13) will take place deep in the heart of Spearfish Canyon at the Lodge that bears its name. A free morning will allow you to relax or hike one of the adjacent trails to a waterfall. The final twoevenings (May 14, 15) will be at Hill City's top-ranked venue, Everspring Inn. Relax under the stars by the firepit or on the massive deck while making memories and friendships with your fellow travelers.

As with all Father's World Tours, daily devotions (typically aboard the bus) and weekend WELS worship will be provided. In addition to the six breakfasts at the hotel, 6 lunches and 1 dinner will be included in the cost. Other meals are on your own.

We will travel via deluxe Thielen motorcoach complete with onboard restroom, AV/DVD system, reclining seats, seatback pockets, cup holders, personal seat lights/air vents, etc. Complimentary water and occasional snacks will be served. 

The Black Hills is an extensive region with so many great sites to see. Mid-May should be an excellent time to do so while the high temperature average is 68 with lows of 48. We'll hit the highlights (Mt Rushmore NM, Badlands NP, Devils Tower NM, Custer SP, and Spearfish Canyon) and so much more. See the daily itinerary tab for our current plan.

NOTE: FOR THIS TOUR TO OCCUR, WE NEED 36 CONFIRMED PASSENGERS REGISTERED BY MARCH 1.

 The tour is open to all members of the WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) or ELS (Evangelical Lutheran Synod).

We rate this tour as a 4 of 10 on the Mobility Scale. This means that to fully enjoy this tour, you should be at or just below average mobility. You will need to get on and off the bus (several steps) multiple times each day. Hiking is not required, but nearly every venue requires some level of walking/standing.

We are thankful to have the OWLS (Organization of WELS Lutheran Seniors) as our marketing partner/tour sponsor. A portion of Father's World Tours proceeds goes to support this worthwhile group. Dues paying members who register as such will receive a $10 gift card on Day 1 of the trip. Be sure to note your OWLS membership on the registration form.

If the registrations exceed that number, a waitlist will be maintained.  In past years, a high percentage of individuals on the waitlist were accommodated due to cancellations. 

This tour has a $125 deposit due upon registration with the remaining balance remaining split in two equal  payments due on January 15 and March 15. If registering between January 16-March 14, the deposit payment will be $125 plus the first deposit (total of $750 for double occpancy). Please note that those payments will be automatically drawn from the account you used for the deposit on that date unless you change or cancel it. An email reminder will be sent a few days prior to that payment coming out. 
Cancellations will receive refunds according to the schedule below:

• Cancel by January 14: Full refund minus $50.
• Cancel between January 15-March 14: $250 penalty applies
• Cancel between March 15-April 14: $450 penalty applies
• After April 14: $650 penalty applies
• If a waitlist exists and a replacement traveler is found, only a $50 penalty will be assessed regardless of cancellation date.

For those interested in protecting their trip investment in case of unforeseen illness or emergency, travel Insurance (optional for this trip) may be purchased through a vendor of your choosing.

Confirmed passengers will receive a communication (via USPS and email) in April that will provide a passenger list, packing suggestions, a “final” itinerary, parking/pickup instructions, etc. 

This time of year is EXTREMELY BUSY in the New Ulm area with Bethany Lutheran College's graduation on Friday, May 9, MSU-Mankato's on Saturday, May 10, and Martin Luther College's on Saturday, May 17. Those who would like to book a night at a hotel in the Mankato/New Ulm area  for Friday, May 9 or Friday, May 16 may do so in our special Father's World Tours block for $119 + 10.88% tax (roughly $132 total) at Mankato's newest hotel, the Comfort Inn, located at 2000 Commerce Dr, Mankato. Complimentary breaKfast is included and reservations may be cancelled without penalty up to the day before checkin. Click the links below to make your reservation by April 8. Rooms in our block not claimed at that point will be released.

Friday, May 9 Booking Link (2 Queen Only)

Friday, May 16 Booking Link (2 Queen or 1K Suite)

Comfort Inn is located just off Hwy 14 thirty minutes east of New Ulm. Free parking will be available for the duration of the trip at the boarding site in New Ulm (exact location TBD). The bus will load on Sat, May 10 in New Ulm around 7 AM and return on Fri, May 16 around 5:30 PM.

An optional pre-tour hotel stay (not included) will precede our early departure from New Ulm (about 7:00) allows us time to visit several South Dakota sites en route to Rapid City. Our first destination is the World's ONLY Corn Palace...can you believe it? Yes, you'll tour this corny attraction and walk away with a popcorn ball to recall your visit. A box lunch will be provided on our way to the next stop at Badlands National Park. There you'll have an opportunity to get up close to the fascinating landscape of buttes and pinnacle with a short walk along the "Window" and "Door" trails. The Ben Reiffel Visitor Center allows for restroom use, souvenir shopping, and displays about the area's wonderful wildlife. Our final stop takes place at Wall Drug, where you can pick up even more touristy souvenirs, try a $0.05 cup of coffee, or a free ice water. Dinner is on your own at the cafe. Hotel: Best Western Plus, Rapid City.

Today we'll worship and enjoy fellowship with our faith family at St Paul's in Rapid City. The afternoon includes visits to two top notch attractions. Bear Country USA will wow you with wildlife viewing such as wolves, bears, bobcats, elk, antelope, and many more. Our bus will traverse the park where the animals roam freely. Chapel in the Hills is located in a lovely setting on the western edge of Rapid City. The timber structure (with an ELCA connection) is an exact replica of the Borgund Stave Church in Norway.Our final stop will remind and educate you about the cold war era as you view a segment of the Berlin Wall. Dinner is on your own this evening in Rapid City...several options. Hotel: Best Western Plus, Rapid City.

Today we head further west into the home where the buffalo roam, On our way into Wyoming, we'll visit the Western Heritage Museum in Spearfish to get a better feel for life as it was in the wild west. After lunch, we depart for Devils Tower National Monument, a magnificent and mysterious 865-foot igneous rock column along the Belle Fourche River. An easy-moderate hike around the monument is optional while the prairie dogs in their "towns" the entrance road are sure to bring a smile. Dinner  is on your own in Spearfish before we traverse the northern stretch of Spearfish Canyon on our way to our 2-night stay mid-canyon. Hotel: Spearfish Canyon Lodge

After an included breakfast buffet, you'll have the rest of the morning to enjoy the lodge and its beautiful surroundings. Three hikes are available directly from the lodge and two lead to waterfalls. Mountain goats are frequently seen enjoying the optimal atmosphere for their sure=footed skills. Our afternoon takes us just up the road to the wild west gold rush town of Deadwood. Far from a "ghost town", the city now thrives with casinos and tourists hoping to strike it rich. Tonight we enjoy a group dinner at the lodge along with a mixer activity. Hotel: Spearfish Canyon Lodge.

Our introduction to the exceptionally scenic Custer State Park will include a stop at the Visitor Center where we will take in an excellent new film, narrated by Black Hills advocate and ambassador, Kevin Costner. From there, enjoy an included unch at the lovely Game Lodge (try the Bison stew) before heading out on the beloved Wildlife Loop. You're sure to see both bison and burros, but if we are exceptionally blessed, perhaps some elk or antelope may make an appearance. The new Bison Center provides an opportunity for modern restrooms and an education about the 1300+ bison that call the park home. Our afternoon concludes with a visit to the stunning Sylvan Lake. Options include enjoying an ice cream cone from the store along the shore or a 1.1 mile moderate lake loop hike. Dinner is on your own in downtown Hill City. Hotel: Everspring Inn, Hill City.

You could rightly say that we saved the best for last as our final day includes several major Black Hills highlights. Since the bus is too big to weave through the switchbacks and tunnels of Iron Mtn Rd and Needles Highway, we have contracted smaller vehicles to take half of our group through, while the other half visits the renowned Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse monuments. An included lunch will be provided while dinner will be on your own in Keystone or Custer.

We'll make an early departure from Hill City and work our way back to New Ulm with some interesting rest stops en route. The Minuteman Missile site will enlighten us to another Cold War era condition while lunch will be provided on the bluffs high above the Missouri River, where Lewis and Clark passed by some two centuries earlier. Our plan is to arrive at Martin Luther College in time for you to enjoy a cafeteria dinner (on your dime) and to take in the annual commencement concert (if desired). A post-tour hotel room (not included) may be booked in our block.