Campgrounds

It would’ve been hard to predict what the Sturgis Buffalo Chip® would be like today had you asked the first bikers who rolled through the gates in the early ‘80s. Back then it looked more like a keg party in a pasture, with a handful of bands and a few hundred friends.

The early days may have been small by today’s standards, but those who attended knew they’d stumbled upon something special they could call home.

As word of this magical place spread, more and more people started making the pilgrimage.

Since 1981, the original destination that brought motorcycles and music together for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has become home to many.

Attending the Sturgis Rally has become a tradition for many–one that now spans three, and even four, generations. Stories of grandpa’s exploits and even last year’s hijinks have become legends that are told and retold around a campfire and toasted with sweaty beers in the wee hours of hot August nights. The rally has changed significantly since 1938, but what brings bikers back year after year is the unashamed camaraderie of the motorcycle culture, the pervasive true biker experience and the friendly party atmosphere that brews up a rip-roaring good time.

The following timeline highlights pivotal events and some of the many weird and wonderful happenings that have shaped the heart of the rally, and made the Sturgis Buffalo Chip home to so many.