Posted on 05/09/2002 9:04:36 AM PDT by floriduh voter
Kevin Costner foots the buffalo bill in a tribute to Lakota heritage
Focus: Some movie stars indulge in fleets of shiny sports cars. Kevin Costner opted for a herd of gigantic bronze bison. Flush from his Academy Award triumph for 1990's Dances with Wolves, Costner commissioned a massive sculpture, for about $2 million, depicting a Lakota buffalo hunt. He had hoped to display the 17 piece work (including one 17-ft-tall Lakota horseman helping drive a herd of fourteen 9-ft-high bison) on a planned $100 million resort to be built on the actor's 842 acre Deadwood, S. Dakota property. With plans for Dunbar resort (named for his Dances character, Lt. John Dunbar), now delayed, the buffalo have been roaming outside a Lander, Wyoming, foundry for the past few years.
Under contract to the artist, Peggy Detmers, to put the sculpture on public display by 2003, Costner, 47, is now mapping out a multi-million dollar venture on his Deadwood land, which includes an interpretive trail, visitor center and viewing terraces. "It's all Kevin's personal money," says Jim Fisher, the project's manager. "He's very fond of this area."
Just 45 minutes north of Mount Rushmore, the work will "stand as a separate tourist attraction," notes Jim Wilson, a historic-preservation officer for Deadwood, who says the tiny town (pop. 1,380) welcomes Costner's contribution to the area's cultural fabric. "It's not Mount Rushmore, says Detmers, "but it will be very impressive."
To contact Scoop, send e-mail to scoop@people.com
Cost of the film $0.25.
Cost of the inpact...PRICELESS
The pheasant has fallen on hard times since we left town though, and wound up atop the roof of a liquor store in town. At least he's still around.
In case you've been wondering about birds lately, let me tell you that tonight I discovered that there are actually "message boards" for bird talk. Do they have disruptors (crows) or is it civilized? Do the posters have lives but even more sad, do the lurkers? LOL
Great family story. The buffalo pics are beautiful, too. My Dad traveled to SD while they were building Mt. Rushmore. Awesome job.
After reading your comments and seeing the pics, one wonders how the little buffalo chip ...that un-elected potentate of the Senate...come from a rich state with such a noble history. (^:
There's nothing like South Dakota. But, I miss the water when I go up because I'm used to living by alligators, sting rays, cranes and seagulls; not necessarily in that order.
Whatever you do, do not visit a bird message board. They won't hear a peep out of me. LOL
Gee, it doesn't even rain in Florida any more. I have a cd of thunderstorms and lightning because I miss hearing the rain.
I'm gonna start my owm Environmental group and in the grand tradition call it the Friends of the Yellow Bellied South Dakota Prarie Dog.
The platform it is standing on looks like the one tommy uses to make himself look 5' 2" TALL.
Great line.
For all us 2nd Amendment believers:
Little Daschle wants your Tommy Gun.
And a thank you ping to viking chick for stopping by. Vikings are KEWL.
I'm gonna rustle up some SD freepers and ping them here tomorrow sometime. GOODNIGHT SOUTH DAKOTA, FLORIDUH AND THE USA. Freep on...
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