In a small town, you know almost everybody. There’s a lot of gratitude in that.
In the historic town of Deadwood, S.D., the Wild West still lives. There, Mike and Lisa Kitzmiller run the small business, Alkali Ike Tours, a residential bus tour company that educates visitors on the history of the town and its legendary residents. The husband and wife duo offers tours six days a week, from May through October, taking visitors through historic downtown Deadwood and Mt. Moriah cemetery, where Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and more are buried.
Alkali Ike Tours was formerly owned by friends of the Kitzmillers who suggested that they take over the business when they no longer wanted to run it. For the Kitzmillers, it was a perfect opportunity, seeing as both had backgrounds in marketing and enjoy working with people. While Lisa Kitzmiller handles the booth and ticket sales, Mike Kitzmiller drives the bus and narrates the tour.
Although Alkali Ike Tours is not the only tour bus company in Deadwood, the Kitzmillers pride themselves on having been selected as the best short tour in a five-state area. When it comes to setting themselves apart from competitors, Mike Kitzmiller says, “You can’t have a bad day when you’re in public service because word of mouth advertising is the best you’re going to get.” They also capitalize on the many tourist buses that come through Deadwood by offering a step-on guide service, in which they board a tour company’s coach and give them a tour through Deadwood and Lead.
Rather than offering tours seven days a week like many of their competitors, Alkali Ike Tours are open six days a week. For the Kitzmillers, being able to take Fridays and other days off here and there is one of the benefits of owning their own business. “That’s a great comfort,” says Mike Kitzmiller.
In the future, the pair hopes their son will take over the business, keeping it in the family. “Of course, everything hinges on what he wants to do,” says Kitzmiller. Until then, “To be able to work with my beautiful wife, that’s another plus. If you enjoy your job then it’s not like work.”
Photos by Nadav Neuhaus