Fodor's Guide to American Highway Attractions
<P>Two miles south of Beaumont, South Dakota on Farm Road HH 63, visit the <B><I>World's Oldest Tornado.</I></B> Formed in 1955 by a low pressure front pushing down out of Canada, prevailing weather patterns throughout the last five decades have maintained this atmospheric phenomenon within roughly the same 30-yard radius.</P>
<P>Whirling destructively within the perimeter of a safety fence, the tornado has been viewed and photographed by thousands of tourists from around the globe. In 1968, the state of South Dakota ceded ownership of the storm to Jessup Barley, a farmer who owns the surrounding land. His family maintains the site for visiting tourists and researchers from the meterological community.</P>
<P>Visitors can enjoy posing in front of the perimeter fence, dining at the Whirlin' Dervish restaurant, and shopping for souvenirs at the family's gift shop. The hourly cow-push starts at nine a.m.; cows from the Barley family's adjacent dairy farm are pushed through a gate in the fence, sucked up into the rotating column, where they are buffeted and blown until crashing back to the ground, dazed, but none the worse for wear.</P>
<P><B>The World's Oldest Tornado</B>. 2 miles south of Beaumont, South Dakota, Farm Rd. HH-63. Closed major holidays, hours 8 - 6, M-Sat.; 10-5 Sun. Admission: 6.50 adults, 2.50 children under 12
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