You’ve probably heard the joke. People have been telling it since the 1950s. "When will it be finished?" "Oh, probably by the time my grandkids have grandkids." It’s the standard line for anyone visiting the Black Hills of South Dakota. But if you’re heading to the Crazy Horse Memorial 2025 season, that old punchline is starting to feel a little stale.
Honestly, things are looking different on Thunderhead Mountain. If you haven't been in a few years, the first thing you’ll notice isn't the face—which has been done since 1998—but the massive, 270-foot tower crane perched near the summit. It’s a beast. It looks like something out of a sci-fi movie grafted onto a mountain. This piece of machinery is a game-changer for the project's pace. For decades, the crew had to haul equipment up and down using much slower, more labor-intensive methods. Now? They can move more rock in a single lift than they used to move in an entire year back in the early days.
The Big Tech Shift on the Mountain
It’s not just the crane, though. The Crazy Horse Memorial 2025 updates include some pretty high-tech "helpers" that sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski probably couldn't have imagined when he fired the first blast in 1948.
We’re talking about a robotic arm.
Yes, really. An automation engineer named Joey Meboe has been working with a system that uses a 32-inch circular saw with a diamond-tip blade. This thing makes precision horizontal cuts into the granite. It basically "pre-scores" the rock so the team can remove sections with surgical accuracy. It's a mix of old-school blasting and modern industrial engineering. Caleb Ziolkowski, the memorial’s Chief Mountain Officer (and Korczak’s grandson), has been vocal about how this tech allows them to focus on the "art" side while the machines do the heavy lifting. They are currently focusing hard on the horse’s mane and Crazy Horse’s right shoulder.
The goal? They want the hand, arm, shoulder, and the top of the horse's head finished by 2037.
That sounds like a long time away, but in "mountain carving years," it’s a sprint.
Why the "Slow" Progress is Actually Intentional
Some people get frustrated. They compare it to Mount Rushmore, which took about 14 years. But here’s the thing: Crazy Horse is massive. You could fit all four presidents from Rushmore inside just the head of Crazy Horse. Plus, the foundation famously refuses any government funding. They don't want the "strings" that come with federal money. Every cent comes from admission fees and private donations.
It’s a point of pride.
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But it also means the budget dictates the speed. If the economy dips, the carving slows. If donations soar—like they did for the $5.2 million crane—the work accelerates. It’s a living, breathing project, not a government contract.
What’s Happening on the Ground in 2025
If you aren't a "look at the rocks" kind of person, the 2025 season has a lot of cultural meat on the bones. The 39th Biannual Volksmarch is the big one. Mark your calendars: June 7, 2025, and September 28, 2025. This is the only time you can actually hike up the mountain and stand on the arm. You get eye-to-eye with a nine-story face. It's a 6.2-mile trek, and it’s basically the most popular organized hike in the United States.
Pro tip: if you go for the Volksmarch, bring three cans of food. They usually waive the individual admission fee if you donate to the KOTA Territory Care and Share Food Drive. You still have to pay the $4 hike fee, but it’s a steal for that view.
Beyond the Carving
Most people don't realize that the "Memorial" is actually three things:
- The Mountain Carving
- The Indian Museum of North America
- The Indian University of North America
Whitney Rencountre II, the CEO, has been pushing to make the site a year-round educational hub. In 2025, the cultural programming is massive. From May 19 through the end of September, there are daily performances. We’re talking dancers, storytellers, and musicians from tribes across the continent. There’s something powerful about watching a hoop dance with the mountain looming in the background. It puts the whole project into perspective. It’s not just about a statue; it’s about a living culture.
The Night Blast and the "Laser" Situation
Let’s clear up some confusion. For nearly 20 years, the "Legends in Light" laser show was a staple. However, that show ended in 2023. As of the Crazy Horse Memorial 2025 season, the foundation hasn't launched a full-scale replacement for the evening laser show yet.
But the Night Blasts? Those are still the crown jewels.
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- June 26: Celebrates the anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn and Ruth Ziolkowski’s birthday.
- September 6: Honors Korczak Ziolkowski’s birthday and the anniversary of Crazy Horse’s death.
If you can time your trip for one of these nights, do it. They set off pyrotechnics that light up the entire mountain. It’s loud, it’s bright, and it’s one of those "hairs stand up on your arms" moments.
Planning Your 2025 Visit: The Nitty Gritty
The site is open 365 days a year, but the "full" experience runs from late May to early October.
Admission Pricing for 2025:
- $35 for a car with 3+ people.
- $30 for 2 people.
- $15 for a solo traveler.
- $10 for those on motorcycles or bikes.
If you want to get closer than the viewing deck but aren't there for a Volksmarch, you can take a bus to the base for $5. If you’re feeling spendy, there’s a "Face-to-Face" van ride to the top. It’s a $125 charitable gift per person. It’s pricey, but the money goes directly to the carving fund, and the photos you get from the top are unbeatable.
Real Talk: Is it worth it?
Kinda depends on what you’re looking for. If you want a finished monument, you’ll be disappointed. If you want to see history being made—literally—it’s incredible. There is something fundamentally "human" about a project that spans generations. You’re seeing work that started before your parents were born and will likely continue after you're gone.
The 2025 season feels like a turning point. With the new crane and the robotic saw, the "visual" progress is going to happen much faster than it did in the 90s or 2000s. You can actually see the horse’s mane starting to emerge from the rock now.
Actionable Steps for Your Trip
- Check the Webcam: Before you drive out, check the live mountain cam on the official website. If it’s a "socked-in" foggy day, you won't see a thing.
- Arrive Early for the Volksmarch: If you're doing the June or September hike, be there by 7:00 AM. The trail gets crowded, and the South Dakota sun can be brutal by noon.
- Do the Museum: Don't just look at the mountain and leave. The museum houses one of the best collections of Native American art and artifacts in the country.
- Stay for the Stew: If you’re there on Native American Day (October 13, 2025), they usually serve free buffalo stew. It’s a tradition.
The story of Crazy Horse isn't about finishing a race. It’s about the endurance of the Lakota people and the promise made by a sculptor to an elder. In 2025, that promise is looking a lot more solid—one crane-lift at a time.