An official with the Rapid City-based Black Hills, Badlands and Lakes Association says this year's tourist numbers are surpassing last year's so far this season.

Bill Honerkamp says numbers were good in April and May - and that June has been fine.

He says Mount Rushmore is still the top attraction, followed by Custer State Park. Honerkamp says the Crazy Horse mountain carving is popular as well.

Custer State Park's traffic has increased 8 percent from last year and Mount Rushmore sales are up 11 percent.

The numbers weren't quite as good in Rapid City. Michelle Lintz of the Convention and Visitor's Bureau says hotel
and motel owners have told her that although May was very good, June has been down a little bit. Still, she says everyone is cautiously optimistic.