Rachel Jepsen Taylor and her late husband Vic created Jewels of the West in 1999. A few years ago, she gave up a promising career as an attorney to spend more time with her second husband Shane, their young daughter, and her flourishing business in Hill City. Jewels of the West (208 Main Street) features unique jewelry designs, home décor products, and apparel for women that would rival products found in the tony resort towns of Jackson, Santa Fe, and Aspen. Play Video
Moni Matush is the current owner of the renowned Alpine Inn Restaurant (225 Main Street). With the purchase of the historic building and restaurant in 1996, she is dedicated to preserving the family tradition of providing European-style lunches and acclaimed desserts, plus true western-style steak and potato dinners. She spearheaded an expansion to the popular restaurant that continues to have packed, happy crowds year round. Play Video
Tim Gregson is an area rancher and Hill City native. His family ties reach back to the 1800s when this gold mining town was founded. Whether tending to his stable of horses or working the area timber for the US Forest Service, Tim is a treasure-trove of information on the local environs. In his rare downtime, Tim is team captain of the Black Hills Polo & Social Club that stages its annual end-of-season game each year at Newton Fork Ranch. Play Video
Janna Emmel and Randy Berger are a husband and wife team that created Warrior’s Work Studio Gallery and Ben West Contemporary Art (277 Main Street) in 1997. Randy began his career specializing in the creation of leather-designed frames that are sought-after art pieces in their own right. Janna, whose background included 23 years in production work for IMAX films, has gone on to mastermind many community outreach art programs such as the commissioning of the buffalo statue, the “Patriarch” by Peggy Detmers, seen at the entrance to Main Street; the “Sculpture in the Hills” art show; and the premiere of the 2010 “Black Hills Film Festival.” Play Video
Susan Scheirbeck is a woman of considerable talents. A dedicated rock climber, she founded Sylvan Rocks Climbing School and Guide Service (accredited by the AMGA) in 1989. In 1991, her entrepreneurial spirit drove her to create Granite Sports. Eventually, after selling both, yet still an ardent fan of the outdoors and a fervent conservationist, Susan has turned her talents towards her latest venture: Studio 207 (207 Pine Avenue). This gallery features her stained glass originals. Play Video
Lori Nonnast is the current owner of the Jon Crane Gallery and Custom Frame Shop (256 Main Street). Jon’s watercolors are treasures; his specialty is scenes of the Black Hills. Lori purchased the gallery several years ago; it currently features Jon’s paintings plus numerous other popular local artists. She is also President of the Chamber of Commerce and is tireless in her dedication to Hill City’s continued growth as an arts community and visitor destination. Play Video
Pat Wiederhold is not only a Hill City native but also a committed outdoor enthusiast. He is the current owner of Granite Sports (301 Main Street), the oldest outdoor specialty store in the Black Hills. In addition to running this store catering to a rock climbing, hiking, backpacking, and camping clientele, he also is a co-owner of Dry Creek Coffee and Slate Creek Grille. Play Video
Kristin Donnan Standard is a lecturer, arts advocate, and co-founder (along with her husband/artist Grant) of Black Hills Bronze (23942 Thompson Drive) in Hill City. She is also a noted freelance writer who co-founded and now is editor of Art of the Hills Magazine. As a fan of paleontology, she has also written two books: “Rex Appeal” and “Bones Rock!” Play Video
Waldtraut (Wally) Matush was an early visionary of Hill City’s renaissance. Having purchased the historic 1880s Harney Peak Hotel in the early 1970s, she created a restaurant that best embodied her passion: cooking. The Alpine Inn is legendary for its lunch and dinner cuisine; the long lines that form before the doors open evidence this. Her next vision produced the nearby Old World Plaza (280 Main Street), a charming collection of colorful galleries, shops, and services. Play Video
