S. Dakota officials hope movie promotes tourism

S. Dakota officials hope
movie promotes tourism

PIERRE, S.D. — Tourism officials believe that the new Nicolas Cage movie, “National Treasure: Book of Secrets,” could bring more visitors to South Dakota.

Locations where filming took place include Mount Rushmore and Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park, in the Black Hills.

The state has posted information about the sites, along with movie trailers and interviews, on the state tourism Web site, www.TravelSD.com/nationaltreasure.

The film is scheduled for release later this month.

Calling all ABBA fans:
Museum to open in 2009

STOCKHOLM, Sweden — ABBA fans may want to book a trip to Stockholm in June 2009, for the opening of a museum dedicated to the Swedish pop group.

Organizers unveiled drawings for the ABBA museum to be built in the Swedish capital, which will chronicle the quartet’s journey toward global stardom in the 1970s and their split in the ’80s.

The band members are not participating in the project, but have donated their costumes and material for the exhibits.

The 70,000-square-foot museum will include a dance floor, recording studio and wardrobe. Karaoke-singing of ABBA songs will be part of the experience, organizers said.

Virginia’s Skyline Drive
to have parts rebuilt

LURAY, Va. — One of Virginia’s most scenic roads is getting a face-lift.

Shenandoah National Park has begun a yearlong construction project to rebuild portions of the 105-mile Skyline Drive. The work will be done on a 34-mile stretch between the Thornton Gap entrance station at the road’s intersection with U.S. 211 and at the Swift Run entrance station at the road’s intersection with U.S. 33.

Park spokeswoman Karen Beck-Herzog said the reconstruction is expected to cost about $1.9 million.

Beck-Herzog said visitors can expect delays throughout the year.

About 400,000 vehicles and 300 buses entered the park from January through October.

Skyline Drive was built in the 1930s. It was last reconstructed in the 1980s.

Park officials close
parts of Grand Canyon

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. — Scenic roads and overlooks at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon have been closed for the winter season.

The closures follow the first snowfall of the season.

Grand Canyon National Park officials said that areas of the North Rim accessible by way of state Route 67 will remain open until more snow forces the seasonal closure of that road.

The more popular South Rim of the canyon remains open year-round.

Associated Press