RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City resident Scout Wheeler recently checked off a bucket list item by traveling to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to witness the annual Groundhog Day tradition featuring Punxsutawney Phil.
Scout said the experience was far bigger and more involved than most people realize. She arrived at Gobbler’s Knob early in the morning and spent several hours taking in the festivities before Phil made his appearance.
“I was there from about 2:40 in the morning until nine,” Scout said. “People don’t realize how much goes into it. It’s like going to New York City and only seeing the Statue of Liberty. There’s a whole tradition behind it.”
Scout estimated that roughly 40,000 people attended the event, transforming the small town overnight. She described it as a full-scale festival with music, costumes and signs, all centered around the famous groundhog.
“It’s a huge deal there,” she said. “It’s bigger than you even imagine.”
Transportation to Gobbler’s Knob was handled entirely by local school buses, with no public parking allowed at the site. Scout said multiple buses ran continuous trips to move the crowds in and out throughout the morning.
Scout managed to secure a front-row spot at the rail, giving her a close view when Phil was lifted from his burrow. “I was right at the rail,” she said. “I was trying to get his attention. Everyone was yelling and cheering. It was just this massive party.”
She said Phil appeared surprised by the crowd after being awakened. “He was still covered in hay,” Scout said. “That little guy doesn’t even know this is all for him.”
Beyond seeing Phil, Scout said one of the most interesting parts of the experience was learning about the Inner Circle, the group of men in top hats who oversee the ceremony. She said each member holds a ceremonial role and weather-themed title within the tradition.
“That was probably the coolest thing I learned,” she said. “They all have specific jobs and weather-related names. There’s so much history behind it.”
Scout said traveling to Punxsutawney had been a long-time goal. “It’s been on my bucket list forever,” she said. “You see it every year and think, what if I was actually there?”
She flew into Pittsburgh before making the drive to Punxsutawney and said the experience lived up to everything she hoped it would be.
