Right : The outhouse races in Nemo are a truly family friendly event , where even the littlest of the littles , like this one , get to have a blast . The shovel races were created to give kids under 12 a chance to experience the fun of the Nemo outhouse races . Left : Keeping with the bathroom theme , this team tried to flush out the competition with a team name certain to keep others down the drain .
To some it sounds odd . To others downright silly . And some just may think it sounds cold and plain nuts .
Yet each February people flock from all over to Nemo to watch the world famous Nemo Outhouse Races .
To say the Nemo Outhouse Races are world famous is likely no exaggeration .
“ Here we are in Cabo and somebody ' s been to the outhouse races at your place . It was kind of a strange feeling to think , ‘ my goodness it ’ s that well known .’”
2025 will be the 19th year that the Nemo Outhouse Races and chili cookoff will take place at the Nemo Guest Ranch .
The idea came from one that was held in Mora , MN , explained Willie , who along with her husband Troy began the races in 2006 , the same year they became owners of the Nemo Guest Ranch .
Willie explains that her cousin from Mora was visiting one year and said he had to go home to catch the outhouse races .
“ He was the founding father of it really ,” Willie explains , since after his visit she and her husband researched more about the outhouse race concept .
“ We did a lot of research and looked into the rules and regulations and everything like that because we wanted to do something in February cause everybody gets cabin fever by that time . It ’ s cold , you can ’ t be outside , you haven ’ t seen your neighbors for months ,” she said .
Willie says the first year was planned as a get together with the restaurant staying open to serve chili and hot dogs .
“ We invited everyone to come and participate and I think we had six outhouses , all immediate neighbors right here ,” she said . She remembers the day well , describing it as cold and windy and estimates 300-400 people showed up that year .
Out of the six original families that participated the first year five still do . The sixth ,” reached a point in their lives where they can ’ t run that fast anymore ,” Willie says with a chuckle .
After the fun of the first year , Willie says people encouraged them to hold the event again the following year , which they did , deciding to do it as a fundraiser .
“ The local fire department raises money all year to modernize its equipment ,” Willie says , explaining that the department didn ’ t have a vehicle to get out into the woods . With hundreds of miles of trails right outside of Nemo the couple decided to give the second year ’ s proceeds to the department . The race that year raised about $ 9,000 .
Willie never dreamed that so much money would be raised by the event .
“ It was just a fun thing . A lot of giggles and a lot of laughs . And kind of just a feeling like we should continue to do it ,” she said .
The year after , the Sayes were approached by the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce who was building a children ' s alliance daycare center . myblackshillscountry . com
Down Country Roads 7