In 1877, when the Black Hills were opened to those in search of gold, the Bismarck-Deadwood Stage Trail was established from the closest rail end at Bismarck, and the Northwestern Express, Stage, and Transportation Company along with several independent freighters began operating stage lines carrying people, mail, and freight over a route of more than 200 miles to Deadwood. Fare was around $23 and the trip lasted about 40 hours, with stages running daily for a time. The Cannonball Stage Station was the fifth stop on the trail, where stations usually stood 10 to 20 miles apart and supplied wood or water, while some better-equipped stops also offered meals and overnight lodging. A meal cost about $1 and may have included hame, pork, beans, bread, and coffee, but this station was probably one of the more meager stops, serving mainly as a place to change horses and let passengers stretch their legs during a halt of only 10 or 15 minutes. As a stage approached, the driver would whoop one or two miles away so the station keeper could have a fresh team ready on arrival.