, decided that he wanted to build a luxury casino resort in South Dakota called the Dunbar. Before the resort even began construction, Costner commissioned an enormous outdoor sculpture —— from Detmers featuring three Lakota people on horseback chasing 14 buffalo. The deal was that Costner would pay Detmers $300,000 , with the expectation that Detmers would get royalties from reproductions that would be sold at the resort. Years went by, and the Dunbar failed to materialize.
But peace in Ta’Tanka would not last. In 2021, Costner listed the Ta’Tanka land for sale, noting that the sculpture itself wasbeing sold but would instead be “relocated by the seller.” So Detmers sued again, claiming that Costner was violating the terms of their agreement. The circuit court sided at first with Costner, but Detmers appealed, and the case was heard by the South Dakota Supreme Court.