Reptile Gardens
Reptile Gardens’ deadliest snake gets television debut
Reptile Gardens’ most venomous resident recently made its national television debut on the National Geographic Channel.
The snake is an inland taipan, the most venomous species of land snake in the world. That is why the film crew from National Geographic Channel came to Reptile Gardens in September 2006. » read more
Badlands beauty
While visiting Wall, be sure to take in the beauty of Badlands National Park. The park is open year-round, and the main entrance is about 10 miles south of Wall on S.D. » read more
Wind Cave is world’s fourth-longest cave
Wind Cave National Park, six miles north of Hot Springs, protects a remarkable national park containing two very different worlds. Here you can find one of the last remnants of a mixed-grass prairie and one of the longest, most complex cave systems in the world.
More than 121-2/3 miles long, the cave is the fourth-longest cave in the world. » read more
Everyone loves Hot Springs Mammoth Site
Since its discovery in June 1974, the Mammoth Site of Hot Springs has become a main attraction for tourists visiting the Black Hills. The facility is open year-round with guided tours of the largest in situ (bones left as found) mammoth dig site contained and protected by a building.
The site was created 26,000 years ago, when large Columbian and woolly mammoths became trapped in a spring-fed, slippery-sided sinkhole. » read more
Wall - worth the stop
Located 55 miles east of Rapid City on Interstate 90, Wall is just eight miles north of Badlands National Park.
The name of the town was derived from “The Wall,” the rugged geographical formation of tinted spires, ridges and twisted gullies that stands between two areas of grassy prairie.
Wall has numerous motels and restaurants and a variety of attractions and stores. » read more
Year-round fun at Evans Plunge
Since 1890, Hot Springs has been the home of Evans Plunge, still the world’s largest natural warm-water indoor swimming pool. Named after controversial town father, Fred Evans, the site was built over several small springs and one enormous warm-water spring. » read more
Sanctuary staff motivated by love of God’s creatures
You can hear Hercules’ voice from more than a mile away and feel a tremor in your gut. The resounding roar of a full-grown African lion makes the snarl of the Hills’ native big cat, the cougar, sound feeble by comparison.
But according to Trevor Smith, a conservation biologist at Spirit of the Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, Hercules is a friendly fellow who enjoys meeting people. » read more
