34 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in South Dakota - Atlas Obscura

Unusual
Attractions
in South Dakota

Custer, South Dakota

Crazy Horse Memorial

The world's largest mountain carving could fit all of Mount Rushmore inside it many times over.

43.8368, -103.6244

Wall, South Dakota

Wall Drug

The granddaddy of all tourist traps, built on ice water and jackalopes.

43.9933, -102.2418

Nightmare fuel.

Montrose, South Dakota

Porter Sculpture Park

A roadside collection of over-sized iron creations that are a bit more macabre than most.

43.6647, -97.1802

Added by Kevin OKeeffe

Chapel In The Hills

Rapid City, South Dakota

Chapel In The Hills

This replica stave church looks like a piece of Norway was simply plopped down in South Dakota.

44.0483, -103.2989

Added by violetwanderlust

The exterior of the Hall of Records

Keystone, South Dakota

Hall of Records in Mount Rushmore

Hidden behind Lincoln's head is a 70-foot-long chamber containing enamel plates documenting American history, sealed in a teakwood box in a titanium vault.

43.8791, -103.4591

Rapid City, South Dakota

Cosmos Mystery Area

A place where the laws of nature seem to have gone completely berserk... but of course haven't.

43.9232, -103.4204

Rapid City, South Dakota

Depression Era Dinosaur Park

One of America's first dinosaur parks gives a window into Depression-era paleontology.

44.0779, -103.2446

Hotel Alex Johnson.

Rapid City, South Dakota

Hotel Alex Johnson

One of America’s oldest and spookiest hotels, thanks to the residency of ghosts, dead presidents, and Alfred Hitchcock.

44.0804, -103.2275

Added by Vicki Arkoff

See All 34 Things to Do in South Dakota See All 34 Places

Unique
Food & Drink
in South Dakota

Snickers Salad

Gastro Obscura

Snickers Salad

Made of candy and Cool Whip, this “salad” is a mainstay at Midwestern potlucks.

Gastro Obscura

Added by Ike Allen

Chislic

Gastro Obscura

Chislic

A circle of South Dakota towns specializes in these fried meat cubes.

Gastro Obscura

Added by rachelrummel

Pheasant Salad Sandwich

Gastro Obscura

Pheasant Salad Sandwich

South Dakota's unique contribution to World War II soldiers.

Gastro Obscura

Added by rachelrummel

Mashed Potato Wrestling

Gastro Obscura

Ritual & Medicinal

Mashed Potato Wrestling

These spud showdowns are highly-anticipated events at tuber-focused festivals in the United States.

Gastro Obscura

Added by Literalleigh

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