lose something?
I don’t know how long the gentleman doing the snake and alligator shows at Reptile Gardens (located at the Rapid City edge of South Dakota’s Black Hills) has been doing what he does, but if he tires of it, a visitor would never know. So good is he, that when my family shared our Reptile highlights at dinner, I had to admit that he was mine. And why not? The poor guy stuck his hand into an alligator’s mouth for my entertainment . . . three times! And then to interest us more fully, he taught us about crocodiles while standing in the their pit, vulnerable to the bugger who sneaked up behind him and nipped at his sneaker. That would have been enough to drive me into retirement, but he was planning on doing it again a couple hours later.
The rest of the family’s favorites shows the range of fun at Reptile Gardens. My daughters’ favorite part was playing in the giant sandbox - no snakes hidden inside - and my wife’s was this turtle that kept trucking around the perimeter of his little enclosure, never stopping, so that our daughter could run ahead of him, peek through the fence (which was only a foot or so high) and yell, “Here he comes!”
On our SmartAlec tour we tell the story of Earl Brockelsby and the founding of Reptile Gardens, which illustrates how these folks are not rookies in this tourism business, but they deserve a ton of credit for doing what they do so well. From the gardens (which alone are worth the price of admission), to the 120 year old giant turtle, Methuselah, to the 15 1/2 foot long alligator, Maniac, to tropical birds resting before guests in the Sky Dome, this attraction truly captures everyone’s attention.
Look ma
The Quick Look
Where it is: On Hwy 16, about 12 minutes outside Rapid City on the way to Mount Rushmore. It is at the beginning of the Smart Alec Blue Route. See the map for more on where it is.
How much time: It will take almost two hours if you aim to see all three shows, but it is easy to spend three or four hours before remembering to check your watch.
Works well when paired with: Something the grown ups want to do, like Mount Rushmore. The fun should resound long enough to last the kids until evening. Many people pair it with Bear Country, but that tends to make too long a day of animal watching for most folks.
Best time to go: Mornings, before the sun gets too hot and the crowds get their thickest. If you run into lunch, there are multiple places to eat.
Cost: Adults $13.50; Seniors $12; Children $8.50; Four & under: Free (2008 season). If you’re pinching pennies, beware of the gift-shop - it’s items range from classy to ridiculous, and if you’re human, you’ll find something you’ll want to buy . . .
Pet my snake
Highlights:
- The flowers - not only outside, but inside the dome there is an impressive tropical flower display.
- The shows - there’s one for snakes, one for alligators, and one for birds of prey, and they occur at regularly scheduled times.
- Admission is good for a week for visitors and for the year for locals, which means if the family doesn’t have the time or patience to sit through all the shows or displays, you can come again later at no extra charge.
Keep in Mind:
- Most of the facility is outdoors, and while there is plenty of shade under which to hide, you’ll need sunscreen to play it safe, and a hot day will feel hot.
- The shows can be long for some young children, but so entertaining for adults that they’re hard to leave. My wife was willing to miss half the alligator show to play in the sandbox.
Posted under Attractions
This post was written by Geoff Sheehy on October 9, 2008
Tags: Adventure, Animal, Attraction, Black Hills, Family, Highway 16, Rapid City, Reptile Gardens, Sightseeing, Zoo
