Reptile Gardens

Reptile Gardens
Reptile Gardens
	Sky Dome
	43°59′25″N 103°16′18″W / 43.9903599°N 103.2716882°W
Date opened	June 3, 1937
Location	Rapid City, South Dakota, United States
Website	www.reptilegardens.com

Reptile Gardens is a reptile-focused zoo located in south of Rapid City, South Dakota, on the road to Mount Rushmore National Memorial.^[1] The park is open from the first Saturday of March through November 30 each year. Reptile Gardens was cited in the 2014 Guinness World Records for being the world's largest reptile zoo.^[2] It was re-certified in the 2018 edition.^[3]

History

This South Dakota attraction was founded by 21-year-old reptile enthusiast Earl Brockelsby and officially opened on June 3, 1937.

Intrigued by the fear and interest people expressed when faced with a snake, Brockelsby set up a small display of snakes and began charging admission. After some initial success, Reptile Gardens went through difficult times in the 1940s while Brockelsby was serving with the Army in Europe. Regaining momentum after World War II, the 1950s saw an increase in visitation to the Black Hills. Due to the widening and relocation of Highway 16, a new location and major expansions, including the Sky Dome, were completed in 1965.

Although Earl died in 1993, Reptile Gardens remains a family-owned-and-operated business that houses more species of reptiles than any other zoo or park in the world.^[4]^[5]

Sky Dome

The Sky Dome is an indoor jungle that opened in 1965 as a new addition to Reptile Gardens. In 1976 the Sky Dome was rebuilt after a fire that destroyed everything except the Ponderosa Pine skeleton, which stands as the centerpiece of the Safari Room on the main level. The new Sky Dome was opened in 1977.

Exhibits

Reptile Gardens provides a number of exhibits, including:

Prairie Dog Town
Snake Program
Bird Program
Alligator/Crocodile Show
Bald Eagle Exhibit
Sky Dome
Safari Room
Komodo Dragon
Tortuga Falls Meditative Garden
Living Wall
Giant Tortoise Yard ^[6]

Conservation/Conservation Green Committee

Reptile Gardens donates to various environmental conservation organizations, including the Charles Darwin Center in the Galapagos Islands. Money donated to these organizations helps to protect natural wildlife.

Educational

During the summer, Reptile Gardens offers educational and interactive animal shows, such as a bird program, an alligator/crocodile show, and a snake program. During performances, the animal keepers discuss safety techniques, facts, and conservation efforts to aid in species survival.^[7]

Awards

Reptile Gardens has received a number of local, state, regional, and national awards in recent decades. Some of these awards include:

USA Today Readers Choice Award, Best Attraction in South Dakota - 2017
Heritage Award, Prairie Family Business Assn. - 2017
SBA Family-Owned Business of the Year for South Dakota - 2010
Prairie Family Business Assn. Family Business of the Year – 2009
Tom Didier Excellence in Family Business Award – 2008
USA Today Top 10 Roadside Attractions In The Country – 2001
South Dakota Governors Service Award for Outstanding Commitment to Hospitality and Education in the Visitor Industry – 2003-2011
Midwest Travel Writers Association Gemmy Award – 1995
George S. Mickelson Award for Great Service to South Dakota Visitors - 1994
AAA GEM Designation Attraction

Founder Earl Brockelsby received the Ben Black Elk Award for lifetime achievement in promoting South Dakota tourism in 1982. His son, John Brockelsby, Public Relations Director, received the same award in 2015.