Once upon a time, South Dakota was a mecca for not only early exploration but mining and railroads as well. Sadly, as these industries dwindled, so did several of the once-thriving towns, leaving behind deserted buildings and an eerie presence that never quite went away. While saying that nobody knows why this one community, in particular, was abandoned may be a bit of an exaggeration, how such a booming place could diminish so quickly and dramatically is one of the many mysteries in South Dakota. Ardmore is truly one of the creepy places in South Dakota.

Nestled away in Fall River County is the unincorporated community of Ardmore, which was at one time a prospering town that was visited by the likes of President Calvin Coolidge.
Jerry Huddleston/Flickr
Founded in 1889 by European-American settlers, Ardmore was once an important hub for the Burlington Railroad, and also served local farmers and their families via grocery stores, churches, and banks. This place is full of South Dakota history.
Chad Everett/Google
While the rest of the country fell on hard times during the Great Depression, Ardmore continued to prosper, with reports that not one family in the area applied for any kind of welfare.
TripAdvisor/Chileice

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Historically, drinking water was scarce for the town, so trains would haul in clean water until the mid-20th century, which is when Ardmore began to see its first decline in population.
TripAdvisor/Chileice
By the early 2000s, Ardmore was deemed a ghost town, housing the remnants of a happier and more robust time.
TripAdvisor/Chileice
While ghost towns are a tale as old as time, Ardmore is different, as its former residents have seemingly left many of their belongings in their (still) locked homes, and their old cars in the driveways.
TripAdvisor/Chileice
The remnants of Ardmore can be found 35 miles south of Hot Springs along Highway 71.
Google Maps

Discover another incredible abandoned South Dakota ghost town by clicking This Urban South Dakota Ghost Town Will Take You A Thousand Miles Away From It All.

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Abandoned Neighborhood in South Dakota

Tori Jane | December 04, 2021

What are some genuinely creepy places in South Dakota?  

Creepy places in South Dakota include:

  • Spirit Mound in Vermillion
  • Wounded Knee
  • The Opera House in Lead
  • Haunted hotels in Rapid City

South Dakota is a state that is as spooky as it is beautiful. The state is steeped in spooky, ghostly lore, and it seems like no area is without its legends. For example, in Vermillion there’s a place called Spirit Mound. Spirit Mound has been said to be haunted for generations, going as far back as Sioux tribal beliefs of “melon-headed people” who roam the area. In Oglala Lakota County is the site of Wounded Knee, where in 1890 the US 7th Cavalry slaughtered hundreds of Native men, women, and children, whose screams and cries can still be heard to this day. There’s a creepy haunted opera house in Lead, and Rapid City is home to a haunted hotel or two. For more details about all of these creepy places in South Dakota, check this article out!  

What kind of unsolved mysteries in South Dakota are there?  

Unsolved mysteries in South Dakota include:

  • The Disappearance of Tina Marcotte
  • A serial killer in Rapid City

Every place seems to have its utterly baffling stories, with South Dakota being no exception despite its relatively small population. There have been some mysteries throughout the state’s history that have never – and probably will never – been solved, and they’re spooky as all get out. There was the disappearance of Tina Marcotte, who was last seen alive on June 24th, 1994. The only person of interest in the case ended up dead shortly after being interviewed, and the case is still open to this day. In Rapid City, there is a likely serial killer on the loose who began killing in May 1998 and has struck as recently as 2014. Native American and homeless men began washing up on the shore of a creek near Rapid City and their killer has never been apprehended. No suspects exist, either. Strange? Totally. Creepy? Absolutely! Despite its small size, South Dakota is no stranger to strangeness.  

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