Did You Know South Dakota Is Home To One Of The Oldest National Parks In The US?
By Tori Jane|Published March 26, 2024
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
Let’s be real for a second here: South Dakota isn’t exactly the most-visited state in the country. It’s one of the northernmost spots in the nation, and all too often, it gets overlooked in favor of other more popular Midwestern states. However, this is truly a tragedy, as it means that there are an enormous amount of people out there who have never experienced what this amazing place has to offer. Take, for example, a breathtaking natural wonder located just 10 miles north of the small town of Hot Springs. This is easily one of my favorite places, and much to our (as in all of South Dakota’s) pride and joy, it’s one of the oldest National Parks in the U.S.
Upon first arrival, the park appears as stunningly beautiful, rolling prairie with endless blue skies above and countless wonders down below.
It's actually the largest natural mixed grass prairie left on the planet, and that's not all. From here, one would never guess that underneath their feet lies the very first cave to be designated a National Park in the world... and plenty of wonders within.
Wind Cave National Park was established in January of 1903 by then-president Teddy Roosevelt, who notably had a soft spot in his heart for both Dakotas.
It came as the sixth National Park in the US, and today, it's an astonishing look at the incredible processes that take place deep (and I mean DEEP) within the earth.
Well, it's currently the seventh-longest cave in the world, with 154.2 miles of known, charted passages (as of the last survey in 2021, anyway... it could easily be more by now).
The most common formations inside the cave are interesting formations made of calcite called "boxwork", and 95% of the entire world's supply of it is found here.
While not "discovered" by Americans until 1881, Wind Cave has long been sacred to several Native American tribes throughout the area. Local lore whispered of a hole in the ground that "breathed" air... exposing the caverns below.
At the time of this writing (March 2024), there are no tours being conducted of Wind Cave, though they will soon return.
Important renovations are being made to the park's elevator and lift systems, and tours will resume in the fall... so stay tuned and keep checking in for more info!
Interestingly, Wind Cave is not even the largest cave in its general vicinity. 150 miles of tunnels and halls... and it's still not the largest.
That title belongs to nearby Jewel Cave, which is NOT a part of Wind Cave's vast network of rooms and corridors. Despite the unusually close proximity to one another, to this day no connection between the two caves has ever been found.
Pay a visit to this amazing National Park and see our incredible state at its most incredible ASAP.
For more information about one of the oldest National Parks in the U.S., including info and updates about upcoming autumn tours, be sure to visit the official National Park Service website. Planning a visit and need a place to rest your head? Check out the offerings from our friends at Hotels.com.
Have you ever experienced Wind Cave National Park? How much spelunking have you done recently? Let me know in the comments.
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