There Is A Unique Man-Made Wonder Hiding Near This Small City In South Dakota
By Tori Jane|Published November 29, 2023
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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.
Welcome to Rapid City – a city so small, it might just be considered a small town by anyone from states with populations of more than a couple million. Nevertheless, it’s a nice place – and it’s a great hub for anyone hoping to check out some of the wonders for themselves. There’s a plethora of natural wonders in South Dakota, but is there a man-made wonder in South Dakota worth noting? We sure can do some incredible things, and I’d like to take a moment to appreciate one of my fave spots made by man: the stunning, sparkling Pactola Lake.
Every year, record trout are caught at this stunning, blue lake. And better still, the lake is equipped with a state-of-the-art, full-service marina with gasoline, oil, groceries, and even food service. It's a great time waiting to happen!
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Camping around or neat the lake is a popular pastime.
There's an 88-unit campground as well as a group campground and a swim beach. It's a popular, much-beloved destination for locals and visitors alike, and it's really easy to see why.
Well, we can thank Pactola Dam for everything. Built in 1952, it was intended to supply the folks living in Rapid City with clean drinking water. The project was a success, obviously, and residents love having a beautiful lake so close to home.
Fun fact: the construction of Pactola Dam - and as a result, Pactola Lake - unfortunately involved inundating an entire town with water.
Okay, maybe that's not so fun, but you get the idea. Pactola was once a thriving town, but now it resides at the bottom of the lake as only a memory to those who might still remember it today. Personally, I think it just makes the lake all the more intriguing.
If you find you need somewhere to stay in Rapid City while you’re exploring Pactola Lake (and you don’t feel up to camping), our friends at VRBO have all kinds of awesome options. If you find you can’t get enough of the amazing lakes ’round these parts, be sure to also explore some of the most beautiful lakes in South Dakota.
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