South Dakota: Reptile Gardens
Aug/11/10 Filed in:
VacationsThis place was simply amazing. I have to admit, I only went to Reptile Gardens reluctantly after days of pleading by Ethan. He finally convinced me because they have a Komodo Dragon, but as it turns out, I spent about 30 seconds looking at the dragon, as the rest of the place was absolutely terrific. What looks like a cheezy tourist trap from the outside is actually a perfectly kept garden inside, alive with local stones and perfectly designed plant and flower beds.
Meandering around the garden leads you to different areas where you can see shows involving snakes, crocodiles, alligators, birds, and more. Central to the gardens is a large dome housing the most impressive array of reptiles I have ever even heard of, all wrapped around an open-air aviary where various reptiles roam free. Occasionally you would see staff either standing under a snake coiled around a branch overhead, or carrying different animals for you to interact with.
The staff was friendly, and seemed to really care for the animals as well, despite doing show after show, which I can only imagine must get really monotonous for them. I assure you, however, it wasn't anything short of thrilling for us.
Sadly I seem to have lost most of my photos, but please enjoy these, and consider them as incentive to visit yourself.
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Reptile Gardens, SD. Alligators](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_Alligators.jpg) Alligators |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Reptile Gardens, SD. Alligators](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_Alligators1.jpg) Alligators |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Reptile Gardens, SD. Alligators](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_Alligators2.jpg) Alligators |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Sarcoramphus papa. We have a lot of vultures in Chicagoland, and I always sort of liked them, but this one will change the way anyone looks at them. Reptile Gardens, SD. King Vulture](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_KingVulture.jpg) King Vulture |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Sarcoramphus papa. Reptile Gardens, SD. King Vulture](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_KingVulture1.jpg) King Vulture |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Sarcoramphus papa. Reptile Gardens, SD. King Vulture](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_KingVulture2.jpg) King Vulture |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Brave woman. Between that beak and those talons, this guy looks pretty fierce. Until last year, I was unaware that Bald Eagles lived near my house. Linda spotted one in a tree, and I didn’t believe her. Even seeing it with my own eyes, I had to look online and verify it. Reptile Gardens, SD. Bald Eagle](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_BaldEagle.jpg) Bald Eagle |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Reptile Gardens, SD. Wingspan size chart](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_Wingspansizechart.jpg) Wingspan size chart |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![The boys could not get enough of these guys. And the tortoises did not seem to mind a little gentle affection. Reptile Gardens, SD. Boys with Galapagos tortoise](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_BoyswithGalapagostortoise.jpg) Boys with Galapagos tortoise |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Reptile Gardens, SD. Ethan with Galapagos tortoise](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_EthanwithGalapagostortoise.jpg) Ethan with Galapagos tortoise |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Reptile Gardens, SD. Devin with Galapagos tortoise](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_DevinwithGalapagostortoise.jpg) Devin with Galapagos tortoise |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Reptile Gardens, SD. Boys with Galapagos tortoise](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_BoyswithGalapagostortoise1.jpg) Boys with Galapagos tortoise |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Reptile Gardens, SD. Galapagos tortoise](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_Galapagostortoise.jpg) Galapagos tortoise |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Reptile Gardens, SD. Devin with Galapagos tortoise](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_DevinwithGalapagostortoise1.jpg) Devin with Galapagos tortoise |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![How could I resist a snake with a name like this? Reptile Gardens, SD. Ottoman Viper](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_OttomanViper.jpg) Ottoman Viper |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Reptile Gardens, SD. Ottoman Viper](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_OttomanViper1.jpg) Ottoman Viper |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![The only reason I agreed to go to Reptile Gardens, and I’m sure glad I did, as it turned out to be an amazing place. Komodo dragon](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_Komododragon.jpg) Komodo dragon |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Agama agama africana. Reptile Gardens, SD. African Rainbow Lizard](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_AfricanRainbowLizard.jpg) African Rainbow Lizard |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Can anyone identify this species? Reptile Gardens, SD. Lizard](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_Lizard.jpg) Lizard |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Can anyone identify this species? Reptile Gardens, SD. Lizard](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_Lizard1.jpg) Lizard |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Archelon was a giant Cretaceous turtle found in SD. This fossil is on display in Reptile Gardens, SD. Ethan with Archelon fossil](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_EthanwithArchelonfossil.jpg) Ethan with Archelon fossil |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Reptile Gardens, SD. Prairie dog](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_Prairiedog.jpg) Prairie dog |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Reptile Gardens, SD. Prairie dog](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_Prairiedog1.jpg) Prairie dog |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Reptile Gardens, SD. Prairie dog](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_Prairiedog2.jpg) Prairie dog |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Devin pops up in an observation dome checks out the prairie dogs at Reptile Gardens, SD. Devin and prairie dog](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_Devinandprairiedog.jpg) Devin and prairie dog |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Reptile Gardens, SD. Prairie dog](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_Prairiedog3.jpg) Prairie dog |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Reptile Gardens, SD. Prairie dog](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_Prairiedog4.jpg) Prairie dog |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![This big guy spotted a girl, and sprinted towards her as he made a weird sound. Turtles, by the way, are not slow. And apparently the boys are faster. Reptile Gardens, SD. Turtle love](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_Turtlelove.jpg) Turtle love |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![If I need to explain what’s going on here, you’re too young to know. Reptile Gardens, SD. Turtle love](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_Turtlelove1.jpg) Turtle love |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Reptile Gardens, SD. Boys with Galapagos tortoise](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_BoyswithGalapagostortoise2.jpg) Boys with Galapagos tortoise |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Reptile Gardens, SD. Boys with Galapagos tortoise](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_BoyswithGalapagostortoise3.jpg) Boys with Galapagos tortoise |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Reptile Gardens, SD. Boys with Galapagos tortoise](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_BoyswithGalapagostortoise4.jpg) Boys with Galapagos tortoise |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Reptile Gardens, SD. Ethan with Galapagos tortoise](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_EthanwithGalapagostortoise1.jpg) Ethan with Galapagos tortoise |
![](../../rw_common/themes/vision/images/contrib/spacer.gif) ![Reptile Gardens, SD. Devin with Galapagos tortoise](../../resources/Family/SD2010_ReptileGardens/t_DevinwithGalapagostortoise2.jpg) Devin with Galapagos tortoise |
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