Reptile Gardens, South Dakota, United States

5rebecca b 5:00 PM Feb 20, 2023

Great attraction
Staff was very friendly. Enjoyed the overall layout of the property. There seemed to always be a new area to explore. The Gardens have informative bird shows and snake shows guests can observe if they would like- this is included in the admission price, so no added charge. We watched the bird show and really enjoyed it. The show only lasts just shy of 30 minutes, and the staff member handling the birds allowed members of the audience to come up at the end to see the birds a little closer and ask any questions. And the landscaping! We visited in early October and everything was still very lush and beautiful. We planned on spending 2 hours here, and I think we stayed just a few minutes over that. Definitely stop by this attraction, you won't regret it.

4Brendan S 5:00 PM Jun 2, 2021

Fun roadside attraction
It makes little sense to have a reptile zoo in South Dakota, which has no native reptiles of which I am aware, but Reptile Gardens was an interesting attraction to visit. The highlight is a giant domed building, which houses dozens of scary-looking and highly venomous snakes, plus several species of alligators and crocodiles including one jaw-droppingly large gator. The outdoor portion of Reptile Gardens includes a giant tortoise enclosure where they invite you to pet these gentle animals. There's also a vibrant prairie dog village a dozen large birds, a crocodile-feeding area and a venomous snake show. Reptile Gardens shows its age, is not very big and, with a $19 adult admission fee, is on the expensive side for an attraction you can visit fully in an hour or two at most. But the animal variety is interesting and the staff is friendly and it makes for an enjoyable visit overall.