Fire Breaks Out At Beloved Reptile Gardens In South Dakota

One of South Dakota’s most-visited tourist attractions was the scene of a fire early Friday morning.

Reports began coming in just after midnight that a blaze had broken out inside a structure at Reptile Gardens, located along US Highway 16 between Rapid City and Mount Rushmore.

According to Dakota News Now, the Rockerville Fire Department was dispatched at about 12:40 AM on Friday, November 21. Crews arrived to find a large fire burning on the south side of the Reptile Gardens property.

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That portion of the building reportedly housed some of the reptiles kept at the popular attraction.

In a press release on social media, the Rockerville Fire Department said crews encountered an active fire inside a detached agricultural shelter, with heavy flames and smoke pushing into the ceiling and roof of the structure.

Rockerville Firefighters, together with other participating agencies, were able to contain the blaze to the original building and prevent it from spreading to nearby vegetation or other structures on the grounds. No firefighters were injured.

Unfortunately, the fire did result in the loss of an undetermined number of tortoises and alligators.

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Reptile Gardens has been in existence in South Dakota for 88 years, opening its doors to the public on June 3. 1937.

It has been a family-owned business since opening.

More information regarding the incident is expected to be released later today.