Zoos in South Dakota

South Dakota's animal attractions are split between the Black Hills in the west and the cities of the east. Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls is a 45-acre zoo that opened in 1963 and has held AZA accreditation continuously since 1991. In Watertown, Bramble Park Zoo dates to 1912, covers about 15 acres, and is not AZA accredited. Near Rapid City, Bear Country USA is a drive-through wildlife park founded in 1972 on 250 acres along U.S. Route 16, best known for its bears. Old MacDonald's Farm, near Rockerville on the way to Mount Rushmore, is a hands-on farm with more than 100 farm animals rather than a conventional zoo, so the western stops suit a Black Hills road trip.