Salem South DakotaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Salem, South Dakota.
1. The End Zone Bar & Grill
LOCAL DINING HOTSPOT
The End Zone Bar & Grill is one of the top-rated attractions in Salem according to visitor recommendations. Visitors can enjoy classic American fare and drinks in a casual, friendly atmosphere. The establishment serves as a gathering place for locals and travelers alike.
2. Thunder Alley
FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
Thunder Alley ranks as one of Salem's must-see attractions for visitors seeking entertainment. This venue likely offers bowling and other family-friendly activities in a lively setting. It provides an excellent option for family outings or group gatherings regardless of weather conditions.
3. McCook County Museum
LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION
McCook County Museum is located at 124 W. Norton in Salem and administered by Lou Ella Weber. The historic museum preserves and showcases the rich heritage of McCook County and Salem. Visitors can explore the museum on Fridays from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
4. Porter Sculpture Park
UNIQUE OUTDOOR ART
Porter Sculpture Park features impressive metal sculptures created by artist Wayne Porter. The outdoor gallery showcases over 50 larger-than-life sculptures spread across 18 acres of prairie. Visitors particularly enjoy the 60-foot tall bull head sculpture that serves as the park's centerpiece.
5. A1 Al's Pheasant Ranch
PREMIER HUNTING EXPERIENCE
A1 Al's Pheasant Ranch offers guided hunting tours in the scenic countryside near Salem. The ranch provides visitors with authentic South Dakota pheasant hunting experiences. Guests praise the knowledgeable guides and well-trained hunting dogs that enhance the experience.
6. Lake Vermillion Recreation Area
OUTDOOR WATER ACTIVITIES
Lake Vermillion Recreation Area provides visitors with opportunities for fishing, boating, and swimming in a beautiful natural setting. The recreation area features camping facilities and picnic areas for day visitors and overnight guests. Nature enthusiasts appreciate the walking trails and wildlife viewing opportunities around the lake.
7. Mount Rushmore
ICONIC NATIONAL MONUMENT
Mount Rushmore is one of South Dakota's most recognizable landmarks featuring the faces of four American presidents carved into granite cliffs. Over 2 million visitors come annually to view the massive sculptures of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln. The site includes the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center and the 0.6-mile Presidential Trail for closer views of the monument.
8. Badlands National Park
DRAMATIC NATURAL LANDSCAPES
Badlands National Park encompasses 370 square miles of unique landscape featuring dramatic buttes, hills, and pinnacles. The park offers excellent opportunities for hiking, bicycling, and viewing wildlife including a free-roaming bison herd. Visitors can experience the park's beauty via the scenic Badlands Loop Road or by exploring the backcountry trails.
9. Crazy Horse Memorial
MONUMENTAL MOUNTAIN CARVING
Crazy Horse Memorial is an ongoing mountain sculpture project honoring the Native American leader Crazy Horse. When completed, it will be the world's largest sculpture at 641 feet wide and 563 feet high. The memorial complex includes the Indian Museum of North America, the Native American Educational and Cultural Center, and offers cultural programs throughout the year.
10. Jewel Cave National Monument
VAST UNDERGROUND WONDER
Jewel Cave National Monument protects one of the world's longest cave systems with over 200 miles of mapped passages. The cave is named for its sparkling calcite crystals that line the walls and appear to glitter when illuminated. Visitors can choose from several guided tour options that showcase different sections of this remarkable underground world.
11. Custer State Park
WILDLIFE AND SCENIC DRIVES
Custer State Park spans 71,000 acres in the Black Hills and is home to one of the world's largest publicly-owned bison herds. Visitors can drive the 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road to spot bison, pronghorns, elk, deer, and the park's famous begging burros. The park also features scenic drives like Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road with their stunning granite spires and tunnels framing Mount Rushmore.
12. Wind Cave National Park
HISTORIC UNDERGROUND LABYRINTH
Wind Cave National Park protects one of the world's oldest known caves, featuring rare boxwork formations not found in such abundance anywhere else. Above ground, the park preserves one of the largest remaining mixed-grass prairie ecosystems in the United States. Ranger-led cave tours take visitors through portions of the complex underground maze that currently has over 150 miles of mapped passages.
13. Wall Drug
ICONIC ROADSIDE ATTRACTION
Wall Drug began as a small pharmacy in 1931 and grew into a 76,000-square-foot roadside attraction after offering free ice water to travelers. Today, the sprawling complex features themed shopping areas, restaurants, an art gallery, a chapel, and numerous photo opportunities including a giant jackalope. Visitors from around the world stop to experience this uniquely American attraction known for its quirky advertising billboards placed hundreds of miles away.
14. Buffalo Gap National Grassland
PRESERVED PRAIRIE LANDSCAPE
Buffalo Gap National Grassland encompasses nearly 600,000 acres, making it one of the largest publicly owned grasslands in the United States. The area features rolling hills, mixed-grass prairie, and dramatic badlands formations that provide habitat for pronghorn, prairie dogs, and numerous bird species. Visitors can enjoy activities like hiking, wildlife viewing, and photography in this preserved landscape that represents America's vanishing prairie heritage.
15. Falls Park
URBAN NATURAL WONDER
Falls Park is built around the cascading waters of the Big Sioux River in downtown Sioux Falls. The park features a five-story observation tower, historical buildings including the remains of the Queen Bee Mill, and a café housed in the historic hydroelectric plant. Visitors enjoy walking paths that wind through the 123-acre park, offering multiple vantage points to view the pink quartzite falls that give the city its name.