Custer State Park

Custer State Park in South Dakota’s Black Hills is the state’s first and largest park, spanning more than 71,000 acres of prairie, mountains, and scenic drives. Developed substantially in the 1920s and 1930s, it grew through Civilian Conservation Corps roadbuilding, campgrounds, and dams, then expanded again in 1964. The park is especially known for its wildlife, above all a celebrated bison herd begun in 1914 and managed through annual roundups and auctions. Elk, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, pronghorn, cougars, and feral burros also inhabit the park. Historic sites, films, and President Calvin Coolidge’s 1927 stay add to its broader significance.

South Dakota · United States