Reptile Gardens

09/20/2024

Looking for a family adventure before fall ends? Reptile Gardens, South Dakota's premier destination, holds one of the world’s largest collections of reptile species.
Discover some of the planet’s deadliest snakes, experience the ultimate reptile zoo and so much more! Don't miss out on this thrilling experience!
Check out all the details here >> https://www.reptilegardens.com/home/

09/17/2024

Experience the full range of wildlife at Reptile Gardens! �
Don’t just check out our reptiles—come see our majestic bald eagle and enjoy our exciting bird show. It’s a feathered adventure you won’t want to miss!
Reptile Gardens is open today 9:00am to 4:00pm!

09/13/2024

Dive into the stunning beauty of the wild with our Virtual Reality Adventures! Experience five captivating 360° films featuring Gorillas, Humpback Whales, Dinosaurs, Sharks, the African Safari and a roller coaster!

Discover more about these unforgettable experiences below:
https://www.reptilegardens.com/activities/virtual-reality-adventures/

09/09/2024

Gator-roundup '24 is in the books!
Starting the training on a couple of new Gator Boys for next summer! They listened well, worked hard and only one painful lesson was learned this year...

(a few of these could use some captions, Ha!)

09/09/2024

Get ready for an unforgettable weekend at Reptile Gardens! �
� Snap a photo with Shelly and get a season pass! It’s the perfect time to capture some memories and enjoy the rest of the season.

09/03/2024

Reptile Gardens has updated its hours through October 31st!
Be sure to visit before the season wraps up—adventures are endless here.

09/02/2024

Celebrate Labor Day with a wild twist at Reptile Gardens! �
Come explore our scaly friends from 8am to 6pm! Don’t miss out on the fun—see you there!

08/31/2024

Gators gonna get’r done… this is the last weekend of the Alligator Show!
Come see your favorite gators and gator guys before the season is over!

9am to 6pm through Labor Day! Fall hours start on Tuesday!

08/29/2024

Throwback Thursday to 1967. Our grounds may look different today, but we still provide family fun!

08/29/2024

One last big weekend to come see all the fun on Avian Avenue! Get up close and personal with our beautiful birds and wonderful staff!
Tuesday starts our Fall bird show!

08/28/2024

08/25/2024

Wonder what a snake feels like? Which one kills the most people each year? How to avoid them in the wild? What to do if you are bitten? .... and most importantly, come find out just how cool they really are!!

Reptile Gardens live snake shows 5 times a day, every day!

08/21/2024

Mimicry in Nature is one of the most amazing strategies for survival!
Batesian Mimicry is when a harmless species mimics a harmful species.
Müllerian Mimicry is when two species share the same characteristics but both have distasteful properties.

The first image is the iconic Monarch Butterfly, and the second is the lesser-known Viceroy Butterfly. Monarchs are orange and black because they are poisonous to birds and other insects that may eat them. While Viceroys are not toxic, they do have a foul taste. Which helps predators learn to avoid eating either one! So this is a great example of Müllerian Mimicry.

So, how DO you tell them apart? Specifically, the abdomen on the Monarchs are larger, the Viceroy spots along its wings are fewer and more symmetrical!

Our grounds and flowers are as pretty as they can be right now, even prettier with these native and migratory pollinators passing through! Keep a close eye out on your next visit to Reptile Gardens!

08/18/2024

Talents include catching rattlesnakes, too! Awesome!!

08/17/2024

Every snake is a good snake! But this guy is setting the bar pretty high! Keeping our Gardens rodent free, naturally! What a champ!

08/15/2024

Throwback Thursday. This is what Reptile Gardens looked like in 1955!

08/12/2024

What a great afternoon with Miss South Dakota! Joelle Simpson is a shining star highlighting conservation and encouraging us all to Nurture Nature!

08/08/2024

Rapid City Locals…. after the 1st week of the Rally starts winding down.

08/06/2024

Have you ever wanted to graze with a dinosaur or swim with the whales? Treat yourself to a Virtual Reality Adventure TODAY!
https://ow.ly/ePjE50SRF2K

08/05/2024

What an incredible Collage of Color! Now is the absolute best time to visit!

Each year the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally rolls into town and slows things down a bit, It's absolutely beautiful out here, right now!!

08/02/2024

Before..... and yup, After photos.....
Reptile Gardens style.

07/31/2024

Our grounds aren't the only thing in full bloom! The Safari Room is bursting with tropical color!

07/19/2024

It really is a fairly efficient way to manicure our lawns! They even fertilize 'em too!