History
Founded by 21-year-old reptile enthusiast Earl Brockelsby, this family-oriented South Dakota attraction began as a one-man-show and officially opened its doors on June 3, 1937.
Intrigued by the fear and interest people expressed when faced with a snake, Earl set up a small display of snakes, charging people to see them. After an initially successful dive into the tourism industry, Earl and the staff at Reptile Gardens saw some difficult times in the 1940s. Regaining momentum after WWII, the 1950s saw an increase in visitation to the Black Hills. Due to widening and relocation of the highway, a new location and major expansion, including the Sky Dome, were completed in 1965.
Although a fire in 1976 destroyed the Sky Dome, and a flood in 1977 caused water damage throughout the facility, the Reptile Gardens is still a family-owned and -operated business that houses more species of reptiles than any other zoo or park in the world.
Read more about this topic: Reptile Gardens
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