Scales and Tales

Posts for 2013

Searching for a unique holiday gift? Search no farther than Reptile Gardens!

November 1, 2013

As the holidays approach, many people begin the quest for gifts that are memorable and out of the ordinary. Add to the season the busy shopping malls and outrageous prices, things can quickly become stressful. Do not despair ... unique holiday gifts for everyone on your list can be found at Reptile Gardens!

The summer season has come to an end; however, Reptile Gardens is open through the month of November from 9 am — 3 pm daily. And as an added bonus, all items in the gift shop are 20% off! Escape the cold bite of the chilly air and visit the Sky Dome where it is always warm and tropical. Not interested in seeing our reptile friends and botanical gardens? No problem, visit the gift shop for free!

Conservation is For the Birds — No, Really

September 27, 2013

Ever year, Reptile Gardens, located in Rapid City, South Dakota welcomes thousands of visitors. Some of the highlights of this unique attraction include the alligator, snake and bird shows. These shows are meant to educate, entertain, and inspire. One show in particular also helps to support biodiversity. By definition, biodiversity is the variety of life on earth including all plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms.

The Rich History of New Guinea Tribal Artifacts

July 24, 2013

The tradition of tribal arts and crafts is well-rooted in New Guinea, stemming back thousands of years to well before European explorers first sighted the island in the 1500's. Many people wrongfully assume that it is located in Africa — which is forgivable since there is a nation in Africa called Guinea. New Guinea is, in fact, the second largest island in the world and is located northeast of Australia.

Orchids — Nature's Eye Candy

July 24, 2013

When you think of orchids in nature, what conjures in your mind - lush rainforests, exotic locations, and wedding boutonnieres? There are over 20,000 different kinds of orchids, not including countless thousands of hybrid varieties. Orchids live in on every continent of the world except Antarctica. This diverse and surprisingly hardy flowering plant comes in many shapes and sizes. We even have native orchids here in South Dakota. The flower of each variety has a unique and delicate character that is fascinating to the eye. Read on to discover just a few of the most common types of orchids.

Gator Watch in Akron, Ohio!

July 9, 2013

If you happen to be at the All-American Soapbox Derby in Akron, Ohio the weekend of July 20 and 21, 2013, you may recognize something very familiar.

Ally Claar, age 11, will be competing with the best of the best soapbox racers in her Reptile Gardens inspired entry, the Ally-Gator. Ally qualified to go to the All-American with her race time in the Pikes Peak Soap Box Derby in June.

I Just Found a Deadly Coral Snake...Well No, Not in South Dakota You Didn't.

June 16, 2013

Pale Milksnake

One of the most common snakes in South Dakota, west of the Missouri River, is a little-seen snake called the Pale Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata). These snakes are surprisingly common around here but are very secretive and so, people are often not familiar with them. They love the rains in the spring and fall, which increases the likelihood of encounters with humans.

Hold My Beer and Watch This!

May 16, 2013

So, now that we know how to avoid rattlesnakes and what to do if we encounter one. What should we do if we don't follow Terry's advice and leave all snakes alone? What if the odd encounter happens where we unknowingly step on or sit next to a rattlesnake and the unfortunate occurs?

Why in MY Yard?

May 13, 2013

Snakes are an integral part of our ecosystem and are, in fact, the number one predator of rodents and other little creatures we consider pests. These pests can be carriers of even nastier pests and diseases. So, in fact, we should be grateful for our legless neighbors.

Springtime Means Warmth and Flowers and, Yes, Rattlesnakes

May 9, 2013

It's that time of year again — Spring in Western South Dakota. Our spring brings rain (maybe), sunshine, green grass, the occasional snowstorm, tourists, and of course rattlesnakes.

Pretty soon we will start getting frantic phone calls from local folk with snakes in their yard and from animal control with rattlesnakes in buckets that they got from those same yards. We will hear from people asking how to avoid them when hiking, camping and fishing, from those who want to know how to keep rattlesnakes out of houses, garages and yards, and, of course, what to do if they encounter a snake.

Enjoy an Exotic Jungle Adventure on Mother's Day at Reptile Gardens

May 2, 2013

Mother's Day is nearly upon us once again, and many children and parents are considering what to do to honor this special lady in their lives. On May 12, Mother's Day, we will be giving all moms free admission with the donation of two cans of food for the KOTA Care and Share Food Drive.

Family attractions in the Black Hills of South Dakota

February 22, 2013

The Black Hills is a mountain range located in the south-western portion of South Dakota. It is the home of Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial, which is the largest mountain carving in progress in the world. Visitors to the area will see the fossil beds at Badlands National Park or get a close look at a bald eagle at Reptile Gardens. Custer State Park offers a glimpse into how the pioneers saw the west. Rapid City offers a walking tour of presidents, a wide range of hotels and restaurants, and the largest indoor water park in South Dakota. There is even one of the most diverse reptile zoos in the country.

Start planning your Black Hills vacation

February 20, 2013

As the sunshine warms the ground, the days get longer, and the trees begin to bud, it is undeniable that summer is just around the corner. Many are inspired by the warm weather and begin planning ahead for their summer Black Hills vacation.

A time of relaxation and excitement, summer vacations are the one time of year when people of all ages are allowed to enjoy an endless array of activities and escape the worries that come with their everyday routine. With age out of the question, let Reptile Gardens in Rapid City, SD be one of your destinations for this summers Black Hills vacation.

Main Exhibits

Spring Creek Gulch

Full of great photo opportunities, Spring Creek Gulch is also full of fun, family activities and kids attractions. Try your hand at gold panning, gemstone sluicing, or go on a 3D safari.
Cheyenne the Bald Eagle

Cheyenne is a bald eagle and has been a permanent resident of this wildlife zoo for 11 years with permission of the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
Maniac the Giant Crocodile

Maniac is one of a few giant saltwater crocodiles in the known world. At nearly 16 feet long and roughly 1,250 pounds, he is one of the largest giant crocodiles in the western hemisphere.
Giant Tortoises

Come mingle with these gentle, giant tortoises. Our Aldabra Tortoises know how to take it easy, love attention, and are great with kids!
Prairie Dog Town

The black-tailed prairie dog is found in the Great Plains of North America. See firsthand what life is like for a typical prairie dog at Reptile Gardens.
Sky Dome

The Sky Dome at Reptile Gardens is one of the most recognizable South Dakota attractions. Visit a tropical oasis filled with rare & unique flora and fauna.
Methuselah’s Playground

Methuselah was a giant, Galapagos Tortoise and long-time resident who weighed over 600 pounds! His memory lives on at our outdoor playground for kids.
Avian Avenue

At Avian Avenue we are bringing the behind the scenes forward and taking bird watching to a whole new level!

Shows

Snake Shows

Get up-close-and-personal with this family-oriented, reptile show and learn about a wide variety of different snakes during our snake handling demonstration.
Gators

This exciting wild animal show is a favorite South Dakota attraction and features alligators, crocodiles, and caimans in a fun, informative, and interactive presentation.
Spring & Fall Bird Shows

Bird shows are featured daily at this interactive Rapid City attraction. See a raptor take flight or have a conversation with a parrot!

Shops

Gift Store

The Reptile Gardens gift store offers many things you might find in a zoo gift shop, from t-shirts to reptile books & nature movies.
Green Parrot Café

Visit the Green Parrot Cafe or the Cola Cabana where you can take a break from exploring and refuel with some delicious food!
Jungle Outpost

The Jungle Outpost is truly a Rapid City SD Attraction itself. We maintain an inventory of thousands of pieces of Oceanic tribal art.
New Guinea Art

Authentic oceanic art from an avid primitive art collector sharing his passion with others. Authentic New Guinea Tribal Artifacts for sale.

Animal Facts

Snakes

Venomous

Among venomous snakes, the Cottonmouth and Copperhead snakes are falsely believed to be very deadly. Learn all about poisonous snakes at Reptile Gardens.
Non-Venomous

Snake Facts: Most snakes are referred to as clinically non-venomous snakes, some of the larger types have bites that can still be devastating. Learn more about non-venomous snakes at Reptile Gardens!
Snake Venom and Bites

Not all snake venom acts the same. The most important thing for snake bite treatment is to remain calm and GO TO THE HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY!
Worlds Deadliest

What’s the difference between the world’s deadliest snake and world’s most venomous snake? Check out International Danger Quotient for answers.
Dangerous Snake FAQ

Looking for answers about the world’s deadliest snake? Need to know about dangerous snake bites? Look no further - Reptile Gardens has the answers you’re looking for.
Snake Facts

Get your information about snakes here! Learn all about snake facts first hand at Reptile Gardens, where we have daily snake shows.

Non-Snakes

Crocodilians

What’s the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? Learn all about the ancient order of crocodilians at Reptile Gardens!
Turtles & Tortoises

The giant tortoises at Reptile Gardens love posing for the camera! Explore Reptile Gardens and see different types of turtles from across the globe.
Lizards

Reptile Gardens houses the largest collection of reptiles in the world. Explore the grounds and see snakes, alligators, crocodiles, giant tortoises, and many different types of lizards.

Frogs

Looking for frog facts? Reptile Gardens is a Black Hills attraction with all of the answers to your froggy questions.
Salamanders

Looking for information on Salamanders? Reptile Gardens is full of fun salamander facts to feed your curiosity.
Bugs

Reptile Gardens is a Rapid City, SD attraction that houses the largest collection of reptiles as well as a variety of bugs from across the world!

Native to South Dakota

Lizards

Reptile Gardens is a Black Hills attraction that houses the largest collection of reptiles in the world. Check out our collection of lizards native to South Dakota.
Snakes

We’ve got a list of snakes native to South Dakota. Watch as our snake handling experts introduce our snake ambassadors at the Reptile Gardens snake show.
Turtles

South Dakota has many species of turtles. See the variety of turtles and visit our giant tortoises at Reptile Gardens, the Black Hills attraction with the largest collection of reptiles in the world.
Amphibians

Looking for exotic amphibians? Reptile Gardens is a Black Hills attraction near Rapid City, SD that houses the largest collection of reptiles in the world.

About Us

Contact Us

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Scales and Tales

Stories to educate and entertain
History

Reptile Gardens started with a small display of reptiles in 1935, but has grown into the largest reptile zoo in the world and one of the biggest Black Hills attractions.
Team

Meet the team of Reptile Gardens employees and zoo curators who bring the magic and wonder of Reptile Gardens to fruition.
Media Attention

Reptile Gardens is an international media sensation. Watch original clips from the BBC, National Geographic, and more.
Awards

We are honored to have been recognized for multiple awards over the years and take pride in making Reptile Gardens the best it can possibly be.
Giving Back

Reptile Gardens isn’t just one of the largest Black Hills attractions, it’s the largest reptile zoo in the world, and we love giving back to our community.
Conservation Efforts

As we work closely with major zoos worldwide to promote species survival, it is our responsibility to also educate the public about important environmental issues and positively contribute to the future of our animal residents.
Employment

Our staff is passionate about taking personal interest in what we do each and every day. Come join our team at Reptile Gardens!
Education Materials

Reptile Gardens is a great place for class field trips and learning experiences. View some work sheets and answer keys for your group to use while exploring Reptile Gardens. We have several varying difficulty levels to help accommodate every age of children. Have fun learning!
Videos

From commercials to just little snippets, we've made some neat videos over the years and wanted a chance to share some of them with you.