Custer State Park, State park in Black Hills, South Dakota.
Custer State Park is a nature reserve in the Black Hills of South Dakota covering over 110 square miles (287 square kilometers) of granite peaks, pine forests, and grasslands. Around 1500 bison roam the grounds and live alongside bighorn sheep, deer, and pronghorn antelope in the valleys and plateaus.
The area was founded in 1912 as Custer State Forest and transformed into a state park in 1913 by South Dakota Governor Peter Norbeck. Norbeck directed the construction of several scenic drives through the mountains and valleys in the following years.
Bison herds move freely across open grassland and along roads, while visitors watch the animals from vehicles or lookout points. Park architecture combines rustic timber buildings with stonework laid by hand in the 1930s by workers.
Several lodges and campgrounds spread across the park grounds and offer accommodations at different elevations. Main roads remain open year-round, while some mountain roads close in winter due to snow and ice.
Every September, rangers gather the entire bison herd during a public event watched by thousands of spectators. The animals are weighed, vaccinated, and a portion of the herd is later auctioned to regulate population size.
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