AGP Executive Report

Free Park Day: National parks that charge admission will waive fees Tuesday, Oct. 27, for Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday. South Dakota’s Wind Cave National Park is among the parks visitors can explore for free. Black Hills Camping: Fire restrictions ease on the Wyoming side of the Black Hills National Forest starting Oct. 23, allowing campfires in permanent Forest Service rings at developed sites. Other restrictions remain, and the change is expected to last through Dec. 15. Brookings Travel: Hobo Day is Saturday, with a parade closing downtown streets from 9 to 11 a.m.; plan another route if traveling through the area. Air Links: Allegiant’s January schedule lists Fort Lauderdale–Sioux Falls as its longest nonstop Boeing 737 MAX 8 route, at 1,525 miles. Pheasant Country: Nonresident hunters now outnumber resident pheasant hunters, and their spending brought an estimated $304.5 million to South Dakota in 2025 — a major boost for the state’s fall tourism economy.

Air Connections: Allegiant’s January 2027 schedule lists Fort Lauderdale–Sioux Falls as its longest Boeing 737 MAX 8 route, spanning 1,525 miles nonstop. Highway Travel: Work has begun on the $290 million Platte-Winner Bridge replacement on Highway 44. The current crossing will remain open, but temporary lane closures are possible. Black Hills Camping: Fire rules ease Friday in the Wyoming districts of the Black Hills National Forest, allowing campfires in designated fire rings; other restrictions remain. Fall Getaways: Keystone businesses are adjusting as summer crowds thin, while an extended tourist season has helped Black Hills souvenir shops keep sales up. Historic Stops: Brookings offers visitors four protected historic districts and a look at the state’s Victorian-era architecture.

Black Hills Road Update: Forest Road’s southern junction with Highway 44 is set to close Oct. 27 for bridge work. Pennington County has not said how long the closure will last; check local updates before heading out. Visitor Season: Black Hills souvenir shops report strong sales as fall visitors seek locally made art, jewelry and apparel. Keystone businesses, meanwhile, are adjusting as summer crowds fade and winter approaches. Hunting Trips: South Dakota’s pheasant season continues to draw returning hunters, a tradition that supports tourism but is increasingly shaped by nonresident hunting. Parks Leadership: Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun has picked longtime parks manager Scott Anderson to lead the Parks and Recreation Department, pending City Council approval Nov. 2.

Black Hills Tourism: An extended visitor season is lifting sales at souvenir shops in Rapid City and towns near Mount Rushmore. Travelers are seeking locally made art, jewelry and other Black Hills keepsakes, while businesses prepare for winter festivals and holiday lights. Pheasant Season: South Dakota’s opener drew hunters from 44 states, with officers contacting more than 1,800. Many groups averaged one to two birds per hunter, and harvest activity means extra traffic on rural roads. Wildfire Readiness: A new air tanker base in Wall is expected to speed initial wildfire response and help protect the Black Hills and Cheyenne River Valley. Road Safety: AAA urges drivers to watch for deer, especially at dawn and dusk; South Dakota’s average animal-strike insurance claim topped $7,900 in 2025.

Road Safety: AAA is urging drivers to watch for deer as fall activity peaks, especially at dawn, dusk and after dark. South Dakota’s average animal-strike insurance claim topped $7,900 in 2025. Pheasant Season: South Dakota’s opener drew hunters from 44 states, with many groups averaging one or two birds per hunter. Officials also reminded visitors to park safely as harvest traffic continues. Black Hills Off-Season: Keystone businesses are scaling back after summer crowds fade; some close for winter, leaving limited food, fuel and coffee options. Fort Pierre Stop: The city has officially named its growing collection of history-focused public art the Tatanka Historic Sculpture Trail. The first two sculptures opened in July, with more planned.

Road Safety: AAA warns that peak deer activity from October through December raises collision risks, especially at dawn, dusk and after dark. South Dakota’s average animal-strike insurance claim topped $7,900 in 2025, so drivers should stay alert on rural roads. Pheasant Season: Opening weekend brought more than 1,800 hunters from 44 states, with many groups averaging one or two birds per hunter. Hunting was slower in the northeast, where crops remain standing, and conditions may improve as fields are harvested. Keystone Off-Season: The Black Hills tourist town is shifting to winter hours, with businesses closing and limited food, fuel and coffee options. Visitors should plan ahead as the quiet season settles in. Fort Pierre Trail: City leaders approved the name Tatanka Historic Sculpture Trail for a public-art route that opened in July; more sculptures are planned.

Black Hills Routes: Travelers heading south from Rapid City toward Pine Ridge can take Highway 44 through the Badlands or use Highway 79 and Highway 40, with a food-and-fuel stop at Hermosa’s Corner Pantry Travel Center on the latter route. Keystone Off-Season: The town’s summer crowds have faded, and businesses are beginning to close for winter. Visitors should plan ahead: food, fuel and coffee options become scarce, and some shops keep limited hours. Pheasant Season: South Dakota’s opener drew more than 1,800 hunters from 44 states. Many groups reported one or two birds per hunter; hunting was slower in the northeast, where standing crops offer cover. Conditions may improve as harvest clears more fields.

Wildfire Readiness: South Dakota opened a new air-tanker base in Wall to speed fire response across the Black Hills and Cheyenne River Valley, helping protect communities and nearby natural areas. Pheasant Season: Hunting continues to draw visitors, but nonresident hunters now outnumber resident hunters: 82,000 to 57,000 last year. The tradition brought an estimated $304.5 million to the state in 2025. Badlands Bison: Nearly 300 people gathered to watch 50 bison move onto a 39,904-acre range on Pine Ridge Reservation, a milestone in restoration efforts. Fall Outings: The Haunted Farm south of Sioux Falls is nearing the end of its Halloween season, while Deadwood’s Wild West Songwriters Festival brought three days of live music to the Black Hills. Tourism Spotlight: Travel South Dakota earned 2026 WebAwards recognition for its website.

Halloween Outing: The Haunted Farm south of Sioux Falls is nearing the end of its season, with a haunted barn, spooky woods and moonlit hayride included in one ticket. Hidden History: South Dakota’s vanished towns offer curious travelers a look at remnants of communities such as East Sioux Falls, once a booming quartzite town. Pheasant Country: Hunting season is underway, drawing visitors from across the country. Hunters spent an estimated $304.5 million in South Dakota in 2025, even as resident participation continues to decline. Deadwood Events: The Wild West Songwriters Festival is bringing three days of live music to town. Tourism Promotion: TravelSouthDakota.com earned a 2026 WebAward, recognizing the state’s online tourism presence.

Hidden History: South Dakota’s ghost towns offer a glimpse of communities that disappeared as industries faded. East Sioux Falls, once built around prized pink quartzite, declined when demand collapsed and concrete took over. Pheasant Season: Opening day brought hunters back for a tradition now spanning three generations, with families traveling from across the country. The season runs through Jan. 31, 2027; nonresident 10-day licenses cost $142. Tourism Spotlight: TravelSouthDakota.com earned an Outstanding Website honor in the 2026 WebAwards, while Deadwood’s Wild West Songwriters Festival brought three days of live music to town.

Sioux Falls Roadwork: Lane closures on Benson Road, 12th Street and other city routes begin this week, so drivers should allow extra time. Pheasant Season: Hunters are back in South Dakota for the 2026 season, a draw that brings visitors back year after year. Coverage also spotlights the season opener and the tradition’s changing place as nonresident hunting grows. Custer State Park: Xanterra won the park contract over Ramkota, a change worth watching for visitors planning a stay. Tourism Marketing: Travel South Dakota earned a 2026 WebAward for its website and other recognition for its marketing.

Pheasant Season: South Dakota’s opener brought thousands of visiting hunters, with strong bird numbers expected and hotels, restaurants and bars busy. Nonresident hunters outnumbered residents last year, and pheasant hunting generated an estimated $304.5 million in 2025. Road Watch: Sioux Falls drivers should expect lane closures and delays beginning Oct. 19 on West Pineridge Drive and East Benson Road, with more city work planned this week. A Wisconsin man died in a rollover crash on I-90 near Pukwana; the highway patrol is investigating. Deadwood Weekend: The Wild West Songwriters Festival filled bars, patios and other venues with three days of live music, including free performances, helping extend the Black Hills tourist season. Travel Planning: TravelSouthDakota.com won an Outstanding Website award for its visitor guides, trip-planning tools and booking referrals.

Pheasant Season: South Dakota’s traditional season opened Oct. 17, with officials optimistic after strong nesting conditions. Thousands of visiting hunters are expected to fill hotels and restaurants, though nonresidents now outnumber resident pheasant hunters: about 82,000 to 57,000 last year. Tourism Marketing: Travel South Dakota’s website won an Outstanding Website award in the 2026 WebAwards, recognizing its trip-planning tools and visitor guides. Deadwood Events: The Wild West Songwriters Festival is bringing three days of music to venues across town, with free writers’ rounds and a boost for hotels and restaurants in the fall shoulder season. Rapid City Tournament: More than 300 girls from eight states are headed to the Black Hills Nationals Glam Slam wrestling event, twice last year’s turnout.

Tourism Spotlight: TravelSouthDakota.com has been named an Outstanding Website in the 2026 WebAwards, recognized for its trip-planning tools, regional guides and storytelling designed to turn inspiration into visits. Deadwood Events: The Wild West Songwriters Festival brings three days of live music to Deadwood this weekend, with free performances around town and a boost for local hotels and restaurants. Pheasant Season: South Dakota’s traditional pheasant season opens today and runs through Jan. 31. Hunters are expected across the state, and Wessington Springs is hosting a national film crew documenting the opening-day traditions and community spirit.

Pheasant Season: South Dakota’s traditional opener arrives Saturday, Oct. 17, with officials optimistic about bird numbers after strong nesting seasons. Hunters are traveling from across the country, bringing business to hotels, restaurants and communities; Aberdeen lodging capacity remains a concern. Visitor Welcome: Sioux Falls greeted arriving hunters at the airport with local tips, treats and information on attractions and lodging. Many say the annual trip is as much about family traditions and friendships as the hunt. Brookings Event: SDSU’s Hobo Day celebration is set for Oct. 24, with about 40,000 people expected for the university’s 114th annual tradition. Tourism Promotion: Travel South Dakota earned prestigious marketing awards, recognizing the state’s efforts to attract visitors. Fall Safety: Changing temperatures call for an extra layer outdoors, and drivers in rural areas should watch for hunters and hunting dogs near roads.

Pheasant Season: Hunters are arriving in Sioux Falls from across the country for South Dakota’s opener on Saturday, Oct. 17. Many return each year for family traditions and friendships, bringing business to local communities. Tourism Marketing: Travel South Dakota won three Gold Magellan Awards for campaigns promoting road trips, hunting and Custer State Park’s Buffalo Roundup. Brookings Events: SDSU’s 114th Hobo Day is set for Oct. 24, with about 40,000 people expected for the student-led celebration and a week of community traditions.