Scenic, South Dakota

Scenic is an unincorporated community in Pennington County, South Dakota, United States. It is located within Scenic Township, which had a 2010 census population of 58 inhabitants. The community is located adjacent to the Badlands National Park, about 50 miles (80 km) southeast of Rapid City,^[3] or about one hour by car,^[4] along Highway 44.

Scenic, South Dakota
unincorporated community
Scenic Location within the state of South Dakota Show map of South Dakota Scenic Scenic (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 43°46′46.6″N 102°33′13″W
Country	United States
State	South Dakota
County	Pennington
Area
• Total	134.2 sq mi (347.6 km2)
• Land	133.9 sq mi (346.9 km2)
• Water	0.3 sq mi (0.7 km2)
Elevation	2,900 ft (884 m)
Population  (2011)
• Total	10
• Density	0.6/sq mi (0.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code	57780
Area code	605
FIPS code	46-57820[1]
GNIS feature ID	1268730[2]

History

A view of the now defunct Longhorn Store in 2017.

The community was so named for the "scenic" setting of the town site.^[5]

As an economic decline hit the town in the 21st century, local businesswoman Twila Merrill acquired more and more of the town property until she owned most of it.^[4]

In July 2011, the 12-acre (4.9 ha) town and surrounding area—about 46 acres (19 ha) total—was listed for sale at $799,000. The sale included the post office (ZIP code 57780), Longhorn Saloon, a dance hall, bunkhouse, museum, and two stores.^[3][6][7] It also included a train depot^[7] that is on an abandoned line that was part of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad and is the subject of a 104-mile (167 km) rails-to-trail project between Rapid City and Kadoka.^[8]

In August 2011, the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC, English: Church of Christ), an independent, nontrinitarian Christian denomination based in the Philippines, bought the property for nearly $800,000, Pennington County records show.^[9][10] The church never disclosed why it acquired the property. In 2014, Daniel Simmons-Ritchie of the Rapid City Journal wrote that the INC "has done little with the town since its purchase."^[4]

In April 2015, an INC minister moved to the area and soon afterwards began leading services for 10–15 congregants who live near Scenic.^[11]

See also

• Swett, South Dakota, another town put up for sale
• Johnsonville Village, Connecticut, an abandoned community also purchased by the Iglesia ni Cristo

References

1. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
3. Got $799,000? You could buy a town in South Dakota, a July 27, 2011 CNN article
4. Simmons-Ritchie, Daniel. "Got a spare $400,000? Buy your own town: Swett, South Dakota." Rapid City Journal. Circa June 28/29, 2014. Retrieved on June 30, 2014. "In 2011, the town of Scenic, about an hour southeast of Rapid City, was put on the selling block for $799,000. The town was largely owned by Twila Merril, a woman who slowly acquired the town's property as it fell on hard times.[...]called Iglesia Ni Cristo, which has done little with the town since its purchase. The church has never publicly commented on why it bought the town."
5. Federal Writers' Project (1940). South Dakota place-names, v.1–3. American guide series. University of South Dakota. p. 60.
6. Small South Dakota Town on Sale for $799,000 from ABC News
7. "Township". BuyScenicSD.com. Retrieved July 28, 2011. Overview of Longhorn Enterprises, LLC various properties included in the sale: 46-Acres (approximately 12 acres in town-lots & 34 acres surrounding) U.S Post Office Land Lease…..Longhorn Fuel & Food Convenience Store, World Famous Longhorn Saloon, Very Large Dance Hall with basketball court, Large Museum with knotty pine interiors, Bunkhouse sleeps 8–10, 2 freestanding Retail Stores, Historic Train Depot, One Working Jail, One Abandoned Historic Jail, Many Out-Buildings, Residence Home, Residence Modular Home.
8. About The Trail Archived 2012-03-28 at the Wayback Machine from The West River Trails Coalition
9. O'Connor, Clare (August 19, 2011). "Sold! $799,000 South Dakota Town Finds A Buyer". Forbes.
10. staff, Barbara Soderlin Journal. "Filipino church buys Scenic property". Rapid City Journal Media Group.
11. O'Connell, Max B. (July 12, 2015). "Church begins services in Scenic". Rapid City Journal. Retrieved October 27, 2015.