Wessington Hills and Old Grade Trail
The Wessington Hills give Jerauld County a distinct landscape: they divide the county near its midpoint into northern and southern sections and extend across the entire area. North of Wessington Springs, Turtle Peak rises 400 feet above the surrounding landscape. Its name comes from an Indigenous mosaic depicting a large turtle whose head points toward the rising sun. The landscape and the story behind its name offer two different ways to discover the region.
Along the Old Grade Trail, the landscape changes in a clear sequence: the trail passes through a wooded riparian area and woodland, then crosses open grassland to a viewpoint overlooking the James River Valley. Along the way, visitors can also discover regional history, native and non-native plants, a historic bridge and opportunities for wildlife viewing. The trail thus combines nature observation with history rather than focusing solely on the viewpoint. If you are interested in plants, animals or the region’s development, it offers several themes along a single trail.
Getting Oriented and Natural Areas
Wessington Springs is on Highway 34, six miles west of the intersection of Highway 281 and Highway 34. The town provides a specific reference point for locating the county’s different landscapes and attractions. Long Lake GPA is seven miles west and six miles north of Wessington Springs. Jerauld County has 3,000 acres of public hunting land for pheasant hunting.
Twin Lake adds a different geographic point of interest: the natural lake lies on the boundary between Sanborn County and Jerauld County. Shoreline conditions can change. Together, these places illustrate the different natural features of the region, from the Old Grade Trail’s changing mix of woodland and open grassland to a hunting area and a lake on the county line.
Seasons and Events
Wessington Springs City Park has an ice-skating pond and a sledding hill with a unique Rube Goldberg lift. Both are seasonal features, and their availability may vary. If you are planning a visit around them, check conditions in advance. Events also shape the year: visitors can attend the city’s annual rodeo. The Kyle Evans Wagon Train celebrates the Western heritage of Wessington Springs every year on the weekend after Labor Day. If you plan to travel specifically for the event, confirm the exact date in advance.
Buildings and Local History
The Anne Hathaway Cottage in Wessington Springs was built in 1932, based on plans drawn from a postcard of the original in Stratford-upon-Avon. The Shakespeare Garden includes the terraced Anne Hathaway Garden west of the cottage. The connection between the building’s history and the named garden adds a distinctive Shakespearean touch to the town’s historic attractions.
The 1905 Opera House was built in 1905 and opened for live performances on November 3 of that same year. The renovated venue hosts numerous performances throughout the year. The Municipal Field House, built in 1936, is a WPA stone building that still serves its original recreational purpose; current programs may vary.
Public and religious buildings also tell the story of the county’s past. The Wessington Springs Carnegie Library was the last Carnegie library built in the state of South Dakota. The Methodist Episcopal Church of Wessington Springs is noteworthy for its Gothic Revival architecture and the distinctive engineering design of its interior walls. The Jerauld County Courthouse is historically significant as the county’s symbolic and functional seat of government. Together, these diverse buildings make the town’s history about more than a single subject: the library, church, performance venue and courthouse each represent a different facet.
Discover more destinations: Alpena, Union, Spink County, Lawrence County, Clay, Roberts County, Meade County, Lake County
For the main travel overview: South Dakota.
