Storybook Island

Storybook Island is a free, 8.5-acre family theme park in Rapid City featuring more than 100 storybook, nursery rhyme, and fairytale settings where children can use their imaginations, see a live theatre production, and take a ride on the Storybook Island Line train. Founded on August 16, 1959, by local educator Merle Gunderson in association with the Rapid City Rotary Club, the park drew over 10,000 visitors on opening day and has operated continuously for more than 65 years — surviving even the devastating 1972 Rapid City flood, which damaged much of the original park. Characters and scenes from 101 Dalmatians, Winnie the Pooh, the Wizard of Oz, Cat in the Hat, Cinderella, Jack and Jill, the Three Little Pigs, and dozens more come to life across the grounds in interactive playsets children can climb, crawl through, and explore. The park also features an on-site theater with daily live performances during peak season, including plays and puppet shows drawn from classic children's literature. Train and carousel rides are $4 per person.