Storybook Island is a children's amusement park in Rapid City, South Dakota with playgrounds and attractions based on locations and various characters found in children's books. The park was founded in 1959 by Merle Gunderson in association with the Rapid City Rotary Club.[1] The park is free admission to the general public and relies on donations from its visitors and the community. The park is open Memorial weekend through Labor Day.[2]
 Storybook Island logo | |
 Storybook Island Dragon and surrounding attractions | |
| Location | Rapid City, South Dakota, United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 44°04′19″N 103°15′48″W / 44.072°N 103.2633°W. |
| Opened | 1959 |
| Theme | Children's literature |
| Operating season | May to September |
| Website | Official website |
Attractions
editThe park features large sculptures depicting characters and scenes from works including Yogi Bear, Humpty Dumpty, The Cat in the Hat, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Winnie-the-Pooh.
The park also has several playgrounds and a theater that performs children's plays[3] and other acts.[4]
History
editThe park was created on August 16, 1959, and was the product of donations from residents of Rapid City along with many local clubs and businesses at the time.The park has been open every year since its creation except for the year of the 1972 Black Hills flood, which caused extensive damage to the park and surrounding community.[5]
Most of the play areas washed away in the flood, since the park is located near Rapid Creek (South Dakota) on the west side of Rapid city.
In recent years the park has made changes and improvements such as making wheelchair-accessible playsets and adding braille signs.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ staff, Deanna Darr, Journal (August 18, 2009). "Storybook Island had a fairy-tale beginning". Rapid City Journal.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Storybook Island | VisitRapidCity.com". www.visitrapidcity.com.
- ^ correspondent, Shell Jeffery-Tomjack Journal (June 11, 2010). "Storybook Island theater offers 'escapism,' memories". Rapid City Journal.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Storybook Island returns starring Winnie the Pooh and Tigger too » ConnectCenter1". June 27, 2022.
- ^ "Storybook Island in Rapid City reflects on the 1972 flood". June 6, 2022.
- ^ Dennis, Cody (May 26, 2023). "Storybook Island gets ready for the summer season". kotatv.com.