Discover Murdo: Park, Pool, and History

Murdo combines a City Park and municipal swimming pool with collections on prairie history and distinctive architecture. The Pioneer Auto Show, in particular, gives the town its own character: its more than 90 buildings house over 275 classic cars, antique tractors, motorcycles, nostalgic memorabilia, and a prairie town. This means there is more than one theme to consider when planning a trip; families can choose to focus on outdoor time, swimming, or historical discoveries.

A walking path and picnic in City Park

A walking path in City Park runs around a pond. The path is wheelchair-accessible. Covered picnic areas add to the park and provide a place to take a break outdoors. If you are looking for a quieter alternative to collections and historic buildings during your stay in Murdo, you can plan a visit to the park as a separate stop. The walking path, pond, and picnic areas each describe a different aspect of the same park: exercise along the loop, views of the pond, and a covered place to linger.

Swimming options for different age groups

The Murdo Municipal Swimming Pool has a large pool with depths ranging from 3 to 10 feet. There is also a 1-foot-deep wading pool where small children can play. The two pools differ considerably in depth and suit different kinds of swimming. For families who do not want to plan their trip solely around cultural attractions, the swimming pool is another specific point of interest in Murdo.

Cars, prairie history, and changing tours

The Pioneer Auto Show is an extensive collection housed in more than 90 buildings. On display are over 275 classic cars, as well as antique tractors, motorcycles, and nostalgic memorabilia; the site also includes a prairie town. This mix ranges from vehicles to everyday objects, making the site interesting to travelers who want to learn about different aspects of the region's past. The tours change regularly. The 1950s diner is also part of the Pioneer Auto Show & Prairie Town. It serves burgers, milkshakes, and daily specials.

Another piece of local history is the Murdo State Bank on Main Street. It is listed on the National Register and recognized for its commercial architecture with Neoclassical ornamentation. The building adds a look at historic commercial architecture to the Pioneer Auto Show's stories of vehicles and everyday life. South Dakota's Original 1880 TOWN is 22 miles west of Murdo. The site includes more than 30 buildings dating from 1880 to 1920, authentically furnished with thousands of artifacts, historical accounts, and photographs. Visitors especially interested in buildings and historic objects will find a variety of places to explore in and west of Murdo.

North Murdo and the Rodeo Arena

The Murdo Rodeo Arena is on the north side of Murdo. Facilities are available at the arena for travelers who need to accommodate large animals. The arena is also open to travelers transporting horses who need to give them exercise and feed them. This makes it a distinct point of interest for travel with horses, separate from the town's cultural attractions.

When looking for a vacation rental in Murdo, you can first consider which of these aspects matters for your trip: the wheelchair-accessible loop in City Park, the different pool depths, the collections on prairie history, or the specific needs of traveling with horses. The places and topics described here offer concrete points of reference for considering Murdo as a destination based on your own interests.

For the broader travel overview: Jones County.