Kingsbury County: Lakes, Prairie and History

Gently rolling hills, numerous lakes and ponds give Kingsbury County its distinctive landscape. A notable natural feature is Lake Thompson: designated a National Natural Landmark, it connects the lake region with a variety of outdoor activities. The region’s towns also offer a glimpse into a history closely linked to Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Lakes, Wetlands and Prairie

At Lake Thompson, fishing, boating, camping and wildlife viewing are among the listed recreational activities. The Lake Thompson Recreation Area has 103 campsites, five camping cabins and a group lodging facility. Those looking to focus their trip on water and outdoor activities will find a dedicated nature destination here; the number of campsites and cabins describes the facilities at the recreation area.

The landscape’s formation has its own story to tell: Silver Lake is a kettle lake, and the wetlands of Big Slough formed as glaciers melted. Both are shallow lakes and wetlands that provide important habitat for migratory waterfowl and other wildlife. The open prairies around De Smet and throughout Kingsbury County, with public lands, kettle lakes and wetland depressions, are used by hunters and anglers. So, alongside the lakes, wetlands and prairie stand out as distinct natural features.

De Smet and the Story of the Little House Books

De Smet is in South Dakota’s Glacial Lakes & Prairies tourism region and later became the setting for five of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Homes offer guided tours of the Surveyor’s House, the First School of De Smet and the Ingalls Home. Each building offers a glimpse of living conditions in the late 19th century and displays some original artifacts. The tours thus bring together historic buildings and insights into everyday life of that time.

The Ingalls Homestead offers a different kind of experience: covered wagon rides cross the prairie to a one-room schoolhouse, where visitors can drive a team of horses or mules. The schoolhouse features historical lessons and activities from a typical school day. Other activities include making a corncob doll: visitors husk a corncob, wrap it in cloth and take it home. The Homestead puts both the prairie ride and hands-on historical activities at the center of the experience.

Art, Museums and Historic Sites

Calumet Avenue, De Smet’s main street, offers a walking tour through the town’s history, with historic buildings and interpretive signs. Along the avenue, the Sculpture Trail features public art; QR codes on the pedestals link to information about the artists and works. The selection of sculptures may change over time. For literature enthusiasts, the Loftus Store is also a notable site: it is the only surviving building on De Smet’s main street that Laura Ingalls Wilder mentioned in her Little House books.

The Depot Museum displays historical information and objects, as well as De Smet’s original fire and curfew bell. If you plan to visit, check current visiting arrangements in advance. De Smet Cemetery is the final resting place of several members of the Ingalls family and other early pioneers.

The Garden of Remembrance sits on a hill and offers visitors a place for reflection and quiet.

About a mile north of De Smet, the Wilder Homestead Historic Marker identifies the land that Almanzo Wilder farmed as his homestead.

Events and Choosing Your Vacation Rental

The events calendar offers a range of experiences. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant is an annual outdoor theater production in De Smet. From the stage, visitors look out over cottonwood trees planted by Charles and Big Slough. Old Settler’s Day takes place each year on the second weekend in June. The annual Plein Air Art event follows, from the second Friday through Sunday in August; the specific calendar dates may vary from year to year. If you plan to travel for a particular event, check the dates for that year.

When choosing a vacation rental, your preferred focus can help you decide: would you like your trip to center on lakes, wetlands and outdoor activities, or would you rather focus on the historic buildings, museums and events in De Smet?

Discover more destinations

Explore more places: Oldham, De Smet.

Discover more destinations: Grant County, Aurora County, Pennington, Edmunds, Brown, Lincoln County.

Back to the main travel overview: South Dakota.