[5] Brockelsby chose the site at the top of a long hill, hoping motorists would stop in the parking lot to fix their overheated vehicles.

[10] The Sky Dome was rebuilt in 1976 after a fire that destroyed everything except the Ponderosa Pine skeleton, which stands as the centerpiece of the Safari Room on the main level.

[6] Reptile Gardens has several exhibits, including: The Bewitched Village featured farm animals, such as cows, pigs, and ducks, set against the backdrop of a Wild West ghost town.

During performances, the animal keepers discuss safety techniques, facts, and conservation efforts to aid in species survival.

[13][14] Earl Brockelsby purchased Methuselah from a reptile dealer in Florida and subsequently transported the tortoise by train to South Dakota.

[1] Reptile Gardens donates to various environmental conservation organizations, including the Charles Darwin Center in the Galapagos Islands.

[citation needed] Reptile Gardens has received a number of local, state, regional, and national awards in recent decades.