South Dakota – Parent to New State Park?

spearfishSouth Dakota and the Black Hills are known for their wide open spaces, state parks, and beautiful backdrops everywhere you look. Now, South Dakota may become a proud parent to another state park with Spearfish Canyon in the Black Hills.

Homestake Mining Co. officials are in negotiations to sell two large parcels of their land located in Spearfish Canyon. These both would be placed into public ownership.

In a briefing last week by two top officials from the state Game, Fish and Park Department, the Spearfish Canyon Foundation would purchase a 73-acre tract, that includes Spearfish Falls, and donate it the department. This is according to Doug Hofer, director for the state Division of Parks and Recreation and likely largest builder of South Dakota’s system of state parks and recreation areas.

The property was appraised at $1,225,000 but foundation officials are attempting to secure it for a smaller amount, Hofer said.

This part of the canyon covers more than a mile and would connect two tracts that were previously purchased in 2004 by GF&P from Homestake at Roughlock Falls and Savoy. The combined totals would be 128 acres surrounded by U.S. Forest Service lands.

The department would also directly purchase a second pacel of 33 acres from Homestake including 3,200 feet of Spearfish Creek at the old Hydro 2 power-plant work in the Canyon. The appraisal currently is $430,000.

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