badlands ranch store

After seeing a couple reviews and mentions of this place on tripadvisor we still nearly missed it on our trip! It's a small place on the side of the road and even with a HUGE prairie dog statue out front we stil nearly missed it - so glad we didn't!Prairie dogs were EVERYWHERE and super friendly! We bought peanuts for 50 cents a bag on the honor system and then took them out to the field. I told my 3 year old and my 6 year old to sit quietly and throw the peanuts, before long the prairie dogs were taking them from their hands (gently) and sitting beside them begging for more. I even had a couple climb on my lap asking for more! They were very friendly and it was a great experience to be remembered by my children!

Almost missed the store, but hurriedly made their second driveway. The store was closed, but they offered bagged peanuts in the shell for 50 cents. It was an on your honor system which worked out great for us since they were closed. There were lots and lots of prairie dogs and they would come right up to you! It was drizzling rain a little, but we stayed cause they were sooo cute! Definitely worth the stop.

The store looks like a tourist trap, with the giant prairie dog statue out front, but this was the only place we found that let us get close to the prairie dogs! You buy the peanuts for 50 cents inside the store, and you can get about 6 feet away from them by tossing the peanuts towards them. The sunflowers were at the top of their season when we went, and this was one of the best experiences we had on our trip.

Shortly before entering the Badlands National Park off off I-90's exit 131, you will see a giant statue of a prairie dog. Turn into the parking lot! In the store, you can buy prairie dog food (peanuts) for 50 cents a bag and then go out to the field to be greeted by the cutest little creatures. The prairie dogs will come right up to you for the nuts. We thought we would stop for 5 minutes but stayed for almost an hour because we had so much fun taking pictures and feeding the prairie dogs. The woman who owns the shop is very friendly but is retiring soon. The shop has snacks and souvenirs. This is SO worth the stop!