Bear Country U.S.A. is an experience like no other, and certainly the only one of its kind in South Dakota. If you’ve ever wanted to see bears up close and personal, or experience a bobcat running nearby, Bear Country U.S.A. is the experience you’re looking for.
Visitors to Bear Country take a leisurely 3-mile drive through the park, and while still in the comfort of their cars, have a chance to encounter black bear, elk, reindeer, deer, cougars, bobcats, rocky mountain goats, bighorn sheep, dall sheep, and buffalo.
Bear Country was opened by Dr. Dennis "Doc" Casey and his wife, Pauline, in August, 1972, before there were any zoos open in the area. The park is still run by the family, specifically Pauline and five of her seven children. The staff at the park hand-raise most of the animals, making them very manageable, and therefore accessible to visitors.
After a ride through the park and a close-up encounter with the park’s mammalian residents, visitors to Bear Country can satisfy their appetites at the Grizzly Grill, and go shopping for souvenirs at the Bear Country Gift Shop.
