8 Best South Dakota Towns For Retirees
South Dakota, an iconic part of the American Midwest, is known for rugged beauty and a do-it-yourself spirit. The state is also a strong choice for the current or future retiree. Its care facilities, health care network, and ample options for visiting families mean that the state is well-equipped to welcome those planning a move in their silver years. South Dakota has long been renowned for key tourist draws, like the public sculpture Mount Rushmore, as well as the Black Hills region it shares with Wyoming. Beyond South Dakota's larger places, like Sioux Falls or Rapid City, the state's smaller towns may be just right for a senior looking for his or her post-retirement playground. Here are the eight best South Dakota towns for retirees.
Aberdeen
In northeast South Dakota, the town of Aberdeen offers a long list of services for seniors looking for a post-retirement home. Named after the northern Scottish city, this town has 15 senior living communities, according to the SeniorHousingNet.com website. These range from minimal care centers to more intensive alternatives, making the city one where elder care is available for all kinds of patients and needs.
Newly arrived seniors, as well as visiting family and friends, will enjoy Wylie Park, an expansive space that includes picnic areas, walking trails, and campgrounds. Young children will love Storybook Land, found within the park, which has reconstructions of some of the settings of famous children's tales, from Humpty Dumpty to Goldilocks. For a little culture and a night out, head to the Johnson Fine Arts Center, or the Capitol Theatre and Cinema, which offers a busy program of movies and theater productions.
Brookings
The presence of South Dakota State University (SDSU) makes east-central Brookings a quintessential college town, and the place is great for retirees, too. About 10 locations cater to seniors with diverse needs — most of them considered affordable-care options.
Brookings' abundance of museums offers perspectives on creative and industrial legacies. The South Dakota Art Museum, as well as the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum, shed light on town and regional elements of history, especially related to the agriculture-based economy here. Visiting families can take in the large McCrory Gardens and South Dakota Arboretum, both found on the SDSU campus. The Children's Museum of South Dakota is also here, guaranteeing a fun outing, and happy kids, with a 44,000-square-foot wonderland featuring indoor and outdoor exhibits.
Huron
In east-central South Dakota's Glacial Lakes and Prairies region, Huron styles itself as a mecca of hunting and outdoor sports, an ideal choice for active seniors. Huron's pheasant population is a popular draw, attracting hunters and holidaymakers. Downtown Huron even has a (huge) plastic pheasant statue, at 28-foot-tall and weighing 22 tons. The Murals on the Town make for another downtown point of interest. In more mainstream attractions, the South Dakota State Fair happens in Huron each Labor Day Weekend.
Huron's retirement options include many residences, most of them in the affordable or low-income category. The town's concentration of health care centers, including emergency room services at the downtown Huron Regional Medical Center, make this place a smart choice for those who want care support close by.
Pierre
Pierre, which is pronounced like "pier," is South Dakota's capital and a charming retirement choice. As a town set along the Missouri River, many of Pierre's senior-living sites may feature river views or a location close to the water. The Avera center, with nursing-care available, overlooks green Griffin Park, as the Missouri flows just beyond the park's edge.
For new arrivals and for visitors, Pierre is proud to share elements of its history. For a little fresh air, Lake Oahe — ranked among the world's largest man-made lakes — offers a one-of-a-kind experience for boating, fishing, or both. Golfers may prefer a round at the Hillsview Golf Club, just east of town along the Missouri.
Spearfish
Spearfish set in South Dakota's Black Hills, combines western history and beauty. Spearfish has a handful of senior centers for various budgets. Retirees who want to show off their old vintage cars can do so right here, in the Black Hills Corvette Classic, held every summer. The car show celebrates the glory days of sleek automobiles, growling engines, and the drivers and owners who keep them tuned up.
Visiting families love the High Plains Western Heritage Center, where they can learn about the region's past industries, from ranching, farming, and other types of pioneer labor. Active seniors can take their families to Spearfish Canyon, or the Black Hills National Forest, both a short drive away. For golfers, Elkhorn Ridge Golf Club is a popular, and public, local course.
Vermillion
At the state's southeast edge, the town of Vermillion once hosted the Lewis and Clark Expedition, as well as John James Audubon, the naturalist whose iconic drawings of North American birds are still collected today. Vermillion takes its name from a translation of the Lakota Native American term for the waterway, which means "red stream."
History-loving seniors will appreciate these elements of life in Vermillion, and more. All of the town's five listed senior centers are considered affordable, again from SeniorHousingNet. Local culture awaits discovery at the National Music Museum, which is part of the University of South Dakota. Similarly, the Aalfs Auditorium, an arts center, also calls Vermillion home. Summer visitors, especially families, can cool down in Prentis Park, with its swimming pool, lazy river, and water slide — an ideal spot for a dip while visiting grandparents.
Watertown
In the state's northeast, Watertown has a pair of pretty lakes that make life here sweeter. Pelican Lake and Lake Kampeska, both west of Watertown, create chances to swim, fish, or unwind by the water. The Big Sioux River also winds through Watertown. For seniors and patients of all ages, Prairie Lakes Hospital provides 24-hour care from the heart of town. Nine senior centers welcome retirees at various stages of health here.
For culture-minded seniors, Watertown is a creative magnet of choice. Cultural options here include the Redlin Art Center, with more than 150 oil paintings, as well as a 30-acre Conservation Park. The Goss Opera House offers performances and lovely music in an equally lovely setting.
Yankton
Yankton is a textbook river town in the state's southeast, set along the Missouri River, and perfect for the history-loving senior. Yankton was the Dakota Territory's first capital, before Pierre eventually took over as state capital. Today, Yankton has about a dozen living locations for seniors to choose from. Most of the care sites are low-income or affordable. Also in town, the Avera Sacred Heart Hospital maintains a care site standing here since the late 19th century.
Downtown Yankton has no fewer than six historic zones listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Yankton College district is one, as is the Charles Gurney Hotel and its neighborhood. The Gurney, once called the Hotel Pierce, opened in 1891, built from a mix of brick and South Dakota stone called Sioux Falls granite. Outside Yankton, the Missouri National Recreational River area offers water fun for the whole family, whether visiting a grandparent or just passing through town.
Small-Town South Dakota Is Ideal For Retirement
Towns like these show how much South Dakota has to entice the would-be senior newcomer. Aberdeen and Brookings offer nearly two-dozen senior living facilities between them. Retirees looking for active-lifestyle options will find them while pheasant-hunting in Huron, golfing in Spearfish, or just strolling through riverside Griffin Park in Pierre. Vermillion and Watertown have terrific, water-focused options, which are ideal for visiting families during the grandkids' summer vacations. Yankton is a standout choice for a retirement with cultural offerings right in town. Whatever a senior's tastes, housing needs, or health care requirements, South Dakota's smaller towns offer a wealth of options for all budgets.
