Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve

06/12/2026

Have you made your history yet in South Dakota State Parks? It is suppose to be a beautiful weekend to take an adventure. Come to Adams Homestead, take a selfie by our entrance sign, explore your challenge, and take a selfie with one of our Sonny's Acres animals. Hope to see you at the park soon!

Celebrate America’s 250th birthday by making your own history in South Dakota state parks! Take our Adventure 250 challenges to earn points and have a chance at winning outdoor gear all summer long. ⛺🥾🌲
- Complete adventures each week for entries into weekly prize drawings.
- 4 winners are selected each week, giving you plenty of chances to win.
- Earn 250 points to be an official Adventure 250 Club member and get exclusive merch
- All Participants earning 250 or more points will be entered into a final drawing for three grand prize packages at the end of the season.
While you're visiting Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve, be sure to complete these adventures:
Sonny's Helper – Learn about farm chores and take a selfie with a barnyard friend (15 points)
📸 Plus, earn points just for taking a selfie in front of our entrance sign!
Get the full list of statewide adventures, lineup of weekly prizes, and details on how to participate at: https://gfp.sd.gov/history2026/
Weekly and grand prizes are generously sponsored by Independent Insurance Agents of South Dakota.
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06/11/2026

Welcome to Species of the Week!

Can you find our critter for this week? This is a Gray Tree Frog and they are masters at camouflage. These nocturnal frogs may be hard to see but out at Adams Homestead you can definitely hear them. If you walk around the lake in the evening listen for their song, it sounds like chirping.

06/10/2026

The Great Glass Quest is still happening! Have you looked for the medallions yet? We have at least two left at the park, so make sure you keep your exploration eyes on when you walk, run, or bike the trails. Hope to see you at the park soon. Newton Hills State Park and Good Earth State Park at Blood Run

06/09/2026

Celebrate America’s 250th birthday by making your own history in South Dakota state parks! Take our Adventure 250 challenges to earn points and have a chance at winning outdoor gear all summer long. ⛺🥾🌲
- Complete adventures each week for entries into weekly prize drawings.
- 4 winners are selected each week, giving you plenty of chances to win.
- Earn 250 points to be an official Adventure 250 Club member and get exclusive merch
- All Participants earning 250 or more points will be entered into a final drawing for three grand prize packages at the end of the season.
While you're visiting Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve, be sure to complete these adventures:
Sonny's helper - Learn about farm chores and take a selfie with a barnyard friend (15 pts)
📸 Plus, earn points just for taking a selfie in front of our entrance sign!
Get the full list of statewide adventures, lineup of weekly prizes, and details on how to participate at: https://gfp.sd.gov/history2026/
Weekly and grand prizes are generously sponsored by Independent Insurance Agents of South Dakota

06/05/2026

The Canada Anemone is in full bloom at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve! This plant likes a bit of shade so look for it under the trees on our Lake loop and Cottonwood Crossing. These are great for our native pollinators and honey bees so please leave them on the trail for the insects to enjoy. We hope to see you soon!

06/04/2026

Make your history and find your adventure at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve and other South Dakota State Parks. Take advantage of the check out program at the North Sioux City Community Library! Hope to see you at the park soon!

Did you know you can check out a SD State Parks pass from the library? Our pass can be checked out to library patrons for up to 3 days. This year you can even win prizes for checking out the Parks! More information can be found here: https://gfp.sd.gov/history2026/

06/03/2026

We have two left! Are you ready to explore some more?? Hope you have been enjoying the Great Glass Quest. Bring the family and the friends and hike the trails to look for our medallions at Adams Homestead, Newton Hills State Park and Good Earth State Park at Blood Run! Hope to see you at the park soon!

06/02/2026

This is the season of turtles moving from ponds to land to lay their eggs. You may notice snapping turtles and painted turtles digging their nests along our trail system. Please keep your distance and be careful of nesting sites. Also, slow down as you come into our parking lot. Westshore Drive between the McCook Lake Izaak Walton League and Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve is a popular turtle crossing. Be aware and be respectful for the turtles heading to their destinations. Thank you and hope to see you at the park soon!

06/01/2026

Cooking with Randy is back!

Join us throughout the summer to learn how to cook with Dutch Ovens and enjoy some amazing food. The first meal will be starting at 5:00 PM on June 20th in the shelterhouse outside the visitor center. We will be making shepard's pie and apple cobler. If you can't it make don't worry! There are three more chances this summer...

July 11th
August 1st
August 22nd

We hope to see you in the park soon!!