Scenic, South Dakota

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Scenic, South Dakota
unincorporated community
CountryUnited States
StateSouth Dakota
CountyPennington
Area
 • Total134.2 sq mi (347.6 km2)
 • Land133.9 sq mi (346.9 km2)
 • Water0.3 sq mi (0.7 km2)
Elevation
2,900 ft (884 m)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total10
 • Density0.6/sq mi (0.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code
57780
Area code605
FIPS code46-57820[1]
GNIS feature ID1268730[2]

Scenic is an unincorporated community in Pennington County, South Dakota, United States. It is located within Scenic Township, which had a 2010 census population of 58 inhabitants. The community is located adjacent to the Badlands National Park, about 50 miles (80 km) southeast of Rapid City,[3] or about one hour by car,[4] along Highway 44.

History

The community was so named for the "scenic" setting of the town site.[5]

As an economic decline hit the town in the 21st century, Twila Merril acquired more and more of the town property until she owned most of it.[4]

In July 2011, the 12-acre (4.9 ha) town and surrounding area—about 46 acres (19 ha) total—was listed for sale at $799,000. The sale includes the post office (ZIP code 57780), Longhorn Saloon, a dance hall, bunkhouse, museum, and two stores.[3][6][7] It also includes a train depot[7] that is on an abandoned line that was part of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad and is the subject of a 104-mile (167 km) rails-to-trail project between Rapid City and Kadoka.[8]

In August 2011, Filipino religion, Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) bought the property for nearly $800,000, Pennington County records show.[9][10] The church never disclosed why it acquired the property. In 2014 Daniel Simmons-Ritchie of the Rapid City Journal wrote that Iglesia ni Cristo "has done little with the town since its purchase."[4] Following his expulsion during the 2015 Iglesia Ni Cristo expulsions, Gino Maningas, a INC district officer in Concord, California, claimed that "There is a hidden agenda, midwest (sic) just like Texas, is rich in oil and natural resources. It's being rented out for oil exploration." [11]

In April 2015, a Iglesia ni Cristo minister moved to the area and soon afterwards began holding services in Scenic for 10-15 congregants who live nearby.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ a b Got $799,000? You could buy a town in South Dakota, a July 27, 2011 CNN article
  4. ^ a b c Simmons-Ritchie, Daniel. "Got a spare $400,000? Buy your own town: Swett, South Dakota." Rapid City Journal. Circa June 28/29, 2014. Retrieved on June 30, 2014. "In 2011, the town of Scenic, about an hour southeast of Rapid City, was put on the selling block for $799,000. The town was largely owned by Twila Merril, a woman who slowly acquired the town's property as it fell on hard times.[...]called Iglesia Ni Cristo, which has done little with the town since its purchase. The church has never publicly commented on why it bought the town."
  5. ^ Federal Writers' Project (1940). South Dakota place-names, v.1-3. University of South Dakota. p. 60.
  6. ^ Small South Dakota Town on Sale for $799,000 from ABC News
  7. ^ a b "Township". BuyScenicSD.com. Retrieved 2011-07-28. Overview of Longhorn Enterprises, LLC various properties included in the sale: 46-Acres (approximately 12 acres in town-lots & 34 acres surrounding) U.S Post Office Land Lease…..Longhorn Fuel & Food Convenience Store, World Famous Longhorn Saloon, Very Large Dance Hall with basketball court, Large Museum with knotty pine interiors, Bunkhouse sleeps 8-10, 2 freestanding Retail Stores, Historic Train Depot, One Working Jail, One Abandoned Historic Jail, Many Out-Buildings, Residence Home, Residence Modular Home.
  8. ^ About The Trail from The West River Trails Coalition
  9. ^ O'Connor, Clare (August 19, 2011). "Sold! $799,000 South Dakota Town Finds A Buyer". Forbes.
  10. ^ http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/filipino-church-buys-scenic-property/article_57d68e24-e7e1-11e0-8a98-001cc4c002e0.html
  11. ^ Henson, Paul (July 24, 2015). "Ex-INC officer in California speaks out about his expulsion". ABS-CBNnews.com.
  12. ^ O'Connell, Max B. (July 12, 2015). "Church begins services in Scenic". Rapid City Journal. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
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