Ingalls Homestead

Josh Goldsborough

2023-09

It's pricey $20 per person when we visited. But well worth it if you have kids. My 2 boys (age 8 and 11) who knew nothing about Little House still loved it, and my neice (age 7) who did know it was practically in heaven. The staff was absolutely amazing going above and beyond to create a rich and fun experience. There are so many fun things to do. Even I (being a history buff) had fun. We went "quick" and took 2 hours but you could easily take a half day or more. It is mostly outside, so be aware of the weather. Definitely check it out if you have kids (or just love history).

Lynette Swanson

2023-07

This was so much fun for my whole family! I'm so sad that we didn't spend the night there. None of the houses are original, but it's the actual land, and they built the buildings that were on the land to the specifications and the best educated guess from documentation that they have. We loved seeing the kittens in the chicken coop, the size of the houses and the minature ponies, buggy rides, wagon rides, making jump ropes and corn dolls, grinding wheat, twisting straw, and being a student in the school house with a great teacher explaining things. The teens who worked there didn't know very much, gave wrong information, or I thought might not have read the books. The adults I talked with knew their stuff and were beyond fantastic. The whole place was so interactive, and it was beautiful to watch the storm roll in just like in the books. We didn't have time to see the other places in town, but we felt like this was the best option to get an Ingalls experience while we were there.Ohhh, and my kids loved pumping water, washing clothes, and putting it out to dry. Even if you don't know the books, everyone will have a great time!

Kimberly Shumaker

2023-07

This is an excellent place to go with students in grades 3-6. The staff are friendly and very knowledgeable about the Ingalls family. My teacher heart was very happy visiting with my family. They did a good job setting up all the books. Excerpts from the related stories were found all over. There are wonderful hands on activities for everyone to do: corn cob dolls, jump rope/lasso making, wheat grinding, pony cart rides, horse rides, covered wagon ride, and several others. It is very neat to be on the actual Ingalls Homestead. From the viewing tower you can see all corners of the property. The one room school experience was excellent. There were pinafores for the young girls to wear. A staff member told all about how school was done in a one room school. Both of my kids left wanting to go home and read the books. It really made the stories come alive for us. It was $20 a person, but if you are local it gets you a season pass for the year. Well worth the visit! My daughter wants to come back next time we visit grandma and grandpa.

JA X

2023-07

It was a really nice place to visit. Interesting homesteading information and a look into a time in history. Even if you haven't read the books. The folks were real nice. Interaction with the animals was enjoyable and just walking the homestead was like being given a glimpse of another time while persevering some comforts of modern life.

Karen Ewing

2023-05

I would describe this experience as a living museum. It starts with a quick 4 minute video explaining the property. You set the pace for the rest of your visit. There are multiple hands on activities (corn husk doll making, rope making, and hay twisting). There are numerous historic buildings on the property which are made to resemble buildings described in Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House On The Prairie series. This is the actual property but the buildings are recreations. There was a very nice and informative covered wagon ride which takes you to a school house. The kids got to hold the reins and "drive" the wagon. We were lucky enough to be there when they had schoolhouse presentations. There is camping on site and the bathrooms were spotless. Loved climbing the tower and getting a panoramic view of the prairie.

Brandi Kitchens

2023-05

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Tony Hill

2023-05

Whether or not you have read the books, this place is definitely worth the visit.Standing in the place where this family struggled through harsh winters and cruel summers, coupled with uncertainty and sheer will to survive, makes this little piece of the history of our nation come to life, right in front of your eyes.The interactive and informative displays make for an even more understanding and feel for what the family endured and get the feeling of why they were so close to one another in such hard times on an unforgiving homestead in the plains of South Dakota.The staff were not rangers that had a script they were trained to read from, they were local people who knew the stories as they had not only read, but had been handed down locally.There was a horse drawn wagon ride to the school house and then back to the on site church, as well and as an extra, the handler let the children in the group "lead" the horses, (with his constant supervision) to and from each place.I highly recommend coming to this site and if you have time, staying in either one of the "covered wagon" campsites, or they have a couple RV hookups, as well. (Call and ask)Thanks to all the staff and we WILL be visiting you again!

Amanda Schroeder

2022-05

What a great experience!! We LOVED the hands on activities, the friendly kittens, and the feel of being in the past on the prairie. My dad loved all of the old machinery and my mom enjoyed making the corn cob dolls. My son loved driving the covered wagon and the pony cart. All of the staff were incredibly friendly, patient, and helpful. We all laughed when the teacher had my son stand against the chalkboard with his nose against the wall because he forgot to bring the water for the class. It was warm out, but the prairie wind made it a pleasant temperature. We went right as they opened at 9:00 on a Saturday, and didn't have to wait in line for anything. As we were leaving at 11:30 is was starting to get a little busier.We also spent some time driving around De Smet, visiting the original buildings of the Ingalls family as well as the cemetery.Highly recommended. Our group ranged from 64 years old to 10 years old and everyone enjoyed it. Would love to go back some day!

Paula Cheever

2023-10

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Margaret Preus

2023-10

Our family visited the Ingalls Homestead mid-June and spent one night camping on site. We had a wonderful time!When we arrived our van broke down about 3/4 miles from the Homestead. No tow truck was available to help us for more than 12 hours (until the next day). Owners Ann and Beau rescued our family of 6 and kindly towed our van onto their property, enabling us to set up our tent and get comfortable. The next day when our van was towed into De Smet Ann's mother Joan overwhelmed us again with kindness by making available to us a car for our family's use while we were, in effect, stranded. Even apart from how fun and interesting the Homestead was, the owners themselves are people of high character and open hearts! We are so grateful for their hospitality!Our children are Little House enthusiasts and delight in reading horse encyclopedias. Driving the covered wagon was the highlight of my 9-year old son's summer, together with chatting with owner Beau about horse breeds.Thank you for an educational and thoroughly enjoyable time! Best of luck to you into the future!

Celeste Hollerud-Jones

2023-05

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Ingalls Homestead. The replica buildings as well as the buildings that were relocated here are so interesting to visit. The owner is so sweet, helpful, and a wealth of information. The shop is filled with books and souvenirs! Don't miss this stop! And spend the night if you can!We stayed in the bunkhouse, and I'm adding some photos here because I was curious what it looked like and couldn't find any photos. Also adding a pre-sunrise and sunset photo because the scenery and wide open spaces are gorgeous 😍

Hanna Rose

2023-05

Imagine being able to hop right into a Laura Ingalls book and experience her life for a day.That's how you feel when you arrive on the property. The staff are friendly and helpful, but also hands-off enough for you to be able to enjoy the experience authentically. The animals scattered about were a bit hit with my kids, who really enjoyed being able to pet and cuddle the barn kittens for as long as they wanted. They also loved the multiple wagon and horseback rides that the staff tirelessly gave to whichever kid wanted a turn.The tour to the schoolhouse via mule wagon was exceptional as well. The "teacher" there made my kids feel very welcomed, even though they were getting pretty squirmy after a long day of traveling and exploring.If you want the full experience, check out the covered wagons for an overnight stay! We squeezed our family of five (two adults, three small kids) into the smaller wagon, and though it was tight, it definitely gave us an appreciation for the life of a pioneer family!We loved it. You definitely will enjoy it more if you at least read several of the Little House books. If you only have time to read a few, I would suggest "By the Shores of Silver Lake," "The Long Winter," and "Little Town on the Prairie."

Darren Helms

2023-06

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Dani

2022-05

We have read the series and watched many of the episodes in the series. The kids were so excited to see the homestead in person. We also got a ride on a wagon pulled by horses up to the school house and back. It was a rainy day and it allowed us to spend quality time with the staff.

Carrie Brown

2023-10

This is such a fun place! If you have any interest in the Laura Ingalls Wilder books or the local history, this place is a must. For the entrance fee you will watch a 4 minute video summarizing the homestead's history and have free roam of the 160 acre homestead. After the short video, the rest is at your own pace using the provided map. See all the buildings, try your hand at washing clothes on an old fashioned washboard, make a corn cob doll and see how twine is twisted to rope. Not to mention all the other history of what life was like in the late 1800's. Highlight is the wagon ride to the schoolhouse and various animals. Shout out to the wagon driver. She did a great job with the horses, gave insight about what the ride would have been like back in the 1800's, interesting facts about the homestead act requirements and the crops they continue to grow to this day. We made a day of it and had a great time. Will be going again.

Jeremy Kerstetter

2023-05

Our family loved our time at the homestead. Everyone was helpful, had great attitudes and eager to teach in a fun, experiential way. It was a "go at your pace" experience. I loved how they encouraged everyone to touch and experience history. Very glad we added this to our stop.

Brendon Pond

2023-05

Fantatic family friendly place to visit! Soo much to do for the kids! Petting cats, calves, and horses. Horse rides, camping in a cover wagon (1 Full bed and 3 mats big enough for adults). You can make rope, grind wheat, make corn cob dolls! The people who work there couldn’t be friendlier and create such a fun experience for everyone!!

Scott Wallman

2021-05

We stayed for three days at their campground. It is all family owned and run. Everyone was friendly and helpful. My wife was a huge fan of the Little House books, so she was overjoyed to be here. The campsites (water and electric) were level and well maintained. It was a blast just to BE there.

John Manfred

2022-05

Awesome experience, grew up reading and watching the Ingalls story. Would stay at their campground the next time we visit. Great family activity, spent about 3 hrs and would have spent more. The staff is super friendly and very knowledgeable about the Ingalls background.

Mel Lee

2020-05

We had an incredible day here Memorial weekend. Joan is an absolute gift. Everyone here was so kind and attentive - from store cashier to horse handlers to tour guides like Joan helping make jump ropes and corn cob dolls/super heroes. My 3, 9 and 11 year olds all loved it and it surpassed our expectations. My daughter said she would like to make this an annual tradition.Even though my old Little House books are at home, my daughter chose a hardcover book in the gift shop to read all the way back home to Minnesota.

TJ

2019-05

We didn’t know what to expect but we came away completely charmed by this bit of living history. After reading all the Ingalls books as a family, we decided to visit the South Dakota homestead, where the majority of the events from the books take place. Another draw to this SD homestead was the outdoor pageant/drama across the road from the homestead that takes place during several weekends in July. The pageant was fun and cute and well done, for community theatre. We then headed to our family cabin on the Homestead grounds, which was much nicer than we imagined it would be. Clean and neat construction with A/C and a small fridge, as well as nice bunk beds and a firm, sealed vinyl double mattress to put sheets on. Shower and bathroom facilities were a few steps away, and impeccably maintained. The second night we stayed in one of the covered wagons, which was fun and also more comfortable than you might expect. During the day, we had a blast with the kids learning about prairie life for early settlers. Highlights included wagon rides to the one room school house, all kinds of farm animals, choosing whether we’d rather live in the well-recreated demonstration sod huts or a board and batten claim shanty, and learning how to make rope, wash and ring laundry, and fashion corn cob dolls. At every turn we were so impressed by the staff; the experience is self guided but there are knowledgeable young staff in costume helping at just about every turn. Room and activities were extremely reasonable, cost-wise. We loved it and highly recommend stepping into the past at the Ingalls’ Homestead in Desmet, SD.

Shellie Williams

2021-05

Loved this place very much. A lot of hands on activities for kids. Not only a Little House experience; also teaching about history, farming, and the development of our country and so much more. Interested to go back and camp in one of the covered wagons.

L Diamond

2023-05

A fun stop for people who have enjoyed reading the Little House on the Prairie books or just like learning about history. There is a small playground, many animals (including kittens, chickens, cows and horses), many hands on activities (pumping water, making a lasso, washing laundry like they did in the 1880s, etc.), a wagon ride to an old schoolhouse and more! The landscape is beautiful!

Janet Daugherty

2023-05

I have been a LI fan since I was 4-5 years old. Her books are how I learned to read so for me, this trip/visit was a lifelong dream come true! I can't say enough good things about our overnight visit. The hubs and I stayed overnight in one of the covered wagons!! How exciting to know we were sleeping under the same sky, in the same area that the Ingalls family slept!!I would visit here every day if I could just because I love this time period and the Ingalls story so much!! The proprietor was so very friendly! I will go back with my granddaughter and my sisters!!

Ken Reed

2020-05

Very fun place to visit. They have a great setup with many hands-on things to do. We spent over 4 hours here but it only felt like 1 because the kids had so much fun. All of the staff were really friendly.

Joan Wollschlager

2023-08

The Ingalls Homestead is a hands on living history museum for all ages. A large variety of activities and buildings take visitors back to the pioneer days of this area's first white settlers. So much to enjoy and there is camping available right on the grounds for the visitor/customers!Evening guests enjoy wide open skies filled with stars!

Lindsey Ellis

2021-05

Loved this and we almost missed it! Initially we didnt know there were two sights, the homestead and the place in town, and almost didnt allow enough time for both. There is a bit of walking but they are very accommodating. If you struggle with walking distances, be sure and ask for a golf cart. They have them available. There are also several activities, including a wagon ride.

Jake Simon

2019-05

Our family of 4 had planned to stay for about two hours, but ended up staying more like 3 1/2 because the 10 & 7 year old girls were having so much fun doing everything.We’ve read enough of the books and watched enough of the shows to have a foundational understanding of what to expect, but the combination of fun hands-on things to do and authentic feel and connection to history was pretty amazing.We were fortunate enough to run into one of the founders of the museum, who gave more insight about where we were - “over there are the two lakes that Laura wrote about how she and Almanzo would go there during courting.”In was nice that everything was hands-on for the girls (they spent a LOT of time hand washing clothes! Lol)I love participating via Google Reviews - if you find this review helpful, please click Like below. Thanks!

Kimberly Hunter

2023-07

What a great experience!!!! Learning about Laura Ingall's life in a place where she actually LIVED, petting sweet kitties & a little cow & pony, taking a wagon ride & learning what schools were like back then - a perfect visit!!! The staff is amazing!!! SO friendly & helpful!!! I HIGHLY recommend a visit here!!! If I lived closer, I would go regularly!! ❤️

John Kinkead

2021-05

My family stopped here on our way out to Mt. Rushmore the week of June 15, 2020, and we are so glad we did. I just wish they were on their regular hours, so we could've been there at 10 am and stayed longer. We spent about 2 to 2 1/2 hours and we were able to see a lot of the property. We were able to take the wagon ride out to the schoolhouse, but didn't have time to go out to the church.