From: The Otter - Winter 2020

Before there were aquatic centers and community swimming pools those living near lakes or rivers gathered at the local beach if they were lucky enough to have one. Pictured is the Big Sioux River and a public park in Dell Rapids, SD. Created in 1913, the park and its swimming beach were wildly popular, attracting people from a wide area for some fifty years. The Big Sioux River and its shady, riparian woods were the central attractions, and the channel was more than a dozen feet deep with a soft, sandy bottom. In 1934, a grand bathhouse constructed from quartzite was built, replacing plain wooden structures. It made the community proud. Slides, diving towers and other recreational amenities added to the beach’s appeal. By 1960, Dell Rapids had opened a public swimming pool, and that ended the popularity of its beach. The beautiful stone bathhouse, long unused and vacant, now stands on a muddy shoreline serving only as a charming memory of a different time. Dell Rapids historian Craig Kumerfield, a retired teacher, has written extensively about Dell Rapids, including its relationship to the Big Sioux River. He provided the photos and information used in this article.