Wessington Springs selected for state tourism pilot program

By Kristi Hine, editor, True Dakotan; republished with permission

Wessington Springs has been chosen as one of just two communities in South Dakota to participate in a new state initiative aimed at boosting tourism in rural areas.

Travel South Dakota announced September 16 that Wessington Springs and Lead were selected as the inaugural participants in the Destination Development Program, a partnership with George Washington University Institute for Tourism Studies and Crosscurrent Collective.

The program provides rural communities with planning support, marketing opportunities, and expert guidance to help shape long-term tourism growth.

A trail at the center of the vision

For Wessington Springs, the heart of its application is the renovation and expansion of Old Grade Trail, a historic path that once served as a primary access road across Jerauld County. Today, the trail offers a mix of natural beauty, cultural history and scenic overlooks. 

Plans include updated interpretive signage, restored historic features like the stone bridge and natural amphitheater, birdwatching stations and scenic overlooks for both daytime vistas and nighttime stargazing. 

The vision is to use the Old Grade Trail as a true connector — not just of pathways, but of people, places, and stories. By linking landmarks like the Opera House, Shakespeare Garden, Stratton Park, the Carnegie Library, and the Kyle Evans Western Heritage Center, the trail becomes a thread that ties together the many strengths of Wessington Springs.

Rather than standing apart, these assets can be experienced as one cohesive destination, giving both visitors and residents a reason to explore, gather and take pride in the community.

This program provides the roadmap to make that vision a reality, positioning the trail as a defining feature that can spark new events, attract future residents, and shine a brighter spotlight on what makes Wessington Springs special.

“This project is about more than improving a trail,” said Troy Duxbury, Lead Trail Enthusiast and Wessington Springs Area Chamber and Development (WSACD) board member. “It’s about weaving together our history, natural features and community pride into something that will attract visitors and strengthen the local economy.”

Collaboration behind the scenes

The application that secured Wessington Springs’ place in the program was shaped by a diverse local team of self-described “trail enthusiasts” representing healthcare, journalism, engineering, agriculture, the arts and local government.

The group has been working together since 2024 on plans for the trail’s renovation and development, including hosting oral history interviews, researching community heritage and partnering with South Dakota State University’s School of Landscape Architecture.

With support from an SDSU Extension grant, landscape architect students produced a fly-through mock-up of a proposed visitor center at one of the trailheads.

Looking ahead

Through the Destination Development Program, the trail enthusiast team hopes to emerge with a professionally developed roadmap for the Old Grade Trail that integrates community input, historic preservation and natural resource stewardship. That plan will then serve as a foundation to secure funding for future development.

Tourism officials said Wessington Springs and Lead both impressed the selection committee with their vision and commitment to creating authentic visitor experiences.

“We see tremendous potential in both communities,” said James Hagen, Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Tourism.

For Wessington Springs, success will mean creating a destination where visitors can walk through history, enjoy South Dakota landscapes and connect with the character of a small town on Highway 34, the “gateway from the prairie to the Black Hills.”

“The trail enthusiasts of Wessington Springs are thrilled about our partnership with Travel South Dakota’s Destination Development Program,” said Duxbury. “We are honored to be selected for this pilot program. With the backing of the state, our project has never felt more realistic. This will put our community on the map for generations to come.”