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You’ll Love Digging For Crystals At The Unique Cosmos Mystery Area In South Dakota

Experience the thrill of digging for crystals and exploring unexplainable attractions at South Dakota's Cosmos Mystery Area.

Published May 12, 2021

Written by 

Annie Sandmeier

South Dakota is famous for its mining history, and if you are anything like us, you may have daydreamed about what it is like to mine and find your old precious jewels. If you, too, want to experience the thrill of the hunt without all of that hard work, you will want to dig for crystals at South Dakota's exciting Cosmos Mystery Area:

Located in Rapid City, the Cosmos Mystery Area is one of the most unique and downright quirky attractions in the Black Hills... and for a good reason.

A rustic wooden building with open windows, surrounded by trees and a wooden fence, on a sloped path.
Cosmos Mystery Area Facebook

Billed as being "South Dakota's Biggest Mystery," the Cosmos Mystery Area is most famous for several unexplainable attractions that seem to defy the laws of physics, including the famous "Mystery House" that allows visitors to walk on walls, roll a ball upwards, and watch their tall friends shrink.

A person stands on a wooden wall with climbing holds, smiling in a rustic indoor setting.
Cosmos Mystery Area Facebook

In addition to the famous Mystery House, the Cosmos Mystery Area is also home to a Geode Mine, where you can "Find it, crack it, keep it!"

A smiling girl in a red shirt holds a rock, sitting next to another child in a purple shirt outdoors.
Cosmos Mystery Area Facebook

Upon entering the Mine, you will be handed a spade for digging, and once you find that perfect rock, you will be instructed on how to open it and uncover which gem is inside.

A smiling girl holds a geode, showcasing its crystal interior, surrounded by greenery.
Cosmos Mystery Area Facebook

Admission to the Geode Mine is $8 per person or $6 when purchased with the Mystery House tour.

A busy outdoor area with families and children engaging in activities, surrounded by greenery and wooden structures.
Cosmos Mystery Area Facebook

To learn more about the Cosmos Mystery Area and its unique Geode Mine, please visit their website.

Billboard for Cosmos Mystery Area promoting geode cracking, with directions to turn right in 2.3 miles.
Cosmos Mystery Area Facebook

The Cosmos Mystery Area is open every day from May through October from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sign for "Geode Mine" inviting visitors to mine and crack their own geodes, with a rustic wooden building in the background.
Cosmos Mystery Area Facebook

Do you have a favorite attraction, event, or restaurant that you would like to see featured here on Only in South Dakota? Nominate it here! For even more mining fun, check out There’s A Hike In South Dakota That Leads You Straight To An Abandoned Mine.

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