Do you have an interest in the paranormal? If so, you will love living in SoDak, as our colorful history lends to plenty of ghost stories and urban legends. While there are plenty of these tales to tell, there is one, in particular, that can always send a chill down our spines, which is the legend of South Dakota’s Little Devils:
Welcome to the seemingly peaceful Spirit Mound Historic Prairie, a 320-acre outdoor oasis that houses a dark secret.
TripAdvisor/LauriH44
Hiding out near Vermillion, Spirit Mound is as historic as it is beautiful, as Lewis and Clark made a stop during their expedition and met with the Wičhíyena Sioux, who told tales of demonic 18-inch-tall men with large heads who terrorized the area.
Flickr/Simon Plestenjak
After hearing about this “mountain of the Little People,” Lewis and Clark began to explore, searching high and low for these little devils they heard so much about, only to come up empty-handed.
Flickr/Staffan Vilcans
Despite never finding the little devils, Lewis and Clark did find plenty of other things in the area, including welcoming locals and a stunning prairie setting that can still be enjoyed today.
KevinOKeeffe/Wikimedia Commons
While the Sioux steered clear of the area, locals and tourists today will visit just to look for the tiny men with bows and arrows, as well as hike the same .75-mile trail that follows in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark.
Flickr/Michael Pollak
Spirit Mound is located 5 miles north of Vermillion via Highway 19.
TripAdvisor/FredPurdue
To learn more about the Spirit Mound Historic Prairie and trail, please visit the Spirit Mound Trust’s website.
TripAdvisor/FredPurdue
Do you have a favorite place in SoDak that you would like to see featured on Only in South Dakota? Nominate it here! For even more Mount Rushmore State haunts, check out these 8 Terrifying Urban Legends in South Dakota That Will Keep You Awake at Night.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: Spirit Mound Township, SD 57069, USA
Welcome to the seemingly peaceful Spirit Mound Historic Prairie, a 320-acre outdoor oasis that houses a dark secret.
TripAdvisor/LauriH44
Hiding out near Vermillion, Spirit Mound is as historic as it is beautiful, as Lewis and Clark made a stop during their expedition and met with the Wičhíyena Sioux, who told tales of demonic 18-inch-tall men with large heads who terrorized the area.
Flickr/Simon Plestenjak
After hearing about this “mountain of the Little People,” Lewis and Clark began to explore, searching high and low for these little devils they heard so much about, only to come up empty-handed.
Flickr/Staffan Vilcans
Despite never finding the little devils, Lewis and Clark did find plenty of other things in the area, including welcoming locals and a stunning prairie setting that can still be enjoyed today.
KevinOKeeffe/Wikimedia Commons
While the Sioux steered clear of the area, locals and tourists today will visit just to look for the tiny men with bows and arrows, as well as hike the same .75-mile trail that follows in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark.
Flickr/Michael Pollak
Spirit Mound is located 5 miles north of Vermillion via Highway 19.
TripAdvisor/FredPurdue
To learn more about the Spirit Mound Historic Prairie and trail, please visit the Spirit Mound Trust’s website.
TripAdvisor/FredPurdue
Do you have a favorite place in SoDak that you would like to see featured on Only in South Dakota? Nominate it here! For even more Mount Rushmore State haunts, check out these 8 Terrifying Urban Legends in South Dakota That Will Keep You Awake at Night.
TripAdvisor/LauriH44
Flickr/Simon Plestenjak
Flickr/Staffan Vilcans
KevinOKeeffe/Wikimedia Commons
Flickr/Michael Pollak
TripAdvisor/FredPurdue