Quick Facts
- State
- South Dakota
- County
- Custer County
- Status
- Unknown Status
- Access
- Unknown Access
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
The map remembers Kiddville long after the crowds moved on. A ghost town of unknown status in Custer County, South Dakota.
South Dakota's ghost towns mix Black Hills gold camps with prairie farm towns the Dust Bowl finished.
Custer County holds 8 documented ghost towns, including Ivanhoe, Junction City, Lauzon — Kiddville keeps them company on the map.
The story of Kiddville
Cattle built the first Plains towns, wheat built the second wave, and the automobile quietly dismantled both. Before the rails, South Dakota's economy moved on hooves — trail herds, railheads, shipping pens. Kiddville may go back that far, or it may be a product of the later wheat boom in Custer County. Either way, the ending rhymes: better roads let farmers and ranchers drive past the local town to the county seat, the railroad abandoned its branch lines, and the small places starved. Plains ghost towns don't rot so much as they simply stop — the buildings stand until the wind and the years take them.
What you'll find today
The on-the-ground condition of Kiddville is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.
Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.
Getting there
Here's the honest truth: access to Kiddville is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times.
Good to know
Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.