Sioux Falls, SD (KELO AM) - Long before the Premier Center, Sanford, Washington Pavilion, and Avera became landmarks in Sioux Falls, there was the Stockyards.
During its peak the Sioux Falls Stockyards were one of the busiest and most reputable buying and selling points for animals in the area, operating from 1917 to 2009. At its peak in the 1970's it was the busiest auction barn in the country. Now all that remains on the 33 acre site is the horse barn, which has been transformed into a two story museum honoring agriculture and the complex's contributions to Sioux Falls' transformation into a regional business hub.
The museum is a small part of what city organizers hope will become another tourist destination in the Falls Park area. "When you think about the facility that we are recognizing today, you have the Stockyards Ag Experience, farmer's market across the road, plans for the plaza, and there's an old query that most people don't even know about," said Mike Cooper. He told KELO Radio's It's Your Business that the city also plans improvements on Weber Avenue to make it more pedestrian friendly. "This is really the beginning of a great future for that area," he added.
Xcel Energy owns a small corner of the old Stockyards property, they'll be putting up a new substation on it to improve service in Sioux Falls.