| Scenic, South Dakota | |
| Settlement Type: | unincorporated community |
| Pushpin Map: | South Dakota#USA |
| Pushpin Label: | Scenic |
| Pushpin Label Position: | top |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within the state of South Dakota |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | South Dakota |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Pennington |
| Area Total Km2: | 347.6 |
| Area Land Km2: | 346.9 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.7 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 134.2 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 133.9 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.3 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Total: | 10 |
| Population Density Km2: | 0.3 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 0.6 |
| Timezone: | Mountain (MST) |
| Utc Offset: | -7 |
| Timezone Dst: | MDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -6 |
| Elevation M: | 884 |
| Elevation Ft: | 2900 |
| Coordinates: | 43.7796°N -102.5536°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 57780 |
| Area Code: | 605 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 46-57820[1] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 1268730[2] |
Scenic is an unincorporated community in Pennington County, South Dakota, United States. It is located within Scenic Township, which had a 2010 census population of 58 inhabitants. The community is located adjacent to the Badlands National Park, about southeast of Rapid City, or about one hour by car,[3] along Highway 44.
The community was so named for the "scenic" setting of the town site.[4]
As an economic decline hit the town in the 21st century, local businesswoman Twila Merrill acquired more and more of the town property until she owned most of it.[3]
In July 2011, the 12acres town and surrounding area—about total—was listed for sale at $799,000. The sale included the post office (ZIP code 57780), Longhorn Saloon, a dance hall, bunkhouse, museum, and two stores.[5] [6] [7] It also included a train depot[7] that is on an abandoned line that was part of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad and is the subject of a 104miles rails-to-trail project between Rapid City and Kadoka.[8]
In August 2011, the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC, English: Church of Christ), an independent, nontrinitarian Christian denomination based in the Philippines, bought the property for nearly $800,000, Pennington County records show.[9] [10] The church never disclosed why it acquired the property. In 2014, Daniel Simmons-Ritchie of the Rapid City Journal wrote that the INC "has done little with the town since its purchase."[3]
In April 2015, an INC minister moved to the area and soon afterwards began leading services for 10–15 congregants who live near Scenic.[11]