Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota

Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota is a phenomenon of a place where gravity and the laws of nature go out the window. Watch water flow and balls roll up a ledge. Switch places with a friend and magically grow. Walk dizzily through a house not knowing up from down. Stand sideways on a wall. See it all on a tour of this South Dakota roadside attraction.

Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota

According to legend the Black Hills Cosmos was discovered in 1952 by two boys in search of a place to camp. When they hit this mystical area they could immediately feel like something was off. They stuck around to explore, fixed the place up, and opened the attraction to the public. Today you can still visit Cosmos Mystery Area and experience the weirdness for yourself.

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Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota

Is Cosmos Mystery Area really a mystical vortex fueled by the paranormal? Or are visitors merely tricked? One might say that all the a combination of forced perspectives, distorted backgrounds, slanted walls, purposeful angles, invisible horizon lines, altered furniture, and other illusions are responsible for the mystery. But they also might say that it really is a magical place where everything you think you know is challenged.

You’ll have to see it for yourself and make up your own mind.

Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota
Story of the Cosmos: The Cosmos of the Black Hills was discovered in 1952 by 2 college boys looking for a place to build a summer cabin. When they entered this area they experiences a slight unbalance which increased considerably on entering the old house. The boys were interested and camped on the place while they investigated the odd phenomena. They decided that here was something of interest to the general public. So they began to fix the cabin to make it safe and then developed the demonstrations you are about to see.
Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota
Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota
Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota
Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota
Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota
Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota
Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota
Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota
Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota
Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota
Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota
Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota
Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota
Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota
Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota
Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota
Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota
Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota
What is the Cosmos? The area known a the Cosmos is the strangest location in the entire Black Hills. Here the world is different, topsey turvey with nothing in its normal position including yourselves. The laws of nature seem to have completely gone berserk, especially in the mystery house itself. However to feel the pressure of the area against you is the most unusual feature of all. A physical experience you will never forget.

Looking for more roadside attraction in Rapid City? Be sure to also see Storybook Island, the Rapid City Dinosaur Park, and the Men Made From Tires.


Cosmos Mystery Area

Address: 24040 Cosmos Road, Rapid City, SD
Cost: $11 (adults 12+), $6 (children 5-11), free for children 4 years and younger with an adult
Visit the official website for up-to-date hours and costs.


Pin this South Dakota roadside attraction:

Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota is a phenomenon of a place where gravity and the laws of nature go out the window. Watch water flow and balls roll up a ledge. Switch places with a friend and magically grow. Walk dizzily through a house not knowing up from down. Stand sideways on a wall. See it all on a tour of this South Dakota roadside attraction. #SouthDakotaRoadsideAttractions #SouthDakotaRoadsideAttraction #RoadsideAttractions #RoadsideAttraction  #SouthDakotaRoadTrip
Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota is a phenomenon of a place where gravity and the laws of nature go out the window. Watch water flow and balls roll up a ledge. Switch places with a friend and magically grow. Walk dizzily through a house not knowing up from down. Stand sideways on a wall. See it all on a tour of this South Dakota roadside attraction. #SouthDakotaRoadsideAttractions #SouthDakotaRoadsideAttraction #RoadsideAttractions #RoadsideAttraction #SouthDakotaRoadTrip
Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota is a phenomenon of a place where gravity and the laws of nature go out the window. Watch water flow and balls roll up a ledge. Switch places with a friend and magically grow. Walk dizzily through a house not knowing up from down. Stand sideways on a wall. See it all on a tour of this South Dakota roadside attraction. #SouthDakotaRoadsideAttractions #SouthDakotaRoadsideAttraction #RoadsideAttractions #RoadsideAttraction #SouthDakotaRoadTrip
Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota is a phenomenon of a place where gravity and the laws of nature go out the window. Watch water flow and balls roll up a ledge. Switch places with a friend and magically grow. Walk dizzily through a house not knowing up from down. Stand sideways on a wall. See it all on a tour of this South Dakota roadside attraction. #SouthDakotaRoadsideAttractions #SouthDakotaRoadsideAttraction #RoadsideAttractions #RoadsideAttraction #SouthDakotaRoadTrip

Valerie Bromann

Founder & ROad Trip Expert

Valerie Bromann is a a website manager, content creator, and writer from Chicago, Illinois (currently living in Dallas, Texas). As an avid road tripper who has visited hundreds of roadside attractions, Val always pull over for a world’s largest thing. Founder of Silly America and author of The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book, she visits, photographs, and writes about all the weird tourist destinations she visits and offers road trip planning advice and inspiration based on her own travels so you can hit the road for yourself.

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Last modified: February 26, 2022
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The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book - Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip! By Valerie Bromann

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.