Pickstown, South Dakota
Fort Randall Dam
The
Fort Randall Dam construction began in 1946. The main features of Fort Randall
Dam are the embankment, power plant, spillway and outlet works. Fort Randall
Dam lies within view of the military post from which it takes its name.
The name of the original fort honored Colonel Daniel W. Randall, one-time deputy paymaster of the Army. The reservoir behind Fort Randall Dam, which is named after the former South Dakota Representative and Senator, Francis Higbee Case, extends 107 miles upstream to Big Bend.
Tours of the power plant are as follows: Daily tours are given Memorial Day through Labor Day. Tours start at the Visitor Center, with check-in at 10:00 A.M., 1:00 P.M., and 3:00 P.M. Tours last approximately 1 hour and a current photo ID is required for each attendee. For large groups (12 or more) or off-season tours, please call (605) 487-7845 during business office hours to schedule an appointment.
On
the banks of the Missouri River, immediately downstream from Fort Randall
Dam, we visited the Randall Creek Recreation Area, many animals and birds
frequent the area, and we really were amazed at breathtaking beauty of the
surrounding shoreline. I was disappointed that the closest we came to a
bald eagle was a large hawk.
Randall Creek is one of the South Dakota state parks that has bald eagles nesting.
The eagle roost area in the park is a designated National Natural Landmark. Other state parks that we passed are: North Point, Located 1 mile NW of Pickstown off US Hwy 281 and Pease Creek located, located 9 miles S of Geddes off SD Hwy 1804.
Rich
and I are both looking forward to coming back next summer so that we can
spend some leisure time fishing ifor walleye and small-mouth bass. We have
been hearing that there is no better fishing anywhere.
We were in South Dakota in November and it was the opening week of Pheasant
Season. We found welcome signs for hunters and fishermen everywhere.
There seemed to be plenty of motor home parks (most were small, reasonably
priced and privately owned.)
Camping was also available at recreation areas that are everywhere along the James and Missouri Rivers.