Fire at Rockerville, ND, Reptile Zoo Kills Alligators, Tortoises

Firefighters responded to a fire at Reptile Gardens just after midnight and found a building housing tortoises and alligators.

Nov. 22, 2025

2 min read

MIKE BROWNLEE
Rapid City Journal, S.D.
(TNS)

Reptile Gardens announced early Saturday, Nov. 22 it'll reopen parts of the facility after an undetermined number of tortoises and alligators died in a fire there a day earlier.

The attraction announced the Sky Dome and Show Building will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today.

Firefighters fight the fire at Reptile Gardens early Friday, Nov. 21.

A fire broke out at the Black Hills institution early Friday, Nov. 21. At 12:40 a.m., the Rockerville Volunteer Fire Department responded to Reptile Gardens, located at 8955 South Highway 16 in rural Rockerville, where firefighters found a detached shelter on fire.

Half of the building housed African spur-thighed tortoises and red-footed tortoises, and the other half housed American alligators that were in the alligator show.

Pennington County Fire Administrator Jerome Harvey told the Journal it took firefighters "a couple hours" to put out the blaze, Harvey said, noting, "The fire had a pretty good hold of the building."

There were no reported injuries to firefighters or civilians.

"Throughout yesterday and today, we have had so many amazing people and organizations reaching out to ask how they might be able to assist us during this time: offering supplies and equipment, their own time, or even treats to help the staff," Reptile Gardens said in a Saturday morning Facebook post. "We cannot express what this means to us, and the support and love that is being shown."

Reptile Gardens announced early Saturday, Nov. 22 it'll reopen parts of the facility after an undetermined number of tortoises and alligators died in a fire there a day earlier.

Reptile Gardens said anyone looking to help should look no further than their local first responders. The attraction noted a litany of volunteer departments and others who helped: Rockerville Volunteer Fire Department, Hill City Volunteer Fire Department, Whispering Pines Volunteer Fire Department, Rapid City Fire Department and Ambulance Service, Battle Creek Fire Department, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Pennington County Emergency Management, Black Hill Electrical Coop, Montana Dakota Utilities, and the South Dakota Fire Marshall’s Office.

"Reptile Gardens will rebuild, honor and remember the beloved animals that we have lost, and continue to make lasting memories with you, our incredible community," the attraction said in concluding the post. "From the bottom of our hearts, Thank You."

Via the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, Fire Marshal Doug Hinkle told the Journal around 5 p.m. Friday the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Firefighters were called to Reptile Gardens around 12:40 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 21.