RAPID CITY, S.D. — The fire that killed nearly 100 alligators and a number of tortoises at Reptile Gardens last November was an electrical fire. Investigators have determined the fire started in the southwest corner of an off-exhibit building where alligators involved in the alligator show and two species of tortoises, the African Spurred and Red-footed Tortoises were housed. But they say due to the intensity of the flames and the collapse of the structure, they were unable to pinpoint the exact cause..
Terry Phillip, the general curator for Reptile Gardens, said they’ve spent the few months trying to identify and implement any further fire mitigation efforts that they could implement.
“The reptile gardens owners and all of its staff … are animal lovers,” said Phillip. “We’re part of the community, and we’re a family business, and we’ve never been more committed to rising from those ashes and continue to create a quality family experience … for generations to come.”
Phillip says they’re rescuing a number of so-called “nuisance” alligators from eastern Texas — alligators removed from the wild after conflicts with humans. They’ll be added to the alligator show, which Phillip says should be ready to start again Memorial Day Weekend.
They’re also redesigning the tortoise exhibit to be what Phillip called a quality family experience.
“We plan on doing everything that we can to vastly improve everything that we lost in that fire,” he said. Among the tortoises on display will be newly hatched red-footed tortoises whose eggs survived the fire.
Phillip says the outpouring of community support has meant everything to him and the Reptile Gardens staff. “I cannot express our heartfelt gratitude and thanks for the outpouring of love and community support for us out here at the Reptile Gardens,” he said. “It made it very clear to us that reptile Gardens is as much a part of your family as you guys are a part of ours.”
Reptile Gardens re-opens for the 2026 season on Saturday, February 28.
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