Tigerville is an abandoned town in Pennington County, South Dakota. It was a mining town that was involved in the production of gold and quartz minerals in its operational days. The town started in the annex but later on, was abandoned and is currently a ruin.

History of Tigerville

The Tigerville was established in 1878 in place of the King Solomon mine which was the principal mine in the region. A mining town was in turn established to support the miners who dealt with the extraction of gold and quartz minerals. The boom was so intense that social amenities like the town’s post office, stores, saloons, blacksmith shops, school, and a stage barn were all established within a year. By 1880, the residents in the town were more than 190 people. Many of which were miners from different locations looking to get rich quicker from the extraction of gold and quartz. Over the years further, the increase in the Tigerville population was recorded to be more than 580 people. The mine would later close in 1885. The town which had nothing else to offer its residents was rejected and disowned. In 1974 the only standing building was the town’s sawmill and one house.

Death of the town

The town of Tigerville after being established did not operate for a long time (it operated for only seven years). The exploitation of the gold and quartz did not last for long either as the mines were depleted resulting in decline in production. The mining sites were all later closed permanently by 1885. This rendered the miners jobless and as a result, they relocated together with their families to other towns. Some of them moved to new towns while others to the nearby ranches. The town of Tigerville was disowned from that period to this date. The mines and the houses were left intact though some have been subjected to vandalism.

What remains of Tigerville? 

The town of Tigerville is an official ghost town with no residents living in the area at the time. Almost all the former old structures of the building have collapsed over time leaving behind old termite-eaten construction logs and concrete ruins. The town's sawmill can still be seen as it still stands in a dilapidated state. Visits at these old town sites require prior planning and emergency contacts in case of an accident. The ghost town is located at the meeting point of the roads leading to Hill City, Deerfield Lake, and Rockford town. One can visit the place and have a view of the old townsite and mines. For those who do not like to get themselves tired, you sit under the old shed that was used by the miners as you enjoy the breeze from the hills.