Why Everyone Pulls Over To See This Bizarre Attraction In South Dakota

South Dakota is famous for Mount Rushmore, but there’s another roadside wonder that stops travelers in their tracks. The Corn Palace in Mitchell has been drawing curious visitors since 1892 with its incredible exterior covered entirely in corn and grain murals.

Every year, artists create new designs using thousands of bushels of colorful corn, turning a simple building into a living work of art that changes with the seasons. Think of it as the world’s only crop-based cathedral – equal parts folk art, fairground, and fever dream. Inside, you’ll find exhibits, concerts, and enough corn-themed charm to butter your curiosity.

It’s kitschy, it’s quirky, and it’s absolutely unmissable if you’re anywhere near the Great Plains.

1. A Building Covered in Corn Creates Instant Curiosity

Imagine driving down the highway and spotting a massive building decorated entirely with corn cobs, grains, and grasses forming intricate pictures. That’s exactly what greets travelers when they arrive at the Corn Palace, and it’s unlike anything else you’ll see on America’s roads. The building stands proudly in downtown Mitchell, its towers and turrets adorned with elaborate designs that shimmer in the sunlight.

Local artists spend months planning and creating these agricultural masterpieces each year. They use naturally colored corn in shades of red, yellow, blue, brown, and white to craft detailed scenes celebrating South Dakota’s heritage, wildlife, and culture. The current year’s theme might showcase buffalo herds, Native American traditions, or farming landscapes, all brought to life through thousands of corn kernels carefully nailed to wooden panels.

Visitors can’t help but stop and stare at this agricultural artwork. The sheer creativity involved in transforming humble crops into stunning visual displays captivates people of all ages. Photographers snap countless pictures, trying to capture the unique texture and color combinations that make this attraction truly one of a kind in the entire world.

2. Free Admission Makes It Accessible to Everyone

Budget-conscious travelers rejoice when they discover that exploring the Corn Palace won’t cost them a single penny. The attraction welcomes guests free of charge year-round, making it perfect for families looking to stretch their vacation dollars. Walking through the doors, you’ll find yourself in a spacious arena surrounded by the corn-covered walls that make this place legendary.

Inside, the decorations continue with panels showcasing different themes and artistic styles. The interior walls feature the same corn and grain artistry as the outside, creating an immersive experience that surrounds you completely. Gift shops offer souvenirs ranging from corn-themed trinkets to locally made crafts, but there’s absolutely no pressure to purchase anything.

During certain times of year, the venue hosts concerts, sporting events, and community gatherings in its 3,200-seat arena. Checking the schedule before your visit might reward you with live entertainment as a bonus to your sightseeing adventure. The combination of free admission and quality attractions makes this stop incredibly popular with road trippers crossing South Dakota on Interstate 90, who appreciate getting so much value without opening their wallets.

3. Annual Redesigns Keep Visitors Coming Back

What other attraction completely reinvents itself every single year? The Corn Palace commits to this ambitious tradition, ensuring that repeat visitors always discover something fresh and exciting. Around late summer and early fall, teams of dedicated decorators begin removing the previous year’s designs and installing brand new corn murals following the current theme.

This annual transformation requires approximately 275,000 ears of corn in thirteen different colors and shades. Workers also incorporate wild oats, blue grass, wheat, rye, and other grains to add texture and variety to the designs. The process takes several weeks of careful planning and physical labor, with artists working from scaffolding to position each element precisely.

Themes rotate through various aspects of South Dakota life and American culture. Past years have celebrated everything from pioneer history to modern technology, from wildlife conservation to musical heritage. Photography enthusiasts particularly appreciate this ever-changing canvas, returning season after season to document the new artwork. The commitment to annual redesigns demonstrates the community’s dedication to keeping this quirky tradition alive and relevant for modern audiences seeking authentic, unusual experiences.

4. Rich History Dating Back to 1892 Adds Depth

Step back in time and discover that Mitchell’s corn-covered wonder has been surprising travelers for well over a century. The original Corn Palace was built in 1892 as a way to showcase the fertility of South Dakota soil and attract settlers to the region. Community leaders wanted to prove that this prairie land could produce abundant crops, and what better way than creating an entire building from the harvest?

The structure you see today isn’t the original, though. Fire destroyed earlier versions, and the current building dates to 1921 with significant renovations completed in the 1930s. Its distinctive Moorish Revival architecture features minarets and domes that give it an almost fairytale appearance, especially when covered in colorful agricultural decorations.

Throughout the decades, the Corn Palace has hosted famous performers including Lawrence Welk, Bob Hope, and Andy Williams. These entertainment legends brought glamour to small-town South Dakota, making the venue an unexpected cultural hotspot. Learning about this fascinating history adds layers of meaning to your visit, transforming a quick photo stop into an appreciation of American ingenuity and community spirit that has endured through changing times.

5. Perfect Photo Opportunities Create Lasting Memories

Social media feeds light up with images of this agricultural marvel every summer as thousands of visitors document their encounters. The building’s vibrant colors and unusual texture create a backdrop that’s instantly recognizable and endlessly shareable. Positioning yourself in front of the main facade gives you the classic shot that proves you’ve experienced one of America’s most unique roadside attractions.

Different times of day offer varying photographic opportunities. Morning light brings out the warm tones in the corn, while late afternoon sun creates dramatic shadows that emphasize the three-dimensional quality of the murals. Evening visits during special events might reward you with illuminated displays that transform the building into something magical.

Don’t forget to explore different angles around the entire structure. Each side features different designs and themes, so walking the perimeter ensures you capture the full artistic scope. Close-up shots reveal the incredible detail work, showing individual corn kernels arranged into recognizable shapes and patterns. These photos become conversation starters long after your trip ends, prompting friends and family to add South Dakota to their own travel bucket lists based on your visual evidence of this wonderfully weird attraction.

6. Educational Value Appeals to Curious Minds

Beyond the initial novelty, the Corn Palace offers genuine learning opportunities about agriculture, art, and regional history. Information displays throughout the building explain the different corn varieties used in the murals and how natural pigments create the color palette. Kids especially enjoy discovering that corn grows in colors beyond the yellow they see at dinner tables.

The attraction highlights South Dakota’s agricultural heritage and the importance of farming to the state’s economy and identity. Exhibits detail how early settlers transformed prairie grasslands into productive farmland through hard work and innovation. Understanding this context helps visitors appreciate why a community would dedicate such effort to celebrating their crop abundance through architectural art.

Teachers often incorporate stops at the Corn Palace into educational field trips. Students learn about native grains, artistic design principles, and how communities use creativity to promote their regions. The hands-on, visual nature of the attraction makes abstract concepts about agriculture and economics tangible and memorable. Even adults leave with newfound appreciation for the crops that feed our nation and the artistic possibilities hidden in everyday materials we typically take for granted.

7. Climate-Controlled Comfort Year-Round

South Dakota weather can be extreme, with scorching summers and frigid winters testing even hardy Midwesterners. Fortunately, the Corn Palace provides a comfortable refuge regardless of outside conditions. The building’s interior maintains pleasant temperatures, allowing you to explore the corn-covered walls without battling the elements.

Summer travelers escaping the heat appreciate the cool respite after hours of highway driving. Air conditioning makes browsing the gift shop and examining the intricate corn murals enjoyable rather than exhausting. Winter visitors, though fewer in number, find the heated interior equally welcoming when temperatures plummet below freezing.

This climate control extends the attraction’s usability beyond typical tourist season. While many roadside stops close or become uncomfortable during off-peak months, the Corn Palace remains accessible and pleasant. The arena space hosts basketball games, concerts, and community events throughout the year, proving that this isn’t just a summer tourist trap but a functioning community center. Knowing you can visit comfortably in any season removes barriers to planning your South Dakota road trip, whether you’re traveling in July’s heat or October’s crisp autumn weather when fall colors enhance the surrounding landscape.

8. Gateway to Exploring Mitchell and Beyond

Using the Corn Palace as your anchor point opens up exploration of Mitchell’s other attractions and the surrounding region. Downtown Mitchell features charming local shops, family restaurants serving hearty Midwestern cuisine, and friendly residents happy to share recommendations. Walking the historic Main Street gives you a taste of small-town South Dakota life that contrasts beautifully with the quirky fame of the corn-covered building.

Just a few miles away, the Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village offers archaeological insights into Native American life from 1,000 years ago. The site features an active dig where researchers continue uncovering artifacts and structures. Lake Mitchell provides outdoor recreation opportunities including fishing, boating, and picnicking along scenic shorelines that help you appreciate South Dakota’s natural beauty.

The Corn Palace sits conveniently along Interstate 90, making it an ideal rest stop between Sioux Falls to the east and the Black Hills to the west. Badlands National Park lies about two hours west, offering dramatic landscapes of layered rock formations. Planning your route to include Mitchell transforms a simple highway journey into a multi-dimensional South Dakota adventure, with the Corn Palace serving as the memorable centerpiece that ties everything together perfectly.