Lake Sharpe and Presho offer two specific points of interest in Lyman County: the Left Tailrace Recreation Area and the Edgar Vernon House. The Native American Scenic Byway also adds a broader regional perspective. Water recreation, Victorian architecture, and history offer different points of focus. This can help you consider these themes when planning your trip.
Camping and Facilities at Lake Sharpe
The Left Tailrace Recreation Area is in Lyman County on Lake Sharpe. Campsites have electrical hookups; there are also restrooms with showers and a dump station. A boat ramp, dock, and fish-cleaning station add to the facilities for boating and fishing. Picnic shelters, tables, and grills provide more options for taking a break in the area; drinking water and a playground are also available.
When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between the campsites as a place to stay and the other facilities. This can help you decide whether camping itself or the additional amenities is more important to you. The recreation area brings both together in one place.
Routes, Trail, and Fishing Waters
Chamberlain is the starting point for the drive to Big Bend Dam: from there, you can reach the dam via Highway 50, Highway 34, and North Shore Road. Lyman County is also home to the Roland L Dolly Memorial Trail. Good Soldier Creek is one of the county’s public fishing waters and lies two miles south of Fort Thompson. The trail and fishing waters offer different points of interest for outdoor enthusiasts; the route to the dam also provides specific directions for the drive.
The Byway and the Wider Region
The Native American Scenic Byway crosses the Lower Brule Reservation. Along the byway, the Lower Brule Tribe has reclaimed several ranches. The route thus connects a road-trip perspective with a historical link to Lower Brule. For travelers interested in road trips, the byway offers a broader regional view than the individual places in the county.
Big Bend is also part of the broader Lower Brule–Missouri River context. It is the largest natural river bend of its kind in a river system in the United States. This landscape offers a distinct point of interest alongside Lyman County’s recreational and cultural themes.
Victorian Architecture and History
In Presho, the Edgar Vernon House features elements of Victorian architecture and is one of the few buildings in town with Victorian-style construction. Both aspects are important to its architectural context: the specific features of the house and the rarity of this style in Presho. This makes the building an example of an architectural style that is rarely represented locally.
Another historical connection leads to Lower Brule: Iron Nation was a chief of the Lower Brule and signed numerous treaties on behalf of the tribe. His role broadens the focus from the architecture in Presho to the history of Lower Brule. Architectural history and tribal history thus stand alongside one another as distinct topics.
Discover more destinations: Oacoma, Jackson County, Shannon County, Lincoln County, Hughes County, Lawrence County, Dewey County, Yankton.
For the overview of the wider region: South Dakota.
