The 60th Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup will take place on September 26, 2025, and to celebrate the landmark event Travel South Dakota and Custer State Park have shared a five-part video series, “Into the Roundup.”
South Dakota has a rich western heritage, and there is no greater celebration of this than the annual Buffalo Roundup. The annual event is an important management tool for the herd within the park, and ensures a healthy population is available for visitors to enjoy.
The complete video series can be found on TravelSouthDakota.com/IntoTheRoundup and on Travel South Dakota’s YouTube channel.
According to a press release by Travel South Dakota, the five videos include:
Episode 1: “The Ride”
Watching the Buffalo Roundup in the crowd is one thing. Riding through the dust and thunder on horseback is another. See for yourself what it’s like for cowboys, cowgirls, and park rangers to unite and round up approximately 1,300 bison.
Episode 2: “The Purpose”
Custer State Park’s herd began with just 36 bison and today is more than 1,300 strong. For 60 years, the Buffalo Roundup has played a vital role in sustaining this herd in a park that dates back to 1912.
Episode 3: “The Legacy”
Meet some of the riders who carry this living tradition forward. This episode reveals the work required to maintain a healthy and sustainable herd. Step back through time to see how this living tradition continues to ride strong, passing the Old West spirit to future generations.
Episode 4: “The Companion”
There’s a lot more than just reins between a rider and their horse. There’s a relationship of movement, trust and understanding. Learn about the skill, strategy, and heart behind herding the buffalo.
Episode 5: “The Backdrop”
While other roundups exist, none take place against the backdrop of South Dakota’s Custer State Park. Here, the vistas stretch on forever, and the spirit of the West roams free. It’s a view, and a moment, that could only happen here. Home to sweeping grasslands, rugged landscapes, and a thriving herd, this state park is unlike any other.
As the park celebrates a major milestone, these videos make an excellent way to learn more about the history of the bison, the Roundup itself, and the western culture of South Dakota.
Visitors wishing to experience the Roundup first hand are encouraged to make plans for Friday, September 26, 2025, and feel the ground shake as the herd thunders across the prairie.
(Video Descriptions Credit Travel South Dakota)
(Video Embed Links Credit Travel South Dakota)
(Images Credit South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks)
